As the Days Grow Shorter,
Energy-efficient Lights
Save Money
It’s easy to “see”
a light that wastes energy and money. Look for two types
of energy-hogs – lights with incandescent bulbs and
old fluorescent lights.
Replace Incandescent Bulbs
for Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)
At work or at home, replace incandescent bulbs for compact
fluorescent lamps to save money. The basic bulb invented
by Thomas Edison has changed little over the last 100 years.
So using a standard incandescent is a bit like driving a
Model-T – old fashioned and expensive!
Replacing old bulbs with ENERGY STAR®-qualified CFLs
can save you up to 60% of energy and costs.
Use Lighting Controls and
Commonsense
In places like bathrooms, hallways, closets and outdoor
areas where people move in and out all day, install a lighting
control that shuts off unneeded lights. Motion sensors,
timers and photocells all reduce the number of hours lights
are on, which lowers operating costs. Commonsense works,
too. Teach employees and family to turn off unused lights
with the best control of all – the fingertip!
Remember to open curtains or shades as the days get cooler.
This lets in daylight, the highest quality light on earth,
and it costs nothing.
Finally, by using lighting wisely you can also help the
State prevent electrical emergencies. If you hear the Flex
Your Power NOW! alert, your area is using too much energy.
Turn off all unneeded lighting, appliances and equipment.
Use Efficient LEDs to Grab Attention
Illuminated signs are good to grab people’s attention,
but color works even better. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
are now widely available in an array of fun colors and make
great business and exit signs. An LED exit sign, for example,
uses 95% less energy than an incandescent one and 80% less
than a fluorescent one. The LED sign also has a longer life:
25 years or more with little or no maintenance.
Replace T12 Fluorescents for
T8s
At work, old and inefficient fluorescent lights are all
too common. Everyone has seen them – long tubes casting
harsh light, often with annoying flickering and humming.
Compared to energy-smart T8 fluorescents, old T12s waste
as much as 40% of the energy used, meaning that these cost
you 40% too much on your monthly bill.
Energy-smart T8s, on the other hand, provide better light
at less cost. Colors look more natural and the quality of
light feels warmer. And, even better, T8s do not have the
horrible flicker and hum.
Take Advantage of Free
Money and Services
The State, local utilities and other providers offer a range
of rebates and incentives to help you improve your lighting
efficiency. It only takes a minute to save money! See what
programs you are eligible for by visiting the Flex Your
Power website at www.FYPower.org. Our incentive finder lists
more than 1,000 programs offered across the state, some
of which replace inefficient lights at no cost to you.
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