Installing lights in your home may seem like a simple task, but there are several things you should know before you take this step, in order to save your energy and reduce your costs long term.
The average household allocates 5% of its energy usage to lighting. you can save up to $60 a year by replacing the five most used lights in your home with more efficient bulbs, as 90% of the energy consumed by traditional halogen light bulbs is transformed into heat rather than light. There are three main choices for energy efficient lights. These are Halogen Incandescents, Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
Halogen Incandescents
Halogen Incandescents are similar to traditional halogen light bulbs but they have a capsule around the filament that holds gas in order to increase the efficiency. Halogen Incandescents can be used with a dimmer and are the cheapest energy efficient bulb.
These lights are great for the bedroom or living space due to their dimming features. Halogen incandescent lighting can also be installed in different colours so you can light up different areas of your home or create certain mood lighting in various rooms.
Compact Fluorescent Lights
CFLs work exactly like fluorescent bar lights that you might find in a kitchen or garage, except reduced in size and curled into a spiral to fit in the same space as a traditional bulb. CFLs typically use a quarter of the energy of traditional halogen bulbs and last up to ten times as long. CFLs can pay themselves off through their energy savings in nine months, however CFLs contain mercury so must be appropriately recycled when they eventually die. CFLs come in a wide range of colour temperatures and some can be dimmed. Due to their fluorescent nature these are best installed in your garage, kitchen or laundry. They be installed in areas of the home where more light is needed, either to do tasks or because these areas of your home do not get much natural light.
Light Emitting Diodes
LEDs are one of the most efficient light sources. LEDs use only 20-25% of the energy of traditional bulbs and last 15-25 times longer. The increased efficiency, durability and lifespan come at a cost however, but the investment is well worth it. LEDs can come in almost any colour tone and lumination, and can even come in remote controlled multi-coloured bulbs for events and parties. They can even come with daylight or motion sensors and are perfect for outdoor use as they are extremely durable and perform well in cold environments.
No matter which lights you install in your home, there are always small things you can do to save money and energy. You should turn all the lights off in your home before you leave the house. You can also ensure that before you install lights, an electrician checks the electrical wiring in your home. Another thing you can do to conserve energy is to ensure that lights are dimmed where possible in order to conserve energy.
