Tips for Saving Energy and Money
If you want to change the world, start by changing a few light bulbs. It is one of the best things you can do for the environment - and your budget.
Did you know that lighting accounts for 20 percent of the electric bill in the average U.S. home?
If every U.S. household replaced just one regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb, it would prevent 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
That is the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that by replacing regular light bulbs with CFL bulbs at the same minimal rate, Americans would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year.
On top of that, replacing one regular light bulb with a CFL bulb would save consumers $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Factor in the fact that the average home has over 30 light fixtures and the savings really add up.
CFL bulbs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and they last up to 10 times longer.
CFL bulbs also generate 70 percent less heat, so they are safer to operate and can also reduce energy costs associated with cooling homes and offices.
To save the most energy and money by using CFL bulbs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends replacing standard bulbs in areas where lights are used frequently and left on for a long time, such as family rooms, living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and porches.
To make sure you get the same amount of light when replacing standard bulbs with CFL bulbs, check the lumen rating on the light you are replacing and purchase a compact fluorescent light bulb with the same lumen rating. (A lumen rating is the measure of light the bulb puts out.) Wattage varies greatly between standard light bulbs and CFL bulbs.
More Energy Savings Tips:
Caulk is cheap – use it to plug those leaks and save!
Replace air filters regularly for efficient heating and cooling.
Auditing Energy: Small Measures, Real Savings.
Lighting choices to save you money.
FREE PDF - Energy Savers: Tips on saving money & energy at home