Fewer daylight hours and cooler temperatures mean that many people spend more time inside during the fall and winter months. While up to half of the energy used in a typical home goes towards heating and cooling, other home features like water heaters, appliances and lighting contribute to energy bills. Swapping traditional light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) is one of the easiest ways to start saving energy at home and at work.
Look for light bulbs that have earned the Energy Star, which means they meet strict energy efficiency guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Consider these facts and figures:
- An average Energy Star qualified light bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a standard bulb and lasts about six times longer.
- Energy Star CFLs emit less heat than traditional light bulbs.
- Swapping one traditional bulb for an Energy Star bulb can save 40 dollars or more over the lifetime of the bulb. Swap five and save over 200 dollars!
Get tips for purchasing CFL light bulbs - including choosing light intensity, color and size - at www.energystar.gov/ia/products/fap/purchasing_checklist_revised.pdf.
(Sources: Energy Star. "Save Energy at Home: Lighting." http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_save_energy_at_home, and "CFLs: Savings." http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_savings)
