Lighting

A single light doesn't use a whole lot of energy. But when you add up all the lights in your home, and think about how long they are usually on during the month, it can really add up. In fact, lighting is about 12% of your monthly bill.

Let The Sun Shine In

Why use the lights when you can use the sun? Open blinds and curtains during the day to take advantage of nature's light.

Dim The Lights

Consider purchasing solid-state dimmer switches. They can increase bulb life while reducing electric consumption and cost. But don't use them with compact fluorescent bulbs because they're not compatible. Replace Incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Compared to regular light bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy and last ten times longer.

Motion Sensors Make Sense

Are you tired of asking everyone to turn off the lights when they leave the room? If so, try replacing light switches with motion or occupancy sensors. These make the lights go on or off when someone enters or leaves the room. The garage is the perfect place for one. They're also good for exterior lighting. Your lights will only come on when motion is detected.

Let Timers Take On The Task

If you forget to turn off lights, think about buying a timer. It turns lights on and off automatically, and helps your day-to-day home security, too. Best of all, you can set it and forget it.

Save Watts Wherever You Can

Use watt-saving bulbs in incandescent and fluorescent fixtures. They give off the same amount of light as regular bulbs, but use 10% less energy. Just remember, the higher the wattage, the more it costs to have your lights on.

Try Photocells

Photocells automatically turn on your lights when it gets dark. Then, when it's bright enough, the photocell turns the lights off. They're great for outdoor or security lighting because you don't have to remember to turn them off in the morning. The sunlight will do it for you.

Decorate In Light Colors

If you plan to redecorate, think about lighter colors. Dark colors absorb light, so you'll use more watts to light the room.

Let The Light Through

Lamp shades can make a big difference. A lamp with a light colored shade, especially one that's lined in white, will give the best light. Tall, narrow shades or short, dark-colored shades let through less light. You'll probably need to turn on another light to see properly, which means you'll use more electricity.

Keep Them Clean

Dirty or dusty light bulbs don't put out as much light as clean bulbs. That's because dirt and dust absorb light.

Consider Low Voltage Lighting For The Outdoors

If you're planning to light up your landscaping, install low voltage lighting whenever possible. A string of six low voltage lights uses about 108 watts, compared to a single 150 watt flood light.

Plan For That Vacation

If you're going away, you'll probably want to leave some lights on for security reasons. If so, consider buying timers to turn your lights on and off instead of leaving them on 24 hours-a-day. The money you save on lighting could easily pay for the timers.