 If you’re paying attention to energy use in the 21st century, you know there’s a lot of merit to the idea of reducing energy use in home or office lighting.
From compact fluorescent bulbs and LED lighting options to passive solar and green products for the energy grid, everyone, from individual households to big manufacturers, is trying to figure out how to limit our impact on a huge power provider grid by cutting down on power use. Here are some ways an individual can help out.
Flip the Switch
That’s right, turning off lights when they’re not in use will keep your kilowatt-hours from spiraling out of control. You can also use dimmers and motion sensor equipment, though some dimmers can be inefficient in regulating electrical output. The best way to reduce a home’s power consumption through lighting is to turn lights off when no one is in a room. Though it’s common sense, it can take some effort, and many households make up specific time plans for when lights should be cut off.
Another way to limit use is to hook up appliances from lights to computers and other plugged-in installations to power strips that can be turned off when the items are not in use. Electric bill payers are recognizing that lots of home appliances use electricity when they’re turned off, as long as they are plugged directly into the grid. Power bars can save households money over time.
Look at alternative bulbs
Now everyone from the municipal grid managers to government agencies is pushing these handy low-impact bulbs: compact fluorescent bulbs use less energy (to the tune of 1/4 of a conventional bulb) and over time, they cost less, as these bulbs last a lot longer than the filament-based bulbs. They can be harder to manage in a case of breakage, so it’s best to use them where they don’t stand a high chance of damage.
LED lights are another option: though you might think these efficient electrical lights don’t have a lot of output power, they’re used on many of the police lightbars that you see out on the road, and those throw off a lot of light. LEDs are being put into household appliances and lamps; they also rate more energy efficient than conventional bulbs.
Get Green Power
Some builders and planners are skilled at using passive solar to light up homes. Natural sunlight can be an alternative to poorly built, cave like homes that are dependent on interior lighting. Open the blinds, install bay windows and skylights, and live during the day, and you’ll be able to rely on 100% free lighting.
As another alternative, you can buy solar directly from utility power providers that are cropping up all over the country to compete with traditional coal-burning and nuclear power suppliers with greener energy at just a few cents more per kilowatt hour.
With all of these options at your fingertips, there’s no reason not to use a little thoughtful consideration and save resources.
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