How to Save on Electricity Costs By Installing Energy-Efficient Lighting

Installing energy-efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce electricity costs in your home or business. By replacing old, inefficient light bulbs and fixtures with newer technology, you can realize significant energy savings while still maintaining sufficient and high-quality lighting. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to save on electricity costs by switching to energy-efficient lighting.

Why Energy-Efficient Lighting Saves Electricity

Traditional incandescent and halogen light bulbs convert only about 10-15% of the electricity they consume into visible light. The other 85-90% is given off as heat. That makes them extremely inefficient.

Energy-efficient bulbs like LEDs and CFLs convert a far greater percentage of energy input into light output - sometimes over 90% efficiency. This means for the same amount of light brightness, an LED or CFL will use substantially less power than an incandescent.

Over the lifetime of the bulb, the electricity savings add up. It's why energy-efficient lighting is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your energy bills.

Calculating Energy Savings from Efficient Lighting

You can calculate the potential cost savings by switching to energy-efficient lighting using this simple formula:

Annual Energy Savings ($) = Wattage difference x Hours of use per day x Cost per kWh x Days used per year

As an example, replacing a 60W incandescent bulb with a 9W LED bulb that's used 5 hours per day, at $0.12 per kWh and 365 days a year would save:

(60W - 9W) x 5 hours x $0.12 x 365 days = $26 per year!

Do this for every bulb replaced with an efficient option, and the savings add up quickly.

Types of Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

There are a few main options when it comes to high-efficiency light bulbs. Each has their pros and cons.

LED Light Bulbs

LED bulbs are the most energy efficient lighting option, using at least 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and lasting 25 times longer. LEDs come in many shapes, sizes and light color temperatures.

Pros:

Cons:

CFL Light Bulbs

CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) offer energy savings of up to 75% compared to incandescent bulbs. They last about 10 times longer as well.

Pros:

Cons:

Halogen Incandescent Bulbs

Halogen bulbs are a more efficient version of traditional incandescents. They last longer and use less energy.

Pros:

Cons:

Tips for Maximizing Energy-Efficient Lighting Savings

Here are some tips to maximize the cost savings when switching to energy-efficient lighting:

The Bottom Line

Transitioning to energy-efficient LED and CFL lighting is one of the fastest and most effective ways to reduce electricity consumption and costs in your home or business. The technology has improved tremendously in recent years, with better light quality, brightness, color and dimming capabilities. Take advantage of rebates and programs from utilities and make the switch to save money and energy for years to come.