Today, we’re looking at something we take for granted but has a significant impact on our environment in numerous ways, lighting. Electric lights are on 24 hours a day around the world and represent more than 15% of the world’s total electricity consumption.

The International Dark Sky Association estimates about 30 percent of all outdoor lighting in the U.S. alone is wasted adding up to $3.3 billion dollars in cost and the release of 21-million tons of carbon dioxide per year, equal to planting 875 million trees annually.

It’s another huge environmental problem looking for a solution. Nancy Clanton, the CEO of Clanton and Associates headquartered in Boulder, Colorado has spent decades looking at how to develop and implement smart lighting that minimizes the carbon build up in our atmosphere.