Lighting
Lighting accounts for about 5% to 10% of your monthly electric bill. It
is one of the simplest, most cost-effective things you can tackle when
trying to lower your usage. Fifty percent of all energy from lighting is
wasted due to using wattage bulbs that are too high and keeping lights
on too long (not turning them off when not in use).
• Here’s a bright idea – turn your lights out when you leave the room or
when you are not using them.
• Let the sun shine in – when it is not too hot outside, open the drapes
and blinds and use natural lighting from the sun.
• Switch all incandescent bulbs in your home to CFLs – Compact
Fluorescent Lighting. CFLs use 70% less electricity and last 10 times
longer than incandescent bulbs. Here’s the easy math for this decision:
Replace ten 60-watt incandescent bulbs with ten equivalent CFLs
(14-watt bulbs)
Purchase price: approximately $20
Average monthly savings: 41 kWhs or $4.40
Average annual savings: 492 kWhs or $49.20
Payback: break even in about 4 to 5 months
• Don’t let sticker shock keep you from buying CFLs. They use less
energy, they last longer, and due to their increased popularity and
availability, prices for CFLs are falling.
• Keep all bulbs in your home free of dust – dust significantly reduces
light output.
Click here to view the Lighting Tips Video