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LIGHTING Lighting uses about 15% of the energy you use in your home, and it is often the easiest way to cut back on energy use. A few simple steps can reduce energy consumption from lighting by up to 75%. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. Standard incandescent bulbs waste 90% of the electricity they use just to heat the bulb. Compact fluorescent bulbs provide about the same light quality and use 75% less energy than incandescents. Though they cost more initially, they last 13 times as long, so they end up saving you $65 over the lifetime of the bulb in electricity and replacement costs. Turn off lights you are not using, even if only for a brief period of time. It takes more energy to leave a light on than to switch it on and off. However, if you have fluorescent lights, turn them off only if you will be gone longer than 15 minutes. Make use of daylight. One 3x5 window in direct summer sun can let in more light than 100 standard 60-watt bulbs. To bounce the sun's light further into a room, decorate with light-colored furniture and wall color. You can also maximize light with reflective blinds on windows. Use task lighting. Focus lighting where you really need it: for reading, working, and safety. Lower your background lighting levels with lower-wattage bulbs to save energy and create more contrast in a room. Also, use lower-wattage bulbs in areas like closets and hallways where you do not do much reading. Use fewer bulbs in a multi-fixture lamp. Use two bulbs in a three-light fixture, and install a burned out bulb in the third socket to be safe. Use motion detectors and timers. Install an automatic timer to shut off any lights in your house that are frequently left on when they shouldn't be, such as in the garage or basement, or when you are on vacation. This suggestion also applies to security lights outside. If outdoor lights are triggered by motion, position them carefully and use the lowest wattage with which you are comfortable. For high security, use a high-pressure sodium bulb on a timer or motion sensor. Set them to go on at bedtime and to turn off at dawn. High-pressure sodium bulbs perform best when they are on for long periods. Dust off light bulbs. Dirty light bulbs can reduce light output by as much as 10 percent. Dust them regularly, and you will also avoid switching to a stronger bulb, which will use more energy. Install dimmers. In areas where dimmed lighting makes sense, such as a bedroom or dining room, dimmers save an equal percentage of energy to the degree to which they are dimmed (e.g. A light bulb dimmed by 15 percent reduces energy consumption by 15 percent). Use lampshades that make the most out of your lighting. Many shades absorb light or reflect it in the wrong direction. You may want to consider switch to a light-colored shade or one that reflects light effectively. |