It is easy to reduce your energy consumption instantly and increase the eco-friendliness in your home. Easy is the key. energy savingsLighting is essential, but many homeowners and renters struggle to understand how to improve the lighting efficiency of their homes.
The American Lighting Association (ALA), offers simple energy-saving tips to help you get out of that mess.
1. Compact fluorescents (CFLs) can replace incandescent lamps. You can immediately reduce your energy consumption and lower your utility bills by replacing your incandescent bulbs. “It’s the easiest way to start improving your energy efficiency,”Joe Rey Barreau, an education consultant to the ALA and associate professor in the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design, says: You can find the best CFL for your needs by looking at the color temperature on the package label. Use a bulb with a label “residential color,” “warm”Oder “soft white.”
2. Dimmable incandescent bulbs should be replaced with dimmable CFLs. CFLs’ ability to dimmable has increased, as has the range of colors. Dimmable bulbs have been shown to lower energy consumption. CFLs don’t have the dimming capability of incandescents.
3. Brands are better. It’s frustrating to buy a long-lasting bulb and have it fail quickly. Avoid this by choosing recognizable brands to ensure better quality and more consistent color.
4. Revamp outdoor fixtures. While your outdoor lighting fixture might be stunning, it could also be a drain on energy. You should look for energy-efficient fixtures which use CFLs, light-emitting diodes or LEDs. Also, be sure to check out those that activate with a motion sensor or photocell.
5. Energy Star-qualified bulbs and fixtures can be bought. Energy Star certification is the most widely recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for appliances, but can also be used to certify lighting fixtures and bulbs.
6. Retrofitting recessed lighting with LED fixtures. Although LED bulbs are expensive at the beginning, they last for the life of the fixture.
7. Replace undercabinet lighting. Some LED lighting is long-lasting and extremely efficient. It can also be installed easily, using pucks or strips as undercabinet lighting. LED lights emit less heat than incandescents, which is a bonus.
To see the latest products and talk with experts about improving the energy efficiency of your lighting, visit your nearest ALA-member retail store. Find your nearest ALA member lighting showroom by visiting www.americanlightingassoc.com.
