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Lighting Tips

Let there be light! Let there be savings!
Here are some "common sense" ways to get the most for your lighting dollars in the home. If you are a Farm or Small Business, we have some suggestions for you too.

Turn off the lights
Choose the right bulb for the job
How many switches?
Dim the lights
Clean lights shine brighter
4 x 25 does not equal 100
Track lights vs. pot lights
You probably don't want long life bulbs
Use timers for indoor security
Use motion detectors and timers for outdoor security
Remember that electrical safety comes first

Turn off the lights
Mom was right. When you leave a room, turn off the lights. This will save you money and energy even if you're out of the room for just a short time. It's a good habit to learn, and to teach your children.

Choose the right bulb for the job
Over the last decade, we've seen major improvement in the selection of energy efficient lighting. Check the lighting replacement chart to see which bulbs you could be using to reduce energy consumption.

How many switches?
If you're renovating or changing your lighting, think about adding more switches to get better control of the lights. Divide the lights into logical groups and put them on individual switches. That way you can illuminate separate areas without having to light up the whole room.

Dim the lights
If you're using incandescent bulbs, think about replacing your on/off switches with dimmers. (Special dimmers are available for fluorescent bulbs and low voltage halogens - be sure to get the right dimmers for the bulbs.) Dimmers give you more control over lighting levels, and when you dim the lights, you use less energy. If you find that you're always dimming the lights, maybe you should replace your bulbs with lower wattages.

Clean lights shine brighter
Take some time to dust lights and lamps. Turn the fixture off first, especially if you're using a damp cloth.

4 x 25 does not equal 100
If you're shopping for a new fixture, remember that a fixture with one bulb gives you more light than a similar one with several bulbs that add up to the same total wattage. So for example, one 100W bulb gives off 1 1/2 times as much light as four 25W bulbs. And you only have one bulb to buy.

Track lights vs. pot lights
There are a few things to consider when you're planning on using track or pot lights. First, make sure you know what types of bulbs you plan to use before buying the fixtures. Look for fixtures that can accept readily available energy efficient bulbs. Plan your lighting layout and then figure out how many switches they should be on. Remember that pot lights give you less flexibility than tracks. Tracks are adjustable both in their location on the track and the direction of the light beam.

You probably don't want long life bulbs
There are incandescent bulbs available known as "long life" or "extended life bulbs". The names might lead you to believe that they are an efficient choice for lighting. However, in this case, it's a bit deceiving. Yes, they do last a long time - from 1,500 to 10,000 hours compared to 750 to 1,000 hours for a normal bulb - but they put out up to 30% less light while using the same amount of energy.

The only place you should really think about using long life bulbs are in very hard-to-reach places. And even there, a compact fluorescent is a much more energy efficient option.

Use timers for indoor security lighting
To make your house look occupied when you're out, install programmable timers to turn selected lights on and off. Portable timers plug into a wall, while permanent types replace light switches altogether. Halogen PAR flood or spotlights are perfect for this due to their low energy consumption.

Use motion detectors or timers for outdoor security
Motion detectors are very effective over doorways. The light stays off until the sensor detects movement in a certain zone which triggers the light. It's very useful for the front door to welcome visitors, or even help you find your keys. Specially designed timers are also available for outdoor use. If you want outdoor lights to go on and stay on all night, a photoelectric cell will automatically switch the lights on at dusk and off at dawn.

Remember that electrical safety comes first
For any type of electrical work, remember to work safely. Throw the breaker switch or unscrew the fuses. If you're using pot lights, remember that the fixture which is between the joists can get quite hot. Be sure to use those marked with "utilizable with thermal insulation". If you're not sure whether you're qualified for the job, hire a certified electrician.

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