ALL IS BRIGHT: ENERGY SAVING LIGHTING

The modern world without light is as unimaginable as the modern world without computers. Today’s designs point to making our small living spaces appear larger because of proper lighting and decoration – this may mean candles, halogen lamps, and incandescent bulbs. But as the cost of living increases, so does the need for energy saving lighting.

There are three key rules to follow in energy saving lighting: clean, focus, and replace.

Cleaner lighting sources make for energy saving lighting. Keep your light bulbs free from dust and dirt. That extra layer of grime not only decreases the light output of your bulb, but makes it consume even more electricity than usual.

Light, on its own, is decorative, and can make small rooms appear bigger. However, we don’t need all the light all the time, and concentrating light where it’s needed can lead to energy saving lighting.

This energy saving lighting strategy is known as “task lighting,” which means focusing light only where and when a particular task must be carried out. It can entail either directing light to a certain area of a room, lowering the amount of light fixed upon a certain spot, or reducing background lights so that only one light source provides illumination.
 
Task lighting is a common energy saving lighting strategy in offices, but it can be applied to the home as well. Focus your light bulbs on a table top, or a counter top where you do work regularly. If your task does not require writing or reading, and will need only a minimum amount of light, install low wattage bulbs, or use only one source of light providing optimum illumination.
 
Although a pretty addition to a terrace or room, decorative gas lamps also consume a lot of energy. Turn them off and confine energy use to your task lighting bulbs. Energy saving lighting is not only about using the right light sources – it’s about turning off those that aren’t practical.
 
Lastly, for energy saving lighting that will likewise save money in the long run, replace old or inefficient bulbs with newer ones. Old bulbs can accumulate dust and dirt, and will consume more electricity as they grow older. Buy new ones regularly, and keep emergency light bulbs in store.
 

<< Previous    [1]  2    Next >>