What kind of energy-saving site would this be if we didn't mention CFLs? Compact
fluorescent bulbs, with their soft-serve swirl, can use as little as a quarter of the
energy of standard incandescent bulbs. They're the unofficial mascot of home energy
efficiency for a reason—in addition to saving energy, CFLs can last up to 10 times
longer as standard bulbs, helping you save money (and time hauling out the ladder).
Energy Star says you could save $30 in energy costs over the life of a CFL bulb by
replacing a 100-watt incandescent with a 32-watt CFL.
New CFLs are much cheaper, start more quickly without flickering, and cast warmer,
more appealing light than the CFLs of yesteryear. Worried about mercury? "If a CFL breaks,"
says
Seattle City Light, "your greatest risk is getting cut from glass shards, and not from
the very small amount of mercury." To put it in perspective, old thermometers had 100 times
as much mercury as a CFL does, according to the
National Institute of Environmental Health
Science. (Here's
how to dispose of CFLs properly.)
LED bulbs (light emitting diodes) can save more energy and
last even longer than
CFLs—plus, they contain no mercury and don't need time to warm up. LED lights are
more expensive than CFLs, but
LED technology is improving quickly. No matter what
kind of energy efficient lighting you get,
turn
lights off when you leave a room to save energy.
1. Choose the correct bulb and wattage for each
receptacle in your home.
2. After turning lights off, remove old bulbs
from their receptacles and put in the new bulbs.
Get an equivalent CFL or LED light.
Before buying energy-efficient lighting, check the package label to make sure the lumens
listed for a CFL or LED match those of an equivalent incandescent bulb. For example, light
output for a 25- or 30-watt CFL may be similar to a 100-watt incandescent.
Dimmable lights. Dimmable CFLs
are available—make sure the packaging says so right on it, otherwise the bulb may not work
in a dimmable light fixture.
Lights that stay on for several hours.
You'll get the most cost savings initially from energy-saving lights that are left on for
more than two or three hours at a time.
Task lighting can help save energy.
Task lighting—such as under kitchen cabinets or at a reading desk—can save even more money,
because you won't need to turn on the overhead light for your ironic cross-stitch.
Recycle CFLs properly.
Don't toss dead CFLs in the trash or glass recycling! The bulbs shouldn't be incinerated
because the mercury needs to be specially removed and reused. To find out where to recycle
CFLs, check this
EPA map or visit
Earth911.com. Efforts are underway to encourage
more stores to open recycling centers so that recycling a bulb can be as easy as buying
one. Ask local retailers if they'll accept used lights now or in the future.