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LIGHTING & ELECTRICITY
LIGHTING & ELECTRICITY MONEY SAVING TIPS
The average household spends over 10% of its energy budget on lighting. Taking a few simple actions, and changing a few habits, can significantly reduce the cost of lighting your home, perhaps by over 50%. Here are some suggestions for savings. If interested, visit michaelbluejay.com/electricity/howmuch.html for an easy way to calculate the cost of electricity for lighting and other electronics.
1. Use fewer lights for fewer hours each day.
a. Turn off lights that are not being used in an occupied room, and turn off all lights in a room that is unoccupied.
b. Consider installing timers, photo cells or occupancy sensors to help ensure lights are only on when needed.
c. Instead of lighting the entire room, only use lights for the task you are performing, such as using a single reading light.
d. Use a single high watt bulb instead of several low watt bulbs to light an area.
e. Use daylight when possible by opening your blinds and drapes.
2. Use lights that are turned on in a more efficient manner.
a. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs when possible. They use far less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs. While they cost more, they last much longer than standard bulbs, and their purchase cost is becoming more reasonable. Use four foot fluorescent fixtures in places like workrooms, garages and laundry areas.
b. When possible, use dimmers on your lights to reduce the amount of electricity consumed.
c. Install three-
d. Replace 100 watt light bulbs with 75 watt light bulbs to reduce energy consumption in areas where bright light is not required.
e. Consider using 4 watt mini-
f. If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, replace them with compact fluorescent torchieres. They consume far less energy and do not get as hot.
g. Dust your bulbs and light lenses regularly to ensure light output is maximized. Dust can cut light output by up to 25%.
h. Place lights in a corner where light can reflect off two walls and provide more light.
i. When repainting a room, consider using a light color that reflects light better and can make a room just as bright with less lighting.
Do not forget the cost of outdoor lighting. For some homeowners, this can be a major cost, especially if lights are left on all night. A few simple tips may result in considerable savings.
1. Use controls to automatically turn lights on and off.
a. Use lights with photocell units that turn on only when it is dark.
b. Use lights with motion sensors that turn on only when someone is present.
c. Use timers on your lights.
2. Use lights specifically designed for outdoors.
a. Compact fluorescent lamps can be used outdoors, but if you live in cold temperatures make sure you get lamps with a cold weather ballast.
b. Consider installing low-
c. Photovoltaic lights or outdoor solar lighting systems that convert sunlight into electricity are a good option for some outdoor lighting.
d. If you need a lot of light, consider high-
e. If you are using decorative outdoor natural gas lamps consider turning them off most of the time. Burning year round they use a tremendous amount of gas.
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