Energy Efficient Lighting
Reduce my carbon footprint and my electric bill? Tell me more! Energy efficient lighting options have been around for decades, yet many Americans are still using the regular incandescent bulbs that their grandmothers grew up with.
Don't be left in the dark when it comes to energy efficient lighting! There are two main options that fit standard light fixtures: compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) and light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)
Just like traditional incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulbs give off the same kind of warm light, but at the fraction of the cost by using only a fraction of the energy. While there is a bit of an upfront cost compared to traditional bulbs, it is a cost that is more than made up in the money you will save on electricity and the fact that one compact fluorescent light bulb will last nearly 10 times as long as a regular incandescent bulb.
Light Emitting Diode Bulbs (LED)
If you want to go all the way and use the most energy efficient light bulb available today, the light emitting diode bulb is for you. LEDs have the lifespan of about 6 CFLs and about 40 incandescent bulbs and use the least amount of energy over their lifespan of these three options.
There are a few drawbacks to these amazingly energy efficient bulbs. Light emitting diodes do have a larger upfront cost than CFLs and not everyone is quite ready to cough up the dough. Additionally LEDs tend to create a very direct stream of light that can be great for a reading lamp, but tricky when trying to illuminate an entire room. Finally, many people who have used these bulbs have commented on the cool, blue tint of the light. Those who are looking for something on the warmer side are often a little disappointed.
Personally speaking, CFLs have worked really well nearly all of my energy efficient lighting needs in my home and my office. I tried a string of LED lights on my Christmas tree this past year and didn't like the blue tint to the light as well. Additionally, you can find compact fluorescent light bulbs almost anywhere.
Other great ways to save on your lighting costs...
- Turn off your lights It's still by far the best way to save on your energy bill and a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Whenever you leave the room, turn the lights off! Despite rumors that it takes more energy to turn the lights off and on again, the best way to save on your energy bill is to turn off the lights whenever you are not using them.
- Use a dimmer switch A dimmer switch does more than create the perfect mood lighting, it uses electricity. If your lights are only half way on, you are using only half as much electricity as you would otherwise. Dimmer switches are available for both wall switches and things like floor lamps. Check you local hardware store.
- Install a motion sensor How many times have you left your outside light on knowing that it would be dark when you returned home? Think about how much electricity you could save if you just installed a motion detector for your outside lights. You still won't trip on the way up to your front door and you can reduce your carbon footprint by keeping the lights off when you're not using them.
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