How to Save on Your Monthly Electric Bill by Installing Energy Efficient Lighting

Installing energy efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your monthly electric bill. By replacing outdated incandescent and halogen bulbs with LEDs and CFLs, you can dramatically cut your lighting energy use and costs. Here's a comprehensive guide on how I went about upgrading my home's lighting and the savings I achieved.

Assess Your Current Lighting Situation

The first step is taking stock of all the lighting in your home.

• Make a list of all the light fixtures and lamps in each room.

• Note the type of bulb currently used - incandescent, CFL, halogen etc.

• Count the number of bulbs.

• Check the wattage rating on each bulb. This is usually printed somewhere on the bulb.

Once you have cataloged all the lighting, you can calculate how much you are currently spending to light your home. Refer to your electricity bill to find the rate that you are being charged per kilowatt hour (kWh). Then multiply the wattage of the bulbs by the average number of hours they are on per day, and by 30 days to get the monthly kWh usage. Finally, multiply the kWh usage by the electricity rate to get your monthly cost.

This will establish a lighting energy usage baseline that you can compare to after making lighting upgrades.

Choose the Right Bulbs for Each Fixture

When selecting new energy efficient bulbs, the two main options are CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and LEDs (light emitting diodes). Here is a comparison:

• CFLs - CFLs use 70-75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 6-10 times longer. They are best suited for fixtures that get turned on/off frequently. Downside: They contain mercury and take longer to reach full brightness.

• LEDs - LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescents. They reach full brightness immediately. Downside: They are more expensive upfront but prices keep falling.

When choosing replacement bulbs, match the light color, brightness (lumens) and spread of your old bulbs as closely as possible. Pay attention to the bulb shape - different fixtures take A19, candle, globe or specialty shaped bulbs.

Here are some recommendations on energy efficient lighting for common fixture types:

• Kitchen, hallways, and bathrooms: Use LED or CFL alternatives to incandescent A19 bulbs in these high use areas. Choose a bright 5000K daylight color.

• Bedrooms and living rooms: Warm 2700-3000K LEDs are ideal for creating a cozy ambiance here. Use lower wattage bulbs in table lamps and fixtures with dimmers.

• Recessed can lights: LED retrofit kits can easily convert these fixtures to use 85% less energy. Be sure to get the correct shape and beam angle.

• Outdoor lighting: Outdoor LED bulbs can withstand harsh weather. Use dusk-to-dawn bulbs by entries and motion activated lights for security.

Install the New Bulbs Correctly

Follow these tips when installing the new CFL and LED bulbs:

• Read the packaging carefully to check light color, brightness, beam spread and shape compatibility.

• Only use bulbs rated for enclosed fixtures in covered lights and vice versa. Overheating shortens bulb life.

• LEDs are very directional, so use omni-directional or reflector bulbs where light needs to spread.

• With CFLs, allow the full 60 seconds for the bulb to reach brightness. This extends the life.

• Take care installing CFLs and LEDs in fixtures with dimmers, timers or photocells. Make sure they are rated as compatible.

• Recycle old bulbs properly. CFLs contain mercury and should not go in the trash. Many retailers recycle both CFL and LED bulbs for free.

Enjoy Your Lighting Savings!

Once all your new energy efficient bulbs are installed, take another look around your home. Things may appear slightly different but the light quality should still be good.

Now go back and re-calculate your lighting electricity usage, just like you did initially. You should see a dramatic reduction in kWh consumption and cost. For most homes that upgrade lighting, the monthly savings range from $10-30. But with electricity rates rising, your long term savings will be even higher.

The modest upfront investment in LED and CFL bulbs is paid back quickly through your energy bill savings. And with the long lifespans of these bulbs, you won't have to change them often. Just by upgrading your lighting, I was able to reduce my home's lighting energy use by 80%. I hope I have convinced you to take this important energy saving step too! The bulbs may cost a bit more but they will literally pay for themselves many times over.