Energy Efficient Lighting
Fast
Facts:
- The average household
dedicates 5-10% of its energy budget to lighting.
- About 25% of all
electricity generated in the United States is used for lighting.
- In a typical residential
or commercial lighting installation, 50% or more of the energy is wasted
by obsolete equipment, inadequate maintenance, or inefficient use.
- You can save money
by changing the lighting fixtures and bulbs/lamps used in your home.
- The incandescent
lamp is the most common lighting source in US homes--it is also the
least efficient.
- Long-life bulbs
are less efficient than regular life incandescent bulbs.
- Fluorescent lamps
convert electricity to visible light five times more efficiently than
the incandescent lamps and last up to 20 times longer.
- The operating efficiency
and long life offset the initial high cost of a compact fluorescent
lamp.
- The most efficient
light sources available are low-pressure sodium and high-pressure sodium
lamps which are used primarily in street lighting and commercial and
industrial applications.
What can I
do to save energy in my home?
- Lower wattage,
which may involve replacing bulbs, lamps or entire fixtures.
- Reduce the light
source's on-time, which means improving lighting controls and educating
users to turn off unneeded lights.
- Use day-lighting,
which reduces energy consumption by replacing electric lights with natural
light.
- If purchasing a
new lighting fixture, consider a fluorescent fixture instead of an incandescent
fixture which can provide energy savings of 60% to 75%.
- Replace lights
with the longest hours of operation with more efficient energy technologies.
- If replacing a
bulb in an existing fixture, consider using a compact fluorescent bulb
in the existing fixture.
- Compact fluorescent
lamps are most efficient in spaces where the lights are on for several
hours per day.
- In some table lamps,
it may be necessary to install an adapter, harp extender, or a new harp
specifically designed to accept compact fluorescent bulbs.
- Convert outdoor
incandescent lamps to high-pressure sodium or fluorescent lamps. Ask
your hardware store about high-pressure sodium lamps.
- Use installed dimmers
regularly.
- Use 4-watt nightlights
instead of 7-watt nightlights.
Additional Sources of
Information
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