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American Lighting Association | 5 mental groups and standard and code organi- zations that influence how lighting products are designed. The association supports ener- gy-efficiency standards for lighting products, including light bulbs and ceiling fans. The ALA works closely with governmen- tal organizations such as National Electrical Manufacturers Association, U.S. Depart- ment of Energy, U.S. Environmental Pro- tection Agency, ENERGY STAR, National Kitchen and Bath Association and the Il- luminating Engineering Society of North America, among many others. “There are a few others who are also wor- ried about these technical issues, but resi- dential lighting has turned in the past few years from a non-technical industry to one that is fast becoming very technical,” Mc- Gowan says, who is a lifelong member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. ALA also monitors the actions of legis- lative and regulatory bodies, and represents the industry’s interests in legislative matters, McGowan says. “That’s one of the veins of our existence – how do we keep track of that, how do we minimize the cost burden, how do we educate our members, many of whom are not technical, and how to educate our members to be able to respond to those de- mands,” he explains. The association’s drive to promote its Terry K. McGowan