NEMA Takes enLIGHTen America Campaign to Twitter and Blogosphere

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va., announced the expansion of its enLIGHTen America campaign to include blogging and a Twitter feed. The expansion marks the most recent step in an initiative dedicated to building awareness of the value of lighting retrofits using the latest technology, the association said in announcing the new services.

Begun in 2008, enlighten America has been working to inform commercial building managers that lighting upgrades are not only a great source of money and energy savings, but also provide a great return on investment and increase overall asset value. In its first year, the campaign reached more than a million people in real estate and building management markets by presenting at industry trade shows, publishing feature articles and distributing press releases.

Now, the enLIGHTen America is embracing new opportunities presented through social media. Campaign progress can now be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nemasavesenergy.

Members of the campaign's task force provided information on the Commercial Building Tax Deduction Program (CBTD) to a standing room only audience at “The Every Building Show,” sponsored by Building Owners and Managers Association International, in Long Beach, Calif. The presentation highlighted information on payback and annual return on investment opportunities, giving attendees the information necessary to take advantage of the CBTD. Information regarding the CBTD and the potential benefits were also posted on the NEMA blog, http://blog.nema.org/blogs/currents/default.aspx and at http://www.lightingtaxdeduction.org.

According to Keith Ward, CEO of Luminus Devices and enLIGHTen America chairperson, in order for owners to understand the overall benefits, “they need to understand what their systems provide today, what new lighting systems will provide tomorrow, and what the energy savings and environmental benefits would be in the future. Building this understanding has never been easier thanks to NEMA's embrace of social media.”