The green revolution continues to gain momentum worldwide, and the world of lighting is making rapid advances in energy conservation and wise use of power. The great news about going green in lighting is that it will put more money in your wallet or pocketbook as well. Going green makes sense for the planet and your budget.
There are many, many ways that you can improve your home lighting’s efficiency, which will be good for the environment and your account balance. Any modifications that you make will affect up to 15% of your total energy budget in the average American house, for example, a significant slice of your costs.
Here are several areas in which you can make slight adjustments and vastly increase your home lighting’s power for the money:
Lamp Choices
Incandescent lamps are SO 20th Century! Did you know that these ancient bulbs convert only 10% of the energy that they consume into light? That’s unacceptable in the 21st Century! These lamps are so inefficient because their basic technology is 100 years old. A better alternative is Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). These lamps are 3 times as efficient as incandescent. Sure, they take a few seconds to reach full light strength, but the savings are more than worth it. You can use a 20-watt CFL to replace a 75-watt incandescent bulb, and by doing that, you will save more than $20 per year per bulb if it’s used 8 hours/ day. Given that CFLs last up to 10 years, you’ve pocketed $200+ with one bulb change, after an initial investment of $4. Who would not take that rate of return? Now, multiply that throughout your home and all of the sudden you look like a green financial genius.
Another option for phasing out your incandescent bulbs are LED lights. LED lights are even more energy-efficient than CFLs, lasting up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and using up to 90% less energy. While the initial cost of LED bulbs may be higher, the long-term savings on your energy bill and the reduced need for replacements make them a smart investment for any home.
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Light Fixtures and Switches
In addition to bulb choice, light fixtures are a great way to cut costs and increase efficiency. You can shop for Energy Star-compliant lamps for starters, but also use a variety of switches to maximize savings and power. Consider the installation of dimmers, two- or three-way switches, automated controls for all of your household lights that turn them off at certain regular times, etc. The more precise control that you have over all of your home’s lights, the more likely that they will be turned off when not used and turned on only when needed.
Automation makes it easy to accomplish this, and you will get a 100% return on your initial investment fairly quickly. More people than you think now control their home’s lights from their smartphone or tablet. They don’t have to walk out onto the deck in the middle of winter to turn out a light or follow behind the kids in every room to see that the lights are extinguished. They simply take a peek at their screen, turn out lights that are not in use, and smile with deep satisfaction knowing that they are constantly saving money.
Motion Sensors and Occupancy Sensors
Motion sensors and occupancy sensors are another excellent way to save money on lighting costs. These devices detect movement or the presence of people in a room and automatically turn lights on or off accordingly. This means that lights are only on when they are needed, reducing energy waste and saving you money on your electricity bill.
Motion sensors are particularly useful for outdoor lighting, such as porch lights or security lights. Rather than leaving these lights on all night, a motion sensor will only activate the light when movement is detected, providing light when it’s needed while conserving energy the rest of the time.
Occupancy sensors are ideal for indoor spaces like offices, conference rooms, or even bathrooms. These sensors detect when someone enters the room and automatically turn on the lights. When the room is no longer occupied, the lights will turn off after a set period of time, ensuring that energy isn’t being wasted on an empty room.
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Light Sensors and Other Ideas
Obviously, light sensors are another good way to save money on light use. You don’t need most of your outdoor lights constantly running. Set up a sensor so that they turn on only when you need to see who or what is walking towards your garage door, for instance.
Other ideas for improving your fixtures and control of your lights include: solar-powered fixtures to run your landscape lights or ones with timers (this is essential; you will often forget to turn off landscape lights and run up higher bills while you sleep); using LEDs whenever possible in your landscape lighting – they last forever and are extremely efficient; fan/light combinations indoors are proven energy savers.
Other ways to save in the home are so simple you might not have thought of them. For example, are you using daylight as efficiently as you can in your home? Can you trim the trees outside to let more daylight in and cut down on your electrical use? You probably can. Another way to use that sunlight is to ramp up your use of solar power. It’s not as expensive as you think to purchase a panel, and sunlight can do a lot to heat your house and power lights both inside and outside your home.
The Benefits of Energy-Efficient Lighting
By making these simple changes to your home’s lighting, you can enjoy significant energy savings while also doing your part to protect the environment. Energy-efficient lighting reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps to conserve our planet’s limited resources. Plus, with the money you save on your energy bills, you’ll have more to spend on the things that matter most to you.
So why wait? Start making the switch to energy-efficient lighting today and enjoy a brighter, greener future for yourself and the planet. With the wide range of options available, from CFLs and LEDs to motion sensors and occupancy sensors, there’s never been a better time to go green with your lighting. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!
