Changing Light Fixtures
By changing light fixtures or the position of lamps you can brighten your room while using less energy. Simple ways to reduce your lightening energy include:

• Turn off the lights in any room(s) that you aren’t using, or consider installing timers, photo cells, or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.
• Use task lighting. Instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops under cabinets.
• Consider three-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light is not necessary.
• Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for your workroom, garage, and laundry areas.
• Consider using 4-watt minifluorescent or electro-luminescent night lights. Both lights are much more efficient than their incandescent counterparts and the luminescent lights are cool to the touch.
• Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.

Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Energy Savers

CFLs vs. Incandescent
Incandescent lamps (or "bulbs") are the most common lighting type in American homes, but are normally not the most efficient. Incandescent bulbs are a very inefficient technology; only 10% of the electricity they use actually is converted into useable light -- the rest is wasted as heat. Use tube fluorescent and energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in fixtures throughout your home to provide high-quality and high-efficiency lighting. Fluorescent lamps are much more efficient than incandescent (standard) bulbs and last about 4 to 10 times longer.

Today's CFLs offer brightness and color rendition that is comparable to incandescent lights. Although fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps cost a bit more than incandescent bulbs, they pay for themselves by saving energy over their lifetime. CFL fixtures are now available that feature dimmers and operate much like incandescent fixtures.

Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Energy Savers

Outdoor Lighting for Decoration and Security
Many homeowners use outdoor lighting for decoration and security, but in general, outdoor lights should not direct light where it is not needed. In addition to ENERGY STAR, look for outdoor fixtures that are certified by the International Dark Sky Association to save energy as well as light pollution that can keep your property safe without disturbing dark hours.

When shopping for outdoor lights, you will find a variety of products, from low-voltage pathway lighting to motion-detector floodlights. Some stores also carry lights powered by small photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight directly into electricity. Consider using PV-powered lights for areas that are not close to an existing power supply line.

You might also look into using outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motion sensor so that they will turn on only at night or when someone is present. A combined photocell and motion sensor will increase your energy savings even more. Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use CFLs because of their long life. If you live in a cold climate, be sure to buy a lamp with a cold weather ballast since standard CFLs may not work well below 40°F.

Learn more at Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Energy Savers
 

Fluorescent Lamp Disposal
Lighting equipment is generally not treated as toxic waste, but fluorescent lamps, including CFLs, are an exception because they contain trace amounts of mercury. They should be disposed of properly, like batteries, to minimize their impact on landfills. Although not regulated at the federal level, several states ban the disposal of CFLs in household trash.

• Many towns and cities offer recycling opportunities for CFLs at local recycling centers or transfer stations. State requirements and recycling opportunities vary. To find out what programs are available in your state or region, go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or check out the Local Resources section. For more information about the risks of CFLs, read the ENERGY STAR FACT SHEET (PDF)
• If you have a fluorescent fixture in your basement or workroom that was manufactured before 1979, the ballast may contain PCBs that must be disposed of responsibly under federal law. Go to www.lamprecycle.org for list of national lamp and ballast recyclers.
• Or, bring your expired, unbroken CFLs to any store location at Home Depot or IKEA for free recycling.

Learn more at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

ENERGY STAR Light Fixtures
By replacing the five most frequently used light fixtures in your home with ENERGY STAR-qualified models you can save up to $70 each year in energy costs. Light fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR approval have been assessed for their quality and offer some of the highest levels of energy-efficiency available.

Features of ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures:

• Use 1/4 the energy of traditional lighting.
• Save money on energy bills and bulb replacements with bulbs that must last at least 10,000 hours (about seven years of regular use).
• Distribute light more efficiently and evenly than standard fixtures.
• Come in hundreds of decorative styles including portable fixtures — such as table, desk and floor lamps — and hard-wired options such as front porch, dining room, kitchen ceiling, hallway wall, bathroom vanity fixtures, and more.
• Deliver convenient features such as dimming on some indoor models and automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors on outdoor models.
• Can be found at most home centers, lighting showrooms, and specialty stores.
• Carry a two year warranty — double the industry standard.

Examples of ENERGY STAR Qualified Fixtures
Learn more at Energy Star

Lamp Maintenance to Enhance Efficiency
Maintenance is vital to lighting efficiency. Light levels decrease over time because of aging lamps and dirt on fixtures, lamps, and room surfaces. Together, these factors can reduce total illumination by 50% or more, while lights continue drawing full power. The following basic maintenance suggestions can help keep your lights operating at their optimum energy-efficiency:

• Clean fixtures, lamps, and lenses every 6–24 months by wiping off the dust. However, never clean an incandescent bulb while it is turned on. The water's cooling effect will shatter the hot bulb.
• Replace lenses if they appear yellow.
• Consider group relamping. Common lamps, especially incandescent and fluorescent lamps (bulbs) lose 20%–30% of their light output over their service life. Many lighting experts recommend replacing all the lamps in a lighting system at once. This saves labor, keeps illumination high, and avoids stressing any ballasts with dying lamps.
• Clean or repaint small rooms every year and larger rooms every 2–3 years. Dirt collects on surfaces, which reduces the amount of light they reflect.

Learn more at the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Consumer's Guide