In 1977, not quite two weeks after his inauguration, President Jimmy Carter — bundled in a tan cardigan sweater sitting next to a roaring fire — addressed the nation, telling citizens he would develop a new national energy policy that would require “dedication” and “sacrifice.” 
He emphasized that we need to take conservation seriously, and later said that “with the exception of preventing war, this is the greatest challenge our country will face during our lifetimes. The energy crisis has not yet overwhelmed us, but it will if we do not act quickly.”
The idea of saving energy is certainly not new, and Carter’s message fits well in today’s world, where energy costs continually increase as fossil fuels decrease.
But while the message is similar, it’s certainly not the same.
In the late ‘70s, Carter pressed for sacrifice — turn down the thermostat, rely on public transportation, and turn off lights when not needed. And while these are all great ways to curb energy consumption and costs, the underlying thought was that American’s would have to live uncomfortably to achieve the nation’s energy goals.
For American’s, that was a bitter pill to swallow. After all, we work hard for our livelihood and we should be able to live comfortably, right?
So how do we curb energy consumption in today’s world if not through conservation? How ‘bout energy efficiency?
What’s the difference, you ask?
Well, conservation conveys a message of sacrifice. Carter used that word exactly. He asked the nation to sacrifice on heat, gas and other forms of energy, creating less-than-desirable living conditions.
In contrast, energy efficiency reduces energy consumption without compromise — providing the same, or better, results using less energy. With advancement in technology since the 1970s, energy efficiency is possible.
But it goes beyond getting more for less. Energy efficiency means using energy wisely and eliminating energy waste by using technologies that reduce energy for you without having to do it yourself.
Our customers are perfect examples of energy efficiency, realizing significant energy savings and increasing their quality and quantity of light.
To exemplify this point, let’s consider a warehouse using 465-watt high-intensity discharge lighting. Under Carter’s plan, the warehouse would be asked to turn off some of its lights to conserve energy — sacrificing the accuracy of employees’ work or sacrificing the safety of the workers.
Energy efficiency would instead ask the facility to deploy energy efficient technology that provide the same — or increased — light levels that use less energy to power, keeping employees safe and increasing productivity. Companies are already deploying this technology in their facilities, often with paybacks of less than two years.
Add in controls that turn on and off lights automatically, and you significantly increase the energy reductions and cost savings.
Energy efficiency can help us gain energy independence, all the while not giving up the quality of life we all work hard to achieve.
