CFL Bulbs
Compact Fluorescent bulbs, better known as CFL bulbs, give off more light and use less electricity. This will reduce your utility bill. These bulbs require less than 1/3 of the energy to produce the same amount of light as a regular incandescent light bulb.
You can save about $30 or more in electricity and utility costs on your bills over each bulbs lifetime. These bulbs also produce about 75 percent less heat, so they are also safer to operate and will also help cut energy costs associated with home cooling. CFL bulbs will provide utility bill help by lowering your bills.
Some facts and figures on lighting and CFL bulbs:
- A single 20 or 25 watt energy-saving CFL bulb will provide as much light as a 100-watt ordinary bulb.
- Your lighting needs account for about 15% of your apartment or home's electric use.
- CFLs last over 3,000 hours before dying, compared to only 1,000 hours for a standard bulb.
- Rather than leaving a light outside your home on all night, replace it with a motion sensor to save electricity and reduce your utility bill.
- Lighting controls or lighting "timers" can help save energy dollars and provide you assistance by lowering your utility bill. Timers can be set to turn lights off and on at specific times. Lighting dimmers can control the level of illumination and provide how much light you may want in a given situation.
- Just by keeping light bulbs and light and fixtures clean, lighting efficiency can be vastly improved. As much as 20% of the light generated from a bulb can be lost to dust or other particles. Also take advantage of reflected light by keeping light fixtures close possible to light (e.g. white) colored walls or other surfaces as the reflection off the walls will help the room be more well lit. These simple, easy, and free steps may reduce the number of wattage of bulbs you need and help you save on your utility bills.