Energy-Wise Lighting Tips
Not only is being Green good for the planet, it’s also great for your pocketbook. Here are some energy wise lighting tips you can use to save energy and save money in your home.
Make the Switch to LEDs
LED light bulbs and LED lighting are the most efficient lighting source on the market today. They are up to 10-times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, so they will save you money over the lifespan of the bulb.
They also last up to 25 time longer life than incandescent bulbs. This means you’ll have to replace burnt out bulbs far less, if at all. The long lifespan of LEDs is a great asset for those hard to reach fixtures and lights in your home. Install an LED and you’ll not have to re-lamp or replace the bulb for years to come.
Choose the Right Bulb for the Right Purpose
It’s important to select LED bulbs with the appropriate lumens for your space. Higher lumens are better for work areas, while lower lumens work wonderfully for ambiance lighting. Lumens are a measure of brightness for lights; the higher the number, the brighter the bulb. Using dimmable LED bulbs can also help reduce energy usage further, allowing you to pair it with a dimmer switch (expanded upon in the following section) to raise and lower the delivered lumens as needed.
You can also match the bulb’s color temperature to your needs. Color temperature is a scale measure in Kelvins, with lower numbers representing warmer tones and higher numbers representing brighter, whiter tones. 2700K to 3000K is considered a warm white light, perfect for cozy living rooms or bedrooms. 3500 to 4100K is cool white, great for task-oriented spaces such as kitchens or offices. 5000K to 6500K is daylight, ideal for workspaces or reading areas where you need to see clearly.
Switch Your Switches – Add a Dimmer
Dimmers allow you to reduce lighting when you don’t need full power, which saves both energy and light bulbs. Occupancy sensors turn lights off after you leave the room or shut the closet door — even if you forget.
Dimmers are often overlooked, but they do save energy. If you reduce your voltage by 10% on a dimmer, you will double the bulb life while saving energy and money. To dim fluorescents, use a special dimming ballast, as well as a dimmer that is compatible with fluorescents.
Move to Motion Detectors
Motion detectors offer another bright idea for snipping the electric bill. These are great for outside lighting. Your home is more secure, but the light shuts off when they’re not needed.
Light in Layers
Those lighting new homes for the first time might consider a less-is-more approach. One energy-wise lighting tip is to think of lighting in layers. Start with the spots where lights are most important, like where tasks and reading are performed. Don’t accept everything in the living room, just the important stuff. This allows you to use fewer lights without the house looking dark, and you’ll save on your energy bills.
Use a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans are a great way to conserve electricity year-round. They are economical and energy efficient, with most models utilizing about the same energy as a 100 watt light bulb. Ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature of a room like an air conditioner. But by spinning the air, they create a wind chill effect that makes you feel up to eight degrees cooler.
Simply raising a thermostat setting two degrees will save about 14% on energy consumption. Studies show that setting ceiling fans set to spin in a counter-clockwise pattern will save as much as 40% on summer cooling bills. Simply set the thermostat a few degrees higher and flip on the fan.
In the winter, ceiling fans move warm air back to the center of the room, pushing it down from the ceiling and helping homeowners save as much as 10% on their heating bills. Simply switch the direction of the blades to spin clockwise and turn on the fan.
Call or Visit Us for More Information
Looking for more ways to make your home more energy efficient? Our trained lighting specialists have the answers — Contact Us or find a Lamps Plus store near you.