According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, a research organization, standard incandescent bulbs are “electric space heaters that happen to give off a little light.”

You may not think of lamps and light bulbs as huge energy wasters, but about one-quarter of our nation's electricity budget is spent on lighting, for a total cost of about $37 billion annually. According to energy experts, if everyone in the United States switched to energy-efficient lighting, we could save enough energy each year equal to removing 10 million cars from the road!

Ways to Save Lighting Energy
Shutting off lights when they're not in use is one way to save on energy use. But saving energy doesn't have to put you in the dark. There are other easy steps you can take to save energy dollars—and keep your house light and bright. There are many more choices in energy efficient light bulbs and energy-efficient lighting fixtures than ever before.

Choose Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Determine which lighting fixtures your family uses the most, and pay special attention to those fixtures turned on four or more hours per day. Replace the incandescent bulbs in those fixtures with compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs whenever possible.

Despite a higher initial price tag for CFs, you'll save $25 to $50 over the life of the bulb in energy costs. The Department of Energy estimates that if you change just a quarter of the bulbs in your home to CFs, you may save up to half of what you currently spend on lighting. An added bonus: Since CF bulbs also last much longer—five years; (that's up to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs)—you won't have to change bulbs in your fixtures as often.

Compact fluorescent bulbs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and wattages. The technology has improved over the past few years, so you'll find that the light produced is true and natural, and there won't be a flicker or buzz, as some CFs did in the past. There should be a shape to fit nearly any light fixture that currently uses incandescent bulbs. You should be able to find bulbs in spiral, globe, candle or standard light bulb shapes.

Before purchasing CF bulbs, however, it’s important to determine the amount of lumens (light energy) needed to provide the amount of lighting you currently get from incandescent bulbs. Use the chart below as a guideline to buying CFs as replacements for incandescent bulbs:

Regular light bulb wattage and CF bulb wattage for equal light:

• 60 watts - 14 watts
• 75 watts - 20 watts
• 100 watts - 23 watts

Calculate your savings
Use our calculator to determine how much you can save by switching to CF light fixtures.

Choose Energy-Efficient Light Fixtures
There are advantages to replacing fixtures rather than just changing bulbs. Technology has improved fixture design, so it may make more sense to replace the entire fixture. Some older indoor lamps, for example, trap a significant portion of light inside the fixture, while newer incandescent fixtures are designed to push all their light into the room. Older outdoor fixtures tend to disperse a lot of light beyond their intended area, causing light pollution. Newer fluorescent lamps use better electrodes and coatings than did older fixtures; they also produce the same lumen output with substantially lower wattage.

Advice on Choosing Light Fixtures

• Choose lampshades, globes or other diffusers that let the most light through, while minimizing glare. Fixtures vary enormously in optical efficiency. Some emit 92% of the light, while others less than 30%. If possible, replace recessed ceiling fixtures with airtight “cans” to reduce moisture and air leakage.
• This also may be a good time to replace halogen torchiere floor lamps. In the past, they were touted as lower energy lighting solutions. They can be quite inefficient, since they consume 300 to 600 watts of electricity and direct light to the ceiling. Of more concern - they pose a fire hazard due to the extremely hot temperatures produced by their high-wattage bulbs. In fact, more than 20 percent of United States universities have experienced a fire attributed to students' use of torchiere lamps. Many colleges and universities have banned the use of torchieres in residence halls.
• Look for the Energy Star® label. Energy Star is a government-backed symbol administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products. Manufacturers must meet high energy-efficiency specifications set by the agencies. Their standards for light bulbs, for example, include using 75% less energy and lasting up to 10 times longer than non-efficient bulbs, as well as meeting safety and reliability guidelines.
  According to Maria Vargas from the Energy Star program, the Energy Star label was created to help consumers quickly and easily identify lighting and other products that meet energy-efficiency specifications. So just because the label on a bulb says “energy efficient” doesn't mean it’s the most efficient—or the best choice. The Energy Star label is a powerful aid to consumers looking for the most energy-efficient products.
  

Other Easy Ways to Lighten Up

• Light-zone work areas. Concentrate lighting in reading and working areas, as well as where it's needed for safety, such as stairwells. Use appropriate task lighting in these work areas, designed for the task at hand. This can include fluorescent under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen, and 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for the workroom, garage and laundry areas. In nonwork-zone areas, you can also save energy by leaving one bulb out of a multiple bulb fixture (insert a burned out bulb for safety).
• Day-lighting. Sunlight is free and uses no electricity. Newer windows are much more energy efficient, so using windows, skylights and light pipes can reduce your dependence on artificial lighting.
• Lighting controls. Using dimmers, timers and sensors can control the timing and amount of light used. Dimmers lessen the wattage used, while timers and sensors will help make sure lights are not left on needlessly.
• Room finish. A light color paint and carpet color will reflect more light and reduce the need for turning on lights.
• Maintenance. For greater efficiency of bulbs and fixtures, clean light fixture reflectors, diffusers and lenses, using methods recommended by the manufacturer. Replace any components that have yellowed or lost their reflectivity.

For More Information:
Find out more about CFs, lighting fixtures and the Energy Star program:

• Energy Star Program
• Lighting Research Center, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Efficiency Alliance and others