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Eco
Friendly Home Lighting Tips – Be Energy Efficient
When it comes to saving the
planet and saving some money on your energy bill, lighting can play a
key role. Lighting can account for about 30% of your energy bill, so
changing your lights to more energy efficient options can save you quite
a bit. Not to mention the positive impact on the environment. Here are
some tips for more energy efficient lighting:
The first thing you should
do is switch to compact fluorescent lighting (CFL). That’s those swirly
lights that have a whiter glow to them than the incandescent lights.
While these might cost a bit more than the regular incandescent lights,
they use only about 25% of the electricity so they can have a big impact
on your lighting bill. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs too so
you won’t have to replace them as often.
Eco Friendly Home Lighting – Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
LED light bulbs are a
newcomer to the energy efficient lighting market and have a few
advantages over compact fluorescent lighting. They have a brighter light
and don’t take time to “warm up” and reach their full lighting. They
also cost less to run and last even longer than compact fluorescent
lighting reducing your energy usage by 80-90% and lasting over 100,000
hours.
Eco Friendly Home Lighting – Outside Lighting
When it comes to lighting
outside the home, the energy conscientious consumer might want to
consider solar lighting. Lights for walkways, driveways and outside the
front door can collect energy from the sun during the day and use it to
power their lights during the night. A great way to light up your home
without using any energy at all.
Eco Friendly Home Lighting –
Be Energy Efficient
In addition to using more
efficient light bulbs, there are some things you can do to help reduce
the amount of energy you use for lighting. First of all, you want to be
sure that you don’t use lights unnecessarily. When no one is home or
when a room is empty, be sure to turn the lights off. During the
daytime, open the blinds and let the sunshine in instead of using indoor
lighting. Using motion sensors can help to insure lights turn on only
when needed.
When it comes to lighting,
you need to have the right amount for the tasks you intend to do. While
you don’t want to skimp or have poor lighting in important areas like
the kitchen, you also want to be cognizant of when to use the lights and
when to flip the switch. Remember reducing your use of electricity helps
to reduce CO2 emissions into the air since the plants that produce
electricity are largely coal burning plants which can add to global
warming. A little bit of prudence on your part can make a big difference
in the stability of our environment.
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Green
Home Living