ABOUT ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING

Changing the way you light your home may be the easiest way to save energy and money.

Approximately 15% of your electricity bill can be attributed to the costs of artificial lighting. But the use of new lighting technology can reduce lighting energy use in homes significantly; in fact, with energy-efficient lighting, you will pay as little as one half—or even one quarter—of the energy costs of traditional, incandescent lighting. And timers, sensors and daylight techniques can help save even more energy.

To learn more about energy efficient lighting:

Explore ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting fixtures.

Consult the FAQ below.

Energy-Efficient Lighting FAQ

1. What are the main components of energy-efficient lighting?
2. What are the main types of energy-efficient lighting?
3. How can I use lighting controls to make my home more energy efficient?
4. How can I use daylight to make my home more energy efficient?
5. How much does energy-efficient lighting cost?
6. How much money and energy will I save?
7. Are there any additional benefits?
8. Can I install energy-efficient lighting myself?
9. What should I keep in mind if I’m hiring a contractor?
10. What rebates and incentives are available?
11. Are there any laws or regulations I need to be aware of?

1. What are the main components of energy-efficient lighting?

There are three major components of energy-efficient lighting:

1. Types of Lighting: Lighting technologies that do more with less energy.
2. Lighting Controls: Timers and sensors that can reduce energy wasted when lighting is no longer needed.
3. Daylighting: The use of windows and skylights to bring sunlight into your home.

2. What are the main types of energy-efficient lighting?

New lighting technologies use less energy, last longer, and give off the same amount of light as old incandescent technologies. Only about 10% of the energy incandescent bulbs use is actually turned into visible light; the other 90% is lost as heat. The most common way to eliminate this waste of energy is by replacing incandescent bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use about a quarter of the energy while giving off the same amount of light and lasting up to 10 times longer. CFLs cost a bit more at the store, but the energy savings will more than make up for the additional cost. There are a variety of CFL options when it comes to color, lighting quality, shape and wattages.

CFLs contain mercury, a toxic material, so they must be properly disposed of to prevent contamination in landfills and ground water. Disposal options for CFLs include:

• 'Hazardous waste facilities (see these listed by county on The Colorado Department of Public Health (CDPHE) website).
• Ace Hardware stores, which collect used CFLs (as well as mercury-containing thermostats) at locations across Colorado.
• The Home Depot, which accepts expired, unbroken CFLs for recycling at all U.S. stores.

CFL technology is continuing to evolve, and new options are available in terms of size, functionality (dimmer bulbs, etc.) and light quality. If you didn’t like CFLs at first, it’s worthwhile to give them another try.

Light-emitting Diodes (LEDs) offer another way to increase energy efficiency in lighting. LEDs create light without releasing heat, last longer than CFLs and don’t contain mercury. While LEDs are most commonly used for accent lighting and outdoor applications, LED light bulbs are now becoming available to consumers for household lighting.

LEDs have been used in traffic signals throughout the country with tremendous cost savings. For example, the City of Denver converted its traffic signals and pedestrian signs to LEDs, saving the city $800,000 per year in energy, labor and material costs. LED traffic signals use 90% less energy and last five times as long. LED exit signs and holiday lights are also becoming more common. A number of Colorado cities have changed the lights in their holiday displays from incandescent lights to LEDs. Some areas even offer holiday light exchanges to residents around the holidays.

For more information:

Get an overview of lighting types from Energy Savers.

View the U.S. Department of Energy’s resources on lighting and daylighting.

Explore the EPA’s Choose a Light Guide.

Get the EPA’s tips on what to do if your CFL breaks.

See how a CFL works.

Learn about ENERGY STAR® qualified light fixtures.

Get the facts about CFLs from ENERGY STAR®.

3. How can I use lighting controls to make my home more energy efficient?

Everyone knows that turning off unneeded lights will save money and energy. Lighting controls take this idea a step further by setting up systems that ensure lights are turned on and off as they’re needed. There are several types of lighting controls that can help you save energy:

• Motion sensors automatically turn lights on when motion is detected and turn them off a short while later. They are very useful for outdoor security and utility lighting provided by incandescent lamps.
• Occupancy sensors detect activity within a certain indoor area. They sense people entering a room and turn lights on accordingly; they then reduce energy use by switching lights off once a room is left unoccupied.
• Photosensors can prevent outdoor lights from operating during daylight hours, enabling you to leave outdoor lights on during the day without using energy.
• Timers can be used to turn outdoor and indoor lights on and off at specific times.

For more information:

Get tips on lighting controls from Energy Savers.

4. How can I use daylight to make my home more energy efficient?

With today’s highly energy-efficient windows and skylights, plus advances in lighting design, it’s possible to bring more sunlight into your home and reduce the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours without causing heating or cooling problems.

Your climate and home's design will influence how you can best use daylighting, but in general, north and south-facing windows are the best for maximizing natural light.

Some decorative choices can make a difference with daylighting. For example, light-colored, loose-weave curtains can allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. And decorating with lighter colors can reflect daylight and multiply its effects.

For more information:

View the U.S. Department of Energy’s resources on lighting and daylighting.

5. How much does energy-efficient lighting cost?

The easiest and least expensive way to save money on lighting is to change your incandescent light bulbs to more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Although CFLs cost a little more than comparable incandescent bulbs, they last 6–15 times as long (6,000–15,000 hours). And because CFLs are more efficient that incandescent bulbs, the energy savings over the lifetime of the CFL easily pays for the price difference.

6. How much money and energy will I save?

With 15% of your household's electricity use going to artificial lighting, there’s no doubt that you can save energy and money by switching to more energy-efficient alternatives. In fact, the use of new lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use in homes by 50–75%.

7. Are there any additional benefits?

In addition to energy and financial saving, using energy-efficient lighting has other benefits such as:

• Increased lifetime and convenience. Many new light bulb technologies last longer than incandescent bulbs, which reduces the need to change bulbs. This is especially important in high or other hard-to-reach fixtures.
• Improved safety and security. Motion and occupancy sensors can deter intruders and alert you to the presence of unwelcome visitors.

8. Can I install energy-efficient lighting myself?

While many lighting changes, such as switching to CFLs, can easily be made without a contractor, you may want to hire a licensed electrician if you are changing light fixtures or installing new fixtures.

9. What should I keep in mind if I’m hiring a contractor?

For general tips, including what to ask a potential contractor, how to compare bids and how to monitor quality, please visit the How to Hire a Contractor page.

For more information:

To search a list of contractors in your area provided by the Better Business Bureau, visit the Energy Action Planner, right on this site. Explore ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting fixtures.

10. What rebates and incentives are available?

There are a number of financial incentives and programs for lighting. See the Energy Action Planner for additional information on financial incentives in your area.

11. Are there any laws or regulations I need to be aware of?

If you are installing new lighting fixtures, make sure all wiring is installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code® and your local code requirements.

Also, if you install CFLs, keep in mind that they contain mercury, a toxic material, so they must be properly disposed of to prevent contamination in landfills and ground water.

Disposal options for CFLs include:

• Hazardous waste facilities (see these listed by county on The Colorado Department of Public Health (CDPHE) website).
• Ace Hardware stores, which collect used CFLs (as well as mercury-containing thermostats) at locations across Colorado.
• The Home Depot, which accepts expired, unbroken CFLs for recycling at all U.S. stores.

Be sure to check with your Homeowners Association if you plan to install outdoor security lighting. Many HOAs have regulations regarding lighting that may affect your neighbors.