light your home sensibly

Although the amount of energy used by the lights in your house is relatively low compared to other devices, it is still an area that you can cut back on energy usage.

There are three main types of household lamps or lights to choose from, all with their advantages and disadvantages.

Incandescent
These are the most common type of lighting. They are inexpensive to buy but bulbs have to be frequently replaced as they only last 1,000 hours.

Halogen
Halogen lamps are about twice as energy efficient as standard incandescent globes. They are more expensive to buy but last up to 2,000 hours.

Fluorescent
Fluorescent lamps are the most energy efficient form of lighting. They are expensive to buy but cheap to run and last up to 8,000 to 16,000 hours.

Here are a few ways you can light your home more efficiently.

• Turn off lights when not required.
• Do not leave outdoor lights on all night or during the day - consider using timers or sensors.
• Use the lowest wattage light needed to adequately light up an area.
• Use task specific or special purpose lighting to supplement general lighting wherever possible.
• Keep lights and fittings clean.
• Avoid using downlights.
• Avoid using multiple globe fittings.
• Use compact fluorescent lamps in rooms where the light is on for long periods.


• Avoid having several lights activated by one switch - use separate switches for each light.

For a more detailed explanation on the lighting setups most suited to your home, you can visit the Green Power website or download one of their brochures from the links on the right.

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