Lighting typically accounts for about 17 percent of residential electricity use, but there are easy ways you can reduce energy consumption by lighting in your residence without compromising lighting quality or convenience.
1. Turn off the lights when you don’t need them.
2. Install (and use) dimming controls where possible.
3. Use photoelectric lighting controls such as motion or occupancy sensors or timers to automatically turn off lighting, especially outdoors.
4. Use the lowest wattage and most efficient bulb that will properly fulfill your lighting needs.
Compact fluorescent bulbs, for instance, provide excellent energy-efficient lighting for laundry rooms, storage rooms, kitchen and baths. LEDs are very efficient light sources for a growing number of applications, such as undercabinet lighting, task lighting and outdoor step lights.
For tasks such as reading, however, incandescent bulbs are often still the best choice because of their brightness. To be as energy-efficient as possible, use halogen incandescent bulbs instead of standard bulbs.
5. Look for products that carry the ENERGY STAR symbol. These products have had to undergo more rigorous testing to earn the label thus ensuring a higher quality product in terms of efficiency.
Source: American Lighting Association