How to Reduce Lighting Cost
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, artificial lighting accounts for 15 percent of a household's total electricity bill. While living by flashlight or kerosene lantern would definitely decrease lighting costs, you don't have to take it to that extreme. You can reduce your household lighting expense by making several changes to your household as you can afford to implement them. While you may spend a little money up front, you will receive the savings for a long time to come. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Open windows during the day to allow natural sunlight to enter the home. If more light is necessary, try using one lamp rather than turning on the overhead light.
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Replace old incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) in areas of the home where the lights remain on for ten minutes or more at a time. Turning lights off and on several times a day for only minutes at a time will seriously reduce the longevity of CFLs. In areas where that is the case, use standard incandescent bulbs, but see if a lower wattage will work.
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Install dimmers and sensors on lights. Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the wattage of the light bulb up or down as needed. Sensors can detect motion or occupancy and turn lights off or on accordingly. Set outdoor lights on timers so they automatically shut off at daylight.
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Consider installing a skylight to allow natural light into dim areas of the home.
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