All Is Bright: Energy Saving Lighting ~ Part 2

Halogen lighting uses 40% less energy than traditional bulbs, but can provide bright illumination, especially at night. Use halogen bulbs for gardens and pathways, especially if you’re on the lookout for prowlers.
 
Incandescent bulbs hardly make for energy saving lighting. A standard bulb uses only 5-8% of its energy to produce light – everything else is given off as heat. Replace your incandescent lights with compact fluorescent bulbs. To illuminate exit signs, use light emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which produce the same amount of light, but which use 90% less energy and can last up to 10 years.
 
However, if your appliances and home demand an incandescent bulb, don’t scrimp on the wattage. A 100-watt incandescent bulb can produce the same amount of light as two 60-watt bulbs, but use less energy. Buying a single bulb not only contributes to energy saving lighting – it’s easy on the budget too.
 
The best replacement for expensive lighting is natural lighting, and Nature is the best provider of energy saving lighting around. Turn off artificial lights during the daytime and work near a window. To get natural light deeper into a room, paint your walls a light color, such as yellow or white, and use reflective louvers or Venetian blinds to both bring the light in, and ease its effect on your eyes.
 
Energy saving lighting courtesy of Nature can continue until the nighttime. Install solar-powered lights outdoors. They can gather solar energy in the daytime, then switch on at night.
 
All in all, energy saving lighting is all about saving money. If you can’t focus or replace your lights, make sure that what you have won’t fail you or your pocket. Although expensive, it would be wise to invest in automatic timers, dimmers, solar cells, and motion sensors. These can switch lights on only when needed, and only if someone is around to use them.
 
The cheapest, surest way to energy saving lighting, however, is the human touch. Turn the lights on when you need them, and turn them off when you leave the room. The lights won’t be on all the time, but you can rest assured that, with your efforts, your future will not be left in the dark.