Guide to Choose Energy Saving Lights for Your Home

Every apartment in India uses about 6% or more of its electricity to lighting. There are various forms of lighting devices ranging from fluorescent light bulbs to halogen and LED lights which consume a lot of electricity. Choosing an appropriate lighting device/light bulb can help you save a lot of energy and money. To cut your electricity bills and make lighting more beneficial, you can switch onto energy efficient lighting. Various techniques like installing timers and motion sensors can help you save and reduce the usage of electricity when not in use.

Various countries have opted the low energy lighting for everyday use and inefficient lighting is tossed out. Today, there are a wide range of efficient lighting products available in the market. The main forms of lighting used as energy efficient are the traditional bulbs, compact fluorescents, LEDs, halogen lights, strip lights and luminaries/light fittings. Below are some ideas on how you can save up energy on lighting;

Energy saving incandescent bulbs: If you’re planning to change your lights in your bedroom or any other room, you can opt for the energy saving incandescent bulbs which save up 25% of energy rather than converting it into heat. These lights have a capsule inside them which holds gas around the filament to increase its lighting efficiency. They are not only efficient but can also last up to three times longer than the normal ones. You can buy them in wide range of shapes and colours and can also use it with dimmers.

The Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs): They are the curvy versions of the tube fluorescent lights which most of use and can be seen almost everywhere. Unlike the older lights the CFLs consume less electricity and can save you a lot of money for months. A CFL is also rated with an energy star to show that it uses about one fourth of its energy for lighting and can last ten times when compared to other bulbs.

Like other lights, CFL lights also are available in various colours ranging from white to yellow tones. They are also encased in a cover to provide the similar shape of the bulb which you were previously using. Do not forget to check the package for these features while purchasing a dim light. The greatest advantage of using CFL bulbs are that they can be recycled and sold to a recycling mart.

Halogen lighting: They are the simplest forms of energy saving bulbs and last up to three times when compared to the other normal bulbs. You can decorate your room with halogen bulbs which come in a wide variety of colours and shapes and also save up a huge amount on your electricity.

The light emitting diode (LED): They are one of the most energy efficient bulbs and use the same technology to that of your cell phone indicator. They save up about 75%-80% electricity. These small lights are designed in a way where they can provide a brighter lighting to your room. They are one of the most developed and rapidly used forms of lighting. Similar to the CFLs they are also graded with an energy star and last up to 25 times more when compared to the normal bulbs. They are available in various replacements for the 60W, 75 W and 40W normal bulbs. An LED is quite an expensive light but is worthy enough as it saves a huge amount of energy.

Efficient strip lights: They are similar to the CFLs but are different in structure and are not twisted. They are the modern versions of tube lights which are more efficient, slim, faster to light up and emit brighter light. They are mostly used in chic places and you can use them in your home to give a classy look. One of the best positions to sue a strip light is to install it in a Reflected mounting place.

Tips for the usage of energy efficient light both indoors and outdoors;

• Replace all the traditional and older bulbs in and around your home with the energy saving lights. This can save up a huge amount of energy and money. Also opt for the energy star bulbs for best quality. The energy star bulbs are available in various shapes and sizes and can also be shopped online.
• If you’re remodelling your home, opt for the recessed cans or light fixtures rated for insulation and are air tight.
• It is advisable to opt for the Star qualified fixtures which are available in various colours, shapes and sizes.
• Installing timers and photocells will save a huge amount of energy and money by turning off the lights when not in use. Also installing dimmers will make an efficient usage of energy.
• It is always better to use natural lights by keeping your windows and doors open rather than using artificial lights during the day. Decorate your home with light colours so that the light reflects inside.
• The perfect devices for the outdoor lighting are the LEDs. Many of us use outdoor lighting for decorative purposes. LEDs and CFLs can be both used for outdoor lighting as they are durable and last long. They can also be recycles and are available as flood lights.
• The outdoor lighting fixtures also come with the energy star tag for you to opt for.

Also read:

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Energy Saving LED – A case study on LED BULBS