Bright Ideas for Home Lighting

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Replacing just one incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent will save you about $30 in electric bills over the life of the bulb and prevent about 500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Replacing just one incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent will save you about $30 in electric bills over the life of the bulb and prevent about 500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
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What a bright idea! It’s true, changing your light bulbs is an easy effective step you can take to save energy and combat climate change.
What a bright idea! It’s true, changing your light bulbs is an easy effective step you can take to save energy and combat climate change.
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Compact fluorescent light bulbs now come in many varieties, such as this bulb for a recessed fixture.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs now come in many varieties, such as this bulb for a recessed fixture.
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The lights of the future may be energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
The lights of the future may be energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
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Celebrate the savings! Changing to better fluorescent lights saved 25 percent on our electric bill, and gave us 25 percent more light at the offices of Mother Earth News.
Celebrate the savings! Changing to better fluorescent lights saved 25 percent on our electric bill, and gave us 25 percent more light at the offices of Mother Earth News.
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Everyone loves natural light, and it saves energy, too! A few simple strategies, such as choosing lighter paint colors, can help you maximize natural light in your home.
Everyone loves natural light, and it saves energy, too! A few simple strategies, such as choosing lighter paint colors, can help you maximize natural light in your home.
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What a bright idea! It’s true, changing your light bulbs is an easy effective step you can take to save energy and combat climate change.
What a bright idea! It’s true, changing your light bulbs is an easy effective step you can take to save energy and combat climate change.

If you’re ready for a simple way to save energy, think light bulbs. To start with, choosing a compact fluorescent (CFL) is a smart move because these bulbs use much less electricity than old-fashioned incandescents. Not only will choosing a CFL save you about $30 in electric bills over the life of each bulb, it also will help you do your part to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants.

But there are other options to consider. In fact, there are a growing number of ways you can save electricity and make your home more comfortable by choosing the right lights. Just a few of the most promising options include new varieties of CFLs and fluorescent lights, new superefficient light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs; and simple strategies for using less electricity and bringing in more natural light. Here’s how to start finding the best lights for your home.

The Power of Fluorescent Lights

One energy-efficient option is standard fluorescent lights: These familiar long, thin tubes illuminate large spaces, from kitchens and garages to classrooms and office buildings. Fluorescents are more efficient than incandescent bulbs, which produce light by heating a metal filament, and therefore waste 90 percent of their energy as heat. Instead, fluorescent bulbs produce light through a chemical reaction. But fluorescents didn’t fit into most home light fixtures until 1979, when manufacturers added a twist.

The compact fluorescent works much the same way as a standard fluorescent light, but the thin tube curves into a round bulb shape that fits neatly into most lamps. Commonly known as CFLs, they are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs.

  • Published on Apr 1, 2007
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