LIGHTING BASICS

Improve your existing lighting, and get immediate energy savings. Larger consumes can be easily reduced by 50% or more...

Ligting improvements

To get immediate energy savings...

- Use fluorescent lights and CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) 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.

- Prefer Energy Star, UE and other high-rated lighting products. More efficient lamps and fixtures provide a lower wattage for the same light output.

- install lighting controls (motion detecters and other controls can automatically turn lights off...);

- install smaller lamps: verify the wattage of your lamps, and install smaller ones if you are using more energy than that you actually need.

- use task lighting or accent-decorative lighting instead of overhead fixtures. See: indoor lighting design.

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 a longe service life.

Structural lighting strategies

Other more structural lighting improvements involve designing new homes with an energy-efficient focus, taking into account details related with passive solar techniques, windows, skylights, or the shape and sun exposure of the house. And also improved indoor lighting design and outdoor lighting design.

Fluorescent lamps

Fluorescent lamps (including CFL's) are significantly more expensive than incandescents, but they are about 3 to 4 times more efficient and last 10 times more, on average.

See, for more details: Fluorescent Lights: fixtures, uses, shapes, types

Indoor Lighting Principles

Whenever possible...

- use task lights instead of ambient lights;
- use light colors on the walls: it will reduce the need for lighting.
- maximize the use of solar passive techniques to achieve a longer and better day-lighting;
- Use skylights;
- Use energy-efficient lamps and controls (Energy Star, UE and other eco-labeled lighting products).

Outdoor Lighting design

Outdoor lighting 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 like photo-sensors, dimmers, motion-sensors and timers are important elements for energy-efficiency and electricity savings. See, for details: Lighting controls.