A few simple changes in your home with the introduction of energy-efficient lighting can reduce your lighting expense by a staggering 90%! Lighting and heating your home make up the majority of your power usage, but it doesn’t take much to drastically reduce the lighting part of your energy bill.
What is energy efficient lighting?
Perhaps the easiest way to save money on your electricity bill, energy-efficient lighting can be broken down to two things using energy-saving bulbs and being smarter with your usage.
The first part, energy-saving bulbs, are the latest advancements in lighting technology.
New bulbs are replacing the older incandescent lightbulbs, which on average use 75% less energy.
Halogen lightbulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the three main options, each having their own advantages and disadvantages.
Halogen bulbs, for example, are the least efficient of these three options, but they are the cheapest, with the price of a bulb costing less than $2. This makes the initial investment into energy-efficient lighting less of a challenge.
The second part of energy-efficient lighting, being smarter with your usage, means only using your lights when you need to. This may seem obvious, but many people leave lights on when going to bed or leaving a room for an extended period of time.
The simple addition of sensors to your home lighting can help reduce energy waste and this saves you money on your power bills.
How do energy-saving bulbs work?
Halogen bulbs are very similar to the traditional incandescent bulbs.
Each bulb has a tungsten filament which electricity flows through, heating it up and giving off light. The difference is, in a halogen bulb, the filament is enclosed in a quartz capsule filled with halogen gas. This allows the particles which are burnt off the filament to attach back on and be “reused”, giving the bulb a brighter light and longer life.
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are basically miniature versions of the fluorescent lights we see in offices and kitchens.
CFLs last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs, using only 70% less energy.
CFLs are more effective when used for long periods of times, rather than shorter uses like porches or bathrooms. While they are not as efficient and don’t last as long as LEDs, they are a cheaper alternative option if replacing all the lights in your home.
LEDs are the best when it comes to saving energy, using up to 85% less electricity and lasting 15 times longer than traditional lightbulbs.
They work by passing a small current through a semi-conductor, releasing light as a by-product of the energy change.
As only light is given off, LEDs do not heat up and thus are extremely energy efficient.
Combining energy-efficient lighting
Replacing all your lightbulbs with energy-efficient ones is a sure-fire way to reduce your energy costs. You can even take your savings a step further by combining your bulbs with other systems.
Solar panels
Generating your own electricity is the next step for many Australians.
Becoming self-reliant and not subject to price hikes and shortages of the power company seems more important than ever in these changing times and a solar system in your home is the way to do it.
If you are concerned about not generating enough electricity through your panels, then reducing your lighting bill by up to 90% takes a big chunk of that worry away.
Energy-efficient lighting combined with your own home solar panels basically means you’ll never have to pay anyone to light your home again.
Smart homes
Smart home technology is advancing at a remarkable pace, and smart lighting can adjust the lights to ensure your home is operating at peak efficiency.
Imagine lights coming on gradually as the sun sets or following you from room to room.
A smart home can end energy wastage by turning off lights that aren’t needed or running them at their most effective.
All these little differences add to up a lot over time, and when you look back over the year, you’ll be surprised at just how much you have saved.
Start saving today with energy-efficient lighting!
Around 20% of your electricity bill comes from your lights.
With the adoption of energy-efficient lighting, that figure can drop to 2%.
If you’re wondering how and where you can improve your lighting costs, then we can help with a full “energy audit”.
Using timers, motion sensors, and energy-efficient lightbulbs, we can show you how to run your home more efficiently, saving you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in the long term.
And with the Government starting to phase out the old, incandescent bulbs anyway, it’s only a matter of time before you are forced to make the switch.
All our LED lights have SAA Australian Safety certification, and carry seven-year warranties, giving you complete peace of mind.
Our team of experts are waiting to help you, so contact us today and let’s get the ball rolling on your new energy-efficient home!
The sooner you make the switch, the sooner you start saving.
Bright Earth Solar offers a range of exceptional solar products, helping you save money while doing your bit to save the planet. We keep you up to date with new technology, innovation and trends in renewable energy.