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Saving lighting costs goes way beyond turning off the light switch when you leave the room—although that's still a good idea! Here are a number of low-cost actions you can take to save energy and money:
- For each standard incandescent bulb you replace with a compact fluorescent bulb, you can save from $10 or more on your electric costs over the life of the bulb (see chart below). You get more hours of illumination (compact fluorescents have a life expectancy of 10,000 hours, compared to 750 to 900 hours for standard bulbs) and three to four times more lighting efficiency. Start by replacing bulbs that are on for more than three hours per day. Next, replace bulbs that are in hard-to-reach places. You'll save time, effort and energy.
- When buying bulbs, look for the highest lumens-per-watt ratio. Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb gives off, while watts measure how much energy a bulb uses. A typical lumens-per-watt ratio for an incandescent bulb is 15:1. This compares to 60:1 for a fluorescent bulb.
- Use brighter bulbs in areas where you do close-up work such as reading, cooking and home projects. Use less-bright light in other areas.
- Keep light bulbs and fixtures clear of dust and other particles. Clean bulbs give off more light than dirty ones.
- Use natural light whenever you can. Make the most of natural light by moving desks, reading chairs and work benches closer to windows. Keep in mind that lighter colors for walls, ceilings and floors reflect more sunlight.
- Replace outdoor floodlights with halogen lamps, or use motion detectors. A 50- or 90-watt halogen lamp can replace a standard reflector bulb that has twice the wattage. Motion detectors save energy and money by turning on lights only when needed. Before installing, be sure to read the package instructions carefully to determine if the wiring in your home can handle a motion sensor.
Guidelines for Replacing Incandescent Bulbs with Fluorescent Bulbs
|
Existing |
Replace with |
| 60 Watt |
15 Watt Compact |
| 75 Watt |
20 Watt Compact |
| 100 Watt |
26 or 27 Watt |
| 150 Watt |
30 Ultra Watt |
|
Cost Comparison |
| |
60 Watt |
15 Watt |
| Cost of Bulb |
$ .75 |
$6 |
| Hours per Day |
5 |
5 |
| Hours per Year |
1825 |
1825 |
| Kilowatt-hours per Year |
110 |
27 |
| Cost per Year (at $ .12 per kilowatt-hour) |
$13.20 |
$3.24 |
| 60 Watts Reduced to 15 Watts = 45 Watt Reduction = $13.20 - $3.24 = $9.96 Savings per Year |
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