About 9% of the energy in an average home is used for lighting. Some of this energy can be saved through sensible use of lighting, and through careful selection of lamps and fittings.

Using Lights Wisely

As a general rule, lights inside the home should be turned off when not required. Special purpose lighting, such as a desk lamp, should only be used to supplement general lighting when higher light levels are required.

Avoid using lights with a higher wattage than necessary.

Outdoor lights are often left on all night or during the day without being noticed. Make sure that they are turned off when no longer required. To help save energy, lighting above an entrance doorway can be switched on and off using a motion detector, and outside security lighting can be switched on and off using either a motion detector or a timer.

How much does lighting cost to run?

As an example, here are three alternative lighting methods providing the same quantity of light;

• 4 Downlights - 4 x 75W Incandescent lamps, 300W total: $12.63 per quarter. - (does not include heat loss through ceiling)

• 1 Ceiling Pendant 75W incandescent lamp: $3.16 per quarter.

• Fluorescent Tube 18W or 20W : $1.26 per quarter

The two kinds of lighting most commonly used in the home are incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lighting - either fluorescent tubes or compact fluorescent lamps.

Use eco-friendly bulbs wherever possible to save on both energy and power bills, and they last up to 10 times longer than regular globes.