Energy Saving Lighting

Lighting for the Energy Conscious

How would this modern world be without lighting. Hard to imagine isn't it? Thinking about it for a moment, I don't believe you would call it a 'modern world' with out lighting. It would be like a world today without computers! Interior designers pride themselves in being able to make our small living spaces appear larger by utilising proper lighting and decoration. They manage to do this by means of the use of halogen lamps,incandescent bulbs and even to the old days of using candles for effect. Unfortunately the increase in the cost of living these days requires the use of energy saving lighting.

What are the three key rules to follow in energy saving lighting.

1. Clean

Keep the lighting sources clean and make for energy saving lighting. Ensure your light bulbs are free from dust and dirt. If the bulb is covered in grime, it will emit less light and consume more electricity than is necessary.

2. Focus

Focusing light onto a selective area can be interpretted as decorative lighting and a technique used to make small rooms appear larger. You do not need all the light all the time. Concentrating the light where it’s needed can lead to energy saving lighting. This energy saving lighting strategy is known as “task lighting,” You can achieve this by directing light to a certain area of a room, reducing the of lighting upon a certain area, or lowering background lights so that only one light source provides illumination.

This strategy is common to energy saving lighting in offices. Don't think that it cannot be applied to the home. What you can do is to focus your light bulbs on a table top, or even a counter top where you regularly carry out such tasks of writing,reading or cooking. When only a minimum amount of light is required, install low wattage bulbs or use only one source of light providing optimum illumination.

Decorative gas lamps look great on a terrace or in a room but they also consume a lot of energy. What you can do is turn them off and confine energy use to your task lighting bulbs. Energy saving lighting is about using the right light sources and it doesn't hurt to turn off those that haven't a specific purpose or are impractical.

3. Replace

Replace old or inefficient bulbs with newer ones for energy saving lighting and save money over the long term. Old bulbs consume more electricity as they grow older. Buy new ones regularly, and keep emergency light bulbs in store.

Did you know that halogen lighting uses 40% less energy than traditional bulbs? They also provide bright illumination and are particularly useful in gardens and along pathways as a security device

The standard incandescent bulbs uses only 5-8% of its energy to produce light and all other energy is given off as heat and are therfor not recommended as energy saving lighting. Replace your incandescent lights with compact fluorescent bulbs. You should think about using light emitting diode (LED) bulbs as energy saving lighting for illuminating exits for example as these produce the same amount of light, but use 90% less energy and can last up to 10 years.

If you find that your appliances and home demand an incandescent bulb use a 100-watt incandescent bulb rather than two 60-watt globes as it produces the same amount of light but will use less energy. Remember you are only purchasing one single bulb not two, you are contributing to energy saving lighting and it’s easier on the budget.

Natural Lighting is the best choice as a replacement for expensive lighting. Nature is the best provider of energy saving lighting. Try turning off artificial lights during the daytime and work near a window. Take full advantage of the natural lighting in a room by painting your walls a light, bright color and use reflective louvers or venetian blinds as these additions will help to ease the effect of the natural lighting on your eyes.

To fully utilise the power of nature, install solar panels on the roof of your home and purchase solar-powered lights for the outdoors. They can gather solar energy in the daytime, then switch on at night.

Conclusion

Energy saving lighting is not all about saving money. Although somewhat expensive you could invest in automatic timers and motion sensors. These can switch lights on only when needed. Without doubt though the cheapest and surest way to energy saving lighting is to be aware of the use of unnecessary lighting. Turn the lights on only when you need them, and turn them off when you leave the room. You will not have a house burning power for no reason and the exercise will benefit the back pocket.

Remember, reducing your electricity bill is equivalent to saving power, thus helping the world save power for its future generations.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill.
Get a complete guide at Earth 4 Energy

by - Stephen Reeves

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