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Basics on Home Lighting
Lighting is responsible for around 5-15% of home's electricity
uses. This large consume can be reduced by 50% or more...
- using a correct indoor lighting design
and outdoor lighting design
- selecting lighting (namely
fluorescent lights and qualified fixtures)
- installing lighting controls (controls
as dimmers, or sensors to automatically turn lights on and off);
-
using reflector
bulbs in task lighting or accent-decorative lighting instead of
common non-reflector bulbs. An example: a 50W reflector ("R")
bulb can illuminate as much as a non-reflector (“A”) 100W bulb.
- designing new homes with an energy-efficient focus, taking
into account details related with
passive solar techniques,
windows,
skylights, or
shape and sun exposure of
the house….
See also:
Daylighting
Fluorescent
lamps
Fluorescent lamps - namely CFL's - are significantly more expensive than
incandescent, but they are about 3 to 4 times as efficient as
incandescent and last 10 times longer or more…
See, for more details:
Fluorescent Lights: fixtures,
uses, shapes, types
Lighting Savings
To obtain higher lighting savings, you should…
- Use CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) in portable
lighting fixtures (clamp lights, work lights…), namely in rooms
and places where lights are on
for more than 2 hours a day.
- Use fluorescent light fixtures for ceilings and walls
of kitchens, living rooms and other high demanded rooms –
bathrooms, bedrooms… - whenever lights are on for more than 2 hours
a day.
You should also prefer
Energy Star,
EU and other eco-labeled lighting products. More efficient
lamps and fixtures models provide a lower wattage for the same
light output.
Note:
Though Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) can now be used in
incandescent fixtures, it is largely preferable to use dedicated
fluorescent fixtures – they allow higher energy savings, and a
better light, reliability and service-life.
Indoor Lighting Principles
- Whenever possible, use task lights instead of ambient lights;
- Walls should be painted with light colors: it will reduce
the need for lighting.
- Maximize the use of
solar passive techniques to achieve a longer and better
day-lighting.
- Use skylights whenever
possible;
- Use energy-efficient lamps and controls (Energy
Star,
EU and other eco-labeled lighting products).
Outdoor
Lighting design
Outdoor lighting can be important, but is often a
cause of light pollution. See
Outdoor lighting basics.
Outdoor solar lighting is a good and cheap solution, in
garden and landscape lighting.
Low-voltage lighting is also an excellent and reliable
solution for landscape lighting.
For tips on outdoor lighting design, see:
Landscape lighting design.
Lighting Controls & Energy-Efficiency
Lighting controls as photo-sensors, dimmers, motion-sensors and
timers are important elements of energy efficiency
and electricity savings.
See, for details: Lighting
controls.
See also:
Kitchen lighting design
Bathroom Lighting
Family,
living and dining rooms
Home
office lighting
Bedroom and childreen's room lighting
Hallways, Halls, Stairs and Laundry
lighting
Basement lighting
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