Energy Focus, Inc. (NASDAQ:EFOI), a provider of LED lighting technologies announced it has joined the Healthy Energy in Healthcare Coalition as a key partner.

The Healthy Energy in Healthcare Coalition, founded by business leaders from clean energy industries, encourages the adoption of cost-effective, energy-efficient practices across the healthcare sector. Healthcare is one of the largest consumers of energy in the U.S. economy, comprising 7 percent of all electricity used in commercial buildings, according to Energy Information Administration’s “2012 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.”

The Coalition answers the call for a unified voice in Washington, D.C., to advocate for federal policies that encourage and assist healthcare facilities working to become cost and energy efficient.

Energy Focus is contributing to the leadership and funding of this coalition, which is expected to create a new channel for lead generation, idea collaboration, and promotional and lobbying efforts for the benefit of each of the members of the coalition, which includes Phillips Lighting, Shift Energy and Siemens. Stephen Davis, Director of Government Relations for Energy Focus, Inc., has been named Vice Chairman of the Healthy Energy in Healthcare Coalition.

“We very much welcome a mission-driven company like Energy Focus to join and strengthen our advocacy force in bringing significant energy impact in the healthcare segment,” said Isaac Brown, Executive Director of the Healthy Energy in Healthcare Coalition.  “Their LED lighting products have shown to significantly reduce healthcare costs and improve the environment for many patients and workers for healthcare providers.” 

“Energy Focus has been working with multiple healthcare systems, including a leading Ohio-based healthcare institution with approximately 180 buildings, to improve their sustainability as well as their health and well-being profiles,” said James Tu, CEO and President of Energy Focus.  “Our 100-percent flicker-free tubular LEDs significantly reduce energy cost and carbon footprint, and literally change the lives of healthcare patients and workers in these facilities.  Through the partnership with the Coalition, we look forward to speeding up the adoption of high-quality LEDs in healthcare facilities across the country.”

While hospitals, on average, are two-and-a-half times more energy intensive than most commercial buildings, there has been no singular voice in Washington, D.C., advocating for federal policies that embolden and support healthcare facilities working to become more cost and energy efficient.  Together, the partners of the Coalition hope to raise awareness amongst policymakers about the tremendous opportunities that exist for the healthcare sector to become more cost and energy efficient.  

Beyond environmental benefits, switching to LEDs can also have a tremendous impact on the health and well-being of healthcare workers.  The average adult spends 90 percent of their time indoors under artificial lighting. Because LEDs replicate the natural spectrum of light, they can reduce eye-strain for healthcare workers.  However, all LEDs are not created equal.  Energy Focus is the only manufacturer that has developed a 100-percent flicker-free TLED solution to replace fluorescent lamps.  Although flicker may not be visible to the naked eye, it still has a negative impact on visual processing.  To the average person, this may result in headaches, fatigue or discomfort after exposure but to people with special needs that experience visual hypersensitivity, such as those on the autism spectrum, this same flicker can be disruptive to their everyday activities.   

 For more information, visit the Energy Focus website.