Light Bulbs

Why Should I Replace my Light Bulbs?

In December 2007, the U.S. government passed the Energy Independence and Security Act. This landmark bill includes a provision requiring all light bulbs to be at least 70% more efficient than today’s incandescent by 2020. However, you can join in the effort now to lower energy use and your electric bill, and help prevent greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, if every American household replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, the savings would amount to $600 million in annual energy costs, and enough energy to light more than three million homes for a year. pic_fluorescent

Lighting Tips for a Brighter Energy Future:

•    Replace all incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use nearly 75% less energy that standard incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer. They also produce about 75% less heat and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.

•    Use 4-watt mini-flourescent or electro-luminescent night-lights; both are more efficient than regular low-wattage night-lights.

•    Buy fixtures with a dimmer, which allow you to manually adjust the intensity of light in a room.

•    Use task lighting focusing light where you need it, instead of brightly lighting an entire room.

•    Open blinds and shades, and turn off lights in unoccupied areas or in spaces with sufficient natural lighting.

•    Turn off lights when not needed. It is a myth that leaving them on uses less energy than turning them off.

•    Research the feasibility of installing LED lighting in your home or business. This cutting-edge, eco-friendly technology uses 85% less energy than standard incandescent and less than half of a comparable fluorescent lighting.

For more details on how you can reduce your lighting footprint, visit www.energystar.gov,
www.flexyourpower.org , and www.creelighting.com.