Energy Saving Lighting Tips

While the first and easiest thing you can do to save on light energy is to change your light bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), there are other ways to improve the light quality and efficiency in your home. For example you can start by using task lighting for specific areas of your home, rather than try to illuminate whole rooms with one large light fixture.

Another simple way to lighten your room is to paint your walls with a light color. This not only creates a more open space, but also reflects natural sunlight during the day.

You can maximize energy efficiency, by putting sensors and/or dimmer switches on most of your lighting fixtures, particularly in high traffic rooms like the bathroom.

There is no substitution for natural light, so be sure when building your new home be sure to use ENERGY STAR® windows. Talk to your architect or designer to see if they can add skylights to your home design, because they are a great way to allow for additional natural light.

One of the biggest trends in lighting is using dimmers because you not only can control the look and ambiance of a room but the energy savings are great. Dimmers will double the life of your bulb and use less wattage. You can enjoy multiple uses in one room, by selecting different fixtures with dimmers.

There are several types of dimmers: simple wall box dimmers that bring light up and down slowly; scene lighting dimmers which allow you to control multiple light sources from a single panel to set a mood; whole house systems, which allow you to control all of the lights in your home from one panel at the touch of a button; and occupancy sensors, which turn on and off whenever someone enters or leaves a room. Sensors are great for bathrooms and children's bedrooms.

Since saving money is on everyone's "to do" list these days, why not start by building your home with energy-efficient light fixtures and making lighting a key design consideration. There are so many styles and types of lighting available, that you shouldn't have any problem adding to your home's décor, while providing efficient lighting throughout your home's interior and exterior.