How can I be more energy efficient?

Making small improvements and minor adjustments by using proper lighting design principles is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills and get on the eco-friendly bandwagon. The following checklist should help you make sure you’re taking steps to using the right energy efficient solutions:

1. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL’s)

The first thing you should do is switch to compact fluorescent lighting (CFL). Switching to energy efficient bulbs such as CFL’S and Linear Fluorescent tubes in fixtures throughout your home will help to provide high-quality and high-efficiency lighting, while decreasing the amount of energy you use and money you spend. While CFL’s might cost a bit more than the regular incandescent lights, they use only about 25% of the electricity and last nearly 6 to 12 times longer than the standard bulbs, which not only means you will change light bulbs less frequently, but also see savings in your electricity bill.

2. Install Dimmers Throughout Your Home Dimmers

By installing dimmers for fixture appliances such as chandeliers, wall sconces and hanging pendants, you can conveniently control the amount of light that is produced and a simple energy saver.

3. Make Use of Natural Light

Plain and Simple – are you able to obtain natural light by opening the blinds to a window? Do you have lights on inside or outside of your home on bright sunny days? This is an effortless solution to eliminate wasteful uses of energy through natural light, as well as a huge cost saver. Install skylights in your home or even your shed – these windows will add tons of natural light without the expense of using electricity for light bulbs.

4. Use Multi-Room Controls

Instead of having everything timed to one switch so 10 lights all turn on with the flip of one switch, go over and make a plan of how much light you need, where you need it and if it is by automatic timer, for how long. Doing this will prevent wasteful use of lighting energy.

5. Flip the Switch

The simplest solution of all – turn off the lights every time you leave a room, even if you're planning to return in a few minutes. The less lights you use, the lower your electric bill and the more energy saved.

6. Buy Energy Star-Labeled Products

Energy Star qualified fixtures is an excellent option to light your space – not only are they available in many styles and for many purposes, both indoor and outdoor space, but they also distribute light more efficiently and evenly than standard fixtures. You're guaranteed to save energy and cost of electricity with the Energy Star label.

7. Install Occupancy Sensors

For the easily forgotten areas of your home such as laundry rooms, garages and basements, installing occupancy sensors can be a quick solution to leaving lights on or having lights on timers – especially for homes with children. This is a trend that is rapidly catching on, and requires no additional work after installation – walk in the room and VOILA!

8. Upgrade Your Outdated Fixtures

If you are using fluorescents that are more than 10 years old, replace them. Newer models are much more efficient and in most cases, the cost of the fixture will be less than the cost to replace the (outdated) ballast.

9. Consider Solar Lighting

When it comes to lighting outside the home, this is something for consumers to consider. Lights for walkways, driveways and outside the front door can collect energy from sun during the day and use it to power their lights during the night. This is a great way to provide light in your home without using any energy at all.