You can save money on your electricity bill and do your part to help the environment by paying attention to energy-efficient lighting. The bulbs you use do make a difference—but so do your lighting habits. Here’s how to maximize your energy efficiency when lighting your home.
The type of bulb you use makes a big impact on your energy usage. In order to get the most out of your light bulbs, you’ll need to know the facts about the bulbs out there. Most people use the least energy-efficient bulbs on the market—but there are more efficient options, which could save you money and energy in the long run. Here’s an overview of your options.
Incandescents. These are the worst bulbs on the market in terms of energy efficiency. They’re also the most commonly used. Incandescents are the original bulbs invented by Thomas Edison, and their design has hardly changed since then. They emit only 10% of the energy they use as light. The rest, they emit as heat—which is why you’re risking fire if you let your lampshade touch the bulb. However, these are generally the cheapest bulbs out there, and the light they emit is warm and attractive—which is what makes them so common. Incandescents last about 1,000 hours before they have to be replaced.
Halogens. Halogen bulbs are an improvement over incandescent bulbs. They are more energy-efficient than incandescents, and last over three times as long. Their light tends to be a bit brighter than that of an incandescent bulb.
Fluorescents. Fluorescent bulb technology has come a long way in the past few decades. While most of us think of harsh, flickering light when we think of fluorescents, today’s bulbs actually emit a light as pleasant as that of incandescents. They last about ten times as long, and are much more energy-efficient. In addition, the invention of compact fluorescents makes it possible for you to fit a fluorescent bulb into the same fixtures you’d use an incandescent in. While older fluorescent bulbs are long, straight tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs have the tube wrapped in a coil—so that the bulb is actually almost the same shape and size as a fluorescent. These are the more common energy-efficient bulbs for sale.
If you change all your incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescents today, you’ll already make a significant contribution to the environment. Fluorescent bulbs are more expensive than incandescents; however, you’ll notice the savings in your energy bill.
However, changing your bulbs isn’t the only thing you should be doing if you want to save energy. Here are some good energy-saving habits to get into in order to maximize the efficiency of your bulbs.
Turn off the lights when you leave a room. It’s a simple act that can save significant energy—and yet so many of us forget to do it. Get into the habit of turning off the lights when you leave the room, and encourage your family to do the same. The most energy-efficient light bulb in the world is still wasting energy if it’s burning in an empty room.
Light small areas of a larger room. If you have a large living space in your house, don’t use a big, bright light that illuminates every corner. Instead, use smaller, energy-efficient lights that cover less space—but that brighten only the area you’re using. That way you won’t be spending energy to light the entire room when you’re only using a corner of it.
Use dimmer switches. Unfortunately, these won’t work with fluorescent bulbs. However, dimmer switches can extend the lifespan and energy efficiency of incandescents. So if you must use incandescent bulbs, install a dimmer switch to save energy.
Don’t leave outside lights on constantly. Many people leave their outside lights on twenty-four hours a day in the interests of security. This can be a huge energy expense, however. For maximum energy efficiency, time your lights so that they only turn on at night. Instead of leaving them on overnight, install a motion sensor. This can actually add to your security, because it looks to a burglar like someone just woke up and turned the lights on. Constant, bright light doesn’t have the same effect—and it wastes energy.
If you want a more energy-efficient home, changing your lighting is a great place to start. It’s much more cost-effective than an entire energy overhaul, and it does make a difference in your energy usage. If everyone in the country were to switch to fluorescent bulbs today, we’d see a definite difference in our country’s energy output.