Lighting
Reap considerable energy savings by changing a few habits and bulbs
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Compact fluorescents draw about one-quarter of the energy (see table below) of an incandescent bulb and last 7 to 10 times longer. Because CFLs contain tiny amounts of mercury, proper disposal is important.
- Keep lights off in unoccupied rooms and get in the habit of turning off the light every time you leave a room for more than a few minutes.
- Use low-wattage bulbs when possible. Bright lights are often not needed in hallways or closets.
- Clean light bulbs and fixtures since dirt can reduce light output by as much as 10 percent.
- Remove unnecessary bulbs in track and recessed lighting. Positioned correctly, three bulbs can sometimes provide nearly the same light as four.
- Install dimmers in areas where they make sense, such as the dining room and bedroom. The amount you dim lights equals your energy saved. For example, lights dimmed 15 percent reduces energy consumption up by 15 percent.
- When working at a desk or workbench, use task lighting and turn off or dim other lights in the room.
Typical usage details
| Type | Watts | Cost to operate for 8 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Compact fluorescent bulb | 15 to 20 watts | 1 cent |
| Incandescent bulb | 60 to 75 watts | 2 to 5 cents |
| Standard fluorescent bulb | 40 watts | 2 to 3 cents |
| Halogen bulb | 50 to 75 watts | 2 to 5 cents |
| Exterior flood lights | 100 to 250 watts | 4 to 17 cents |
