 Lighting accounts for up to 10% of household energy use.
By changing to energy efficient light bulbs in most rooms, and making better use of the sun, you can cut your lighting costs. This saves electricity, which means lower bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. |
|
No costs/ low costs options
- Don’t light an entire room when task lighting will do.
- Adjust lighting levels to your needs with three-way lamps.
- Turn off the lights when you are not in a room.
- Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.
- Install occupancy sensors, so lights go off automatically in unoccupied rooms.
- Replace halogen torchieres with compact fluorescent ones. They use less energy and are safer.
- Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts in workroom, garage and laundry areas.
Some investment
- Look for the ENERGY STARlabel when purchasing these products.
- Use CFLs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Consider carefully the size and fit of these systems when you select them. Some home fixtures may not accommodate some of the larger CFLs.
- Recessed down lights (also called recessed cans) are now available that are rated for contact with insulation (IC rated), are designed specifically for pin-based CFLs, and can be used in retrofits or new construction.
Sources:
www.energywise.org.nz
www.cl-p.com
www1.eere.energy.gov
|
|
|
