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Eco-Friendly Lighting Options Save Money and Energy
Saving money is a prominent desire for many people these days. Equally important for many is the need to reduce their carbon footprint, or their impact on the environment. One way to do both is through the reduction of household energy consumption. An excellent place to reduce this energy consumption is through the use of energy efficient lighting within the home. What follows are a few of the most common types of energy efficient lighting and a look at the financial and energy savings that can be gained by their implementation.
One easy change to make is to change standard filament light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFL’s. These bulbs use considerably less energy than standard light bulbs and last up to ten times longer. Over the lifetime of the bulb, every bulb that you switch will end up saving you approximately thirty dollars in lighting energy costs, which can add up quickly when considering the number of light bulbs in the average home.
Another option is to change the type of lighting fixtures within your home. Two lighting types that are known to be energy efficient are fluorescent lights and LED lights. Both of these options naturally use less energy that filament style lighting options. There are also Energy Star certified versions of these lights that can help further reduce energy use from these lights.
Yet another option is to implement solar lighting where possible. These lighting fixtures absorb energy during the day and expend it when turned on at night. These lighting fixtures are perfect for lining walkways or hanging over the garage. They create a total energy savings, as they use no electricity. When coupled with simply letting natural light illuminate the home through open curtains during sunny days, these solar lights can truly help to significantly reduce electrical costs.
There are really many ways to save energy and money by changing the lighting within your home. Whether you want to save by simply switching your bulbs, or whether you want to use lighting styles that naturally last longer and use less energy, there are many options. From solar lighting to CFL bulbs, there are many ways to save, depending on whether you are able to change your existing light fixtures. Conserving energy is highly important these days, and with the right lighting styles, you can easily save both energy and money without diminishing the quality of the lighting within your home.