Lighting
- Consider using 3-way lamps. They make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light isn't necessary.
- For brighter, more energy-efficient light, place floor lamps and hanging lamps in corners - the reflection off the walls will provide more light.
- For more energy-efficient light, use one large bulb instead of several small ones. A 100-watt bulb produces more light with less energy than two 60-watt bulbs.
- If you have torchiere lamps with halogen bulbs, consider replacing them with compact fluorescent torchieres. Compact fluorescent torchieres use 60 to 80% less energy and can produce more light than halogen bulbs.
- Installing timers and motion detectors for some indoor lights and most outdoor lights can save up to 30% of lighting energy use.
- Instead of wasting energy by lighting the entire room, use task lighting to focus light where you need it most.
- Replace frequently-used lights with compact fluorescent lights. You'll save up to 79% on your lighting costs and significantly reduce the amount of heat generated by standard lights. LED light use even less energy.
- When you leave a room, or leave your home, remember to turn off all unnecessary lights.
Compact Fluorescents
One easy way to save electricity is to swap out inefficient incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use up to 75% less energy!
Our neighbor, Appalachian Electric Cooperative, conducted a study of the benefits of compact fluorescent bulbs which revealed the following results:
Compact Fluorescent Vs. Incandescent Bulbs
| Type of Bulb |
Life of Bulb |
Estimated Cost |
Energy Usage Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60-Watt Incandescent |
2,000 Hours |
40 cents |
$4.62 |
| 14-Watt Compact Fluorescent |
10,000 Hours |
$2 | $1.05 |
With this data, it’s easy to see that an annual savings of $3.57 will pay off the initial cost difference in five months! Compact fluorescent bulbs also emit less heat when lit than common incandescent lights. Compact fluorescent bulbs come in a variety of sizes to fit almost any fixture or lamp. Just making a small change from the common light bulb to an Energy Star-rated compact fluorescent can make your home waste less energy and save money.