Dollars and Cents

In many cases, you can reduce the amount of energy consumed by your home's lighting at no cost, simply by turning lights off when they are not needed and by using low-wattage bulbs and task lighting. When replacing bulbs or fixtures, focus on energy efficiency. The extra money you spend will often be more than paid back through energy-cost savings. Consider the chart on page 24, which compares the cost of replacing a 60-W incandescent bulb with a 15-W compact fluorescent.

* One incandescent bulb provides about 1000 hours of light. It takes 10 light bulbs, at $0.50 each, to provide the same amount of hours of light as one compact fluorescent lamp, which provides 10 000 hours of light.

** The energy cost for 1000 hours of incandescent light (the life of one bulb) is $4.90. For 10 000 hours, which is equivalent to the life of a single compact fluorescent lamp, the energy cost is $49.

More Ways to Save Energy in Lighting

Apart from buying energy-efficient fixtures and lamps, you can save energy and money by following these steps in lighting your home:

• Use natural daylight from windows and skylights whenever possible.
• Turn lights off when they are not in use. This applies to fluorescent as well as incandescent lamps. If you are out of a room for more than 10 minutes, switching off a fluorescent light will save energy and lamp life. (Don't switch fluorescent lights on and off repeatedly or lamp life will be reduced.)
• Keep your lamps and fixtures clean. Dirt reduces light levels, which can lead to extra lights being switched on or higher wattage lamps being used. Drip-dry plastic parts to reduce static buildup, which can attract dust.
• When cleaning, unplug the fixture or turn the power off.
• Avoid having too many lights controlled by a single switch (this can result in having lights on where and when you don't need them). Switches should be visible and easily accessible.
• Consider replacing ordinary wall switches with hi/low switches, which have three settings: full brightness, one-third brightness and off. Make sure these switches don't use resistors, or you won't save energy.
• Install solid-state dimmers so that you can vary the light levels in a room to match your needs. This saves energy and extends bulb life. Look for dimmers that allow a full range of dimming, and dont buy bulbs that are brighter at full power than you need. Do not use compact fluorescents with standard household dimmers unless they are rated to function with dimmers.
• Consider installing other interior devices that save energy, including timers that automatically turn lights on and off after a set period of time or motion sensors that turn lights off when a room is unoccupied.
• When redecorating, remember that white walls and ceilings will reflect about 80 percent of the light that strikes them, whereas black surfaces reflect only about 10 percent of the light. In other words, you will need brighter lights in a room with a dark decor than in a room with white surfaces.
• Place floor lamps or table lamps in a corner instead of in the middle of a wall. This will allow them to reflect light from two walls, giving you more usable light for your money.

Finding What You Want

In the past, it was difficult to find stores that carried energy-efficient lighting products. Today, however, more and more stores are stocking a full range of these products.

For maximum choice, your best bet is probably a lighting specialty store or a supplier of electrical equipment. Check your local Yellow Pages^TM under “Lighting Fixtures,” “Light Bulbs and Tubes” and “Electrical Equipment Suppliers.” Don't hesitate to shop around.

If you can't find what you want even at a specialty store, ask them to order it. Special orders can often be filled quickly and easily.

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