We spend most of our time indoors, be it day or night. This means we need to switch on electric lights to light up our homes or offices. We are so used to artificial light that we hardly notice or think about it.Lighting accounts for 10-15% of the energy cost of most households and 22% of total energy / electricity, which is drawn from the grid each year? Using incandescent lights has a high impact on the environment, as they consume a lot of electricity. You can save on energy bills with ecofriendly bulbs, conserve electricity and help the environment. Bulbs that are ecofriendly come in various colors and types.
How changing your lights for energy efficient lights can help
When we get to know of statistics showing the huge amount of electricity that are consumed by homes worldwide, we forget that we are also a statistic and the count of our usage is measured. If we reduce our electricity consumption, we are decreasing pollution, which coal power plants release in order to generate electricity. If more and more people started using energy efficient lights, it would make a lot of difference to the planet. This is possible through eco friendly bulbs like smart lighting systems that use LED’s.
Types of eco friendly bulbs
CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps), halogen incandescent and LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are the most widely available environment friendly bulbs. These bulbs consume about 25-80% less energy than incandescent, and last up to 3-25 times more.
Energy efficient bulbs do not have limited options, in case you are thinking that you might have to compromise in order to be environment friendly. In fact, they are available in many different light levels and colors, and shapes.
The initial price may be higher than traditional bulbs, but the energy savings over time make up for the initial high cost, helping you save on energy bills with ecofriendly bulbs. CFLs and LEDs last much longer than incandescent bulbs, so you do not have to replace them frequently.
Choosing CFLs
CFLs are manufactured by sealing mercury within a glass tube they are safe, save money and electricity. They do not generate heat like incandescent bulbs, which is another way you save money and reduce your energy bills even if you use the air conditioning. Typically, a CFL will cost $1-$12 in the US, which is more than other bulbs. However, over the lifetime of the bulb, you will save around $50, which means that it pays for itself.
You can buy CFLs from any department, grocery, hardware or home improvement store. They are available as flicker flame, 3-way, dimmable, globe, décor, flood light, anti-bug, spiral and outdoor post CFLs. Each type of CFL is specific for specific requirements, so you have a good variety of shapes, styles and colors to choose from, for your home. Whether you want to light up your interior or exterior, eco friendly bulbs are now a pocket friendly option too. The ENERGY STAR symbol on the bulb means your bulb will use 75% less electricity than others, and shine longer.
You must recycle CFLs, as they contain mercury, and its best this mercury does not end up in any landfill to cause more pollution. Although CFLs contain less mercury than the battery of a watch, still its best to send these bulbs for recycling.
Choosing LEDs
These eco friendly bulbs are more energy efficient than CFLs. This is one of the newest technologies in the lighting market. LED bulbs are designed to be more cost and energy efficient. They do not contain any mercury either, thus making them the better eco friendly option.
They last a whopping 100 times more than incandescent bulbs and 10 times more than CFLs. They are also ‘solid state’ bulbs, meaning that they do not have any loose parts and therefore are almost indestructible, even if you drop them. It is recommended to use LEDs in high traffic.
Most people prefer LEDs to light up the outdoors, such as lighting up driveways, holiday decorations, pond lighting, and solar powered lighting and so on. They are good for task lighting, under-cabinet lighting and flashlights.
Choosing eco-friendly lighting options will help to save the earth and save you money. Switching off lights, and installing motion/ heat sensors and light timers will help to cut down on electricity consumption too.