How to Choose Energy Efficient Light Sources

With the massive amounts of energy consumed by most appliances in today's homes we don't think about what is used by one little light bulb. But according to the Department of Energy, the lighting in our homes accounts for 15 percent of our household's total energy use. By using new lighting technologies, lighting energy consumption can be reduced by 50 to 75 percent. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Step one is to find all the energy draining bulbs in your home and replace them with more efficient compact fluorescents. The majority of light bulbs used in homes are tungsten incandescent. This common light bulb is extremely inefficient, converting 90 to 95 percent of the energy it consumes into heat, not light.

2. Replace all incandescent bulbs at the same time if within your budget or as each bulb burns-out. Fluorescent lights have undergone a transformation from the old dull emitting long tubes that flicker, to compact florescent lights. These are currently being designed to fit almost all lighting needs and can be purchased at most stores. They cost more, but last a lot longer than their incandescent cousins.

3. Do not be fooled by the "long life" incandescent bulbs on the market. These may last longer than regular incandescents, but instead of using less energy they often use more to produce the same amount of light.

Tips & Warnings

• Know the different levels of efficiency: standard incandescents can last 1000 hours, with an efficiency level of 13; long-life incandescents can last 3000 hrs , with an efficiency level of 12; and compact fluorescents can last 7500 hrs, with an efficiency level of 60.