How to Upgrade to Cheap & Efficient Lighting in the Home

Purchase fluorescent bulbs to replace inefficient incandescent lights in your home.

More and more homeowners are "going green" by making their homes more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. One of the easiest ways to give your home's efficiency a boost is to install energy-saving lighting. But making a complete change from old incandescent bulbs to more energy-efficient bulbs all at once is unnecessary and expensive. There is an easier way to upgrade on the cheap that will still accomplish your goals.

Things You'll Need

• Compact fluorescent lamps or LED bulbs

Instructions

1. Evaluate your lighting needs. Think about the lights you use the most; that's where you'll reap the most benefits by replacing inefficient lighting with better bulbs. Do not worry about changing light bulbs in crawl spaces or closet lights in the spare bedroom. These lights are rarely used, and it would take years of energy savings to make up for the replacement price. Identify the lights that you use daily and the ones that stay on the longest.

2. Look for ways to allow natural light into the home without the need for daytime lights. If a room is dark because you keep a chest of drawers in front of an east-facing window, move the chest out of the way and allow the sun in during the morning to light the room. You may be able to leave those bulbs alone for the time being and upgrade them later.

3. Remove the bulbs you have selected for replacement and dispose of them properly. Incandescent bulbs can be thrown in the regular trash, but fluorescent bulbs of all types should be recycled. Many of these bulbs contain trace amounts of mercury and should be disposed of in a particular way. Contact your local recycling center to find out where you can take them.

4. List the number of bulbs and the wattage of each that needs to be replaced. Purchase compact fluorescent lamps or LED lights to go in their place. While the actual wattage of the new bulbs will be lower, they will usually have a comparison chart that will show you the amount of light they produce so you can buy the correct substitutes. These bulbs will cost more than your old incandescent bulbs, but they will save you money in the long run on energy cost.

5. Place the bulbs in the sockets and turn on the switch to enjoy your new, energy-efficient lighting. You'll find your energy consumption will be noticeably less on your next electricity bill.

Tips & Warnings

• You can further reduce the energy your lights consume and save more money by using dimmer switches in your home. Lower the light level to the minimum you need with the dimmer and make your lighting even more energy-efficient.

References

• Green Energy Efficient Homes: Energy Efficient Lighting
• Earth Easy: Energy Efficient Lighting