When you want to go green you need to consider your lighting. Traditional incandescent light bulbs only use about 5 to 10 percent of the electricity they consume for creating light and send the rest of the energy out as heat. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are the more eco friendly lighting choice. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors but were traditionally the funny shaped twisted tube light bulbs. CFLs cost more than incandescent light bulbs however they last up to 10 times longer and use about a quarter as much energy. Most CFL bulbs pay for themselves after about 6 months of use. CFLs can be found in just about any store that sells light bulbs.
LEDs are another eco friendly lighting option. Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, are energy efficient long lasting bulbs. They use even less energy than CFLs and last even longer. LED lights light up faster than incandescent lights and reduce energy consumption by 80-90%. Currently they are more expensive than CFLs and are a bit harder to find on store shelves. As the technology evolves we see more of these available at lower prices.
Motion sensors and dimmers are great ways to enhance your eco friendly lighting. Motion sensors are a great way to keep lights off when people are not in the room and the light isn’t needed. Dimmers allow you to adjust the level of lighting so that it is more appropriate for the activities going on in the room. When reading you will want the light brighter but if you’re watching tv a more dim light is appropriate.
When looking for eco friendly lighting options you need to consider your light fixtures as well. Recycled light fixtures created out of glass, metal and other renewable materials make a statement and add a decorative flare to your home.
Daylight is definitely the most eco-friendly lighting there is. When the sun is up open the blinds and curtains and allow the sun to light your space. You can even capture energy from the sun with fiber optics and other light technologies including solar powered lamps and lighting.
Fluorescent Lighting
A compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) uses about 75 percent less energy than an incandescent light bulb. It lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb and will save about $30 over its lifetime, paying for itself in about 6 months.
Fluorescent lighting works differently than incandescent lighting. In an incandescent light bulb the electricity runs through a wire filament heating the filament until it begins to glow. In a compact fluorescent bulb electricity moves through a tube containing argon and a small amount of mercury vapor which causes an invisible ultraviolet light that triggers the fluorescent coating, phosphor, into the tube’s interior which finally emits a visible light.
Fluorescent bulbs use a little bit more energy when they are initially turned on but once the electricity begins to course through the bulb it uses significantly less energy than an incandescent bulb.
Fluorescent lighting tips:
Look for CFL bulbs that are rated with the Energy Star label. These bulbs meet the minimum performance requirements. They will perform better and they will not make the buzzing sound that some of the original CFL bulbs made.
Your CFLs will last longer if you leave them on for at least 15 minutes or more each time you flip the switch on.
It takes a little while for the bulb to reach its full brightness. If it does not turn on immediately when the light is switched it does not indicate a defect.
Use the bulbs where they are designed to be used. Do not use regular CFL bulbs with dimmable switches or in 3-way sockets.
Be careful of the temperature in which the CFL bulb is being used. If you use the bulb outdoors be sure that it is protected from the elements. When CFLs are exposed to overly hot conditions they will have a shorter lifespan.
Because Compact Fluorescent lights contain small amounts of mercury they need to be disposed of properly. Many chain stores such as Home Depot and Lowes will offer CFL recycling programs.
Dimmable Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Using compact fluorescent bulbs can save energy and can save you money on your electric bill. However, you can’t just use a standard CFL with a dimmer light switch because the lifespan of the bulb would be cut very short negating any potential savings. Also, the dimmablity isn’t possible because of the ballast, the portion of the bulb that sends electricity through the tube causing light. The basic ballast in a regular CFL causes too much flickering for the light to be satisfactory.
Until somewhat recently that meant that all of your dimmable switches needed to have incandescent bulbs, but that is no longer the case. There are now dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs! Technology has improved the CFL ballast to a point where dimming a switch is possible.
These dimmer compatible CFL bulbs are more costly than standard CFL bulbs but watch for the technology to continue to improve and the prices to go down. With increased awareness and availability as well as reliability the use of dimmable CFLs is increasing. The color of luminosity radiated from dimmable CFLs is growing more and more similar to that of an incandescent bulb. Dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs put out a decent amount of light and are not too harsh on the eyes.
As the technology improves dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs will continue to improve as well.
