There are many components to a home that can be upgraded to be energy efficient. Energy efficient appliances, lighting, and electronics can save you money as they take less power to operate. In addition, you can help the environment by purchasing energy efficient items and decrease your carbon footprint. It is well known that energy efficient items in your home are better for the environment, but they can be costly to upgrade and replace. This article will discuss some of the benefits to investing in energy efficient lighting. If you are interested in hiring professional assistance, be sure to look for licensed electrical contractors to work on your electrical needs.
- Efficiency. One way to make the lighting in your home energy efficient is to replace all of your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. CFLs are much more efficient that the standards incandescent light bulb. In addition, they can last much longer at up to 10,000 hours. Some brands even guarantee that your bulb will last more than 5 years. They will cost more to purchase up front, but you will save money by using them as they last so much longer than a standard bulb.
- Lower greenhouse emissions. It is amazing how much you can help the environment by simply replacing your incandescent bulbs or appliances with energy efficient items. By replacing just one light bulb with a CFL or LED bulb, you are reducing emissions by a half ton. In addition to lowering emissions, using energy efficient items can help keep things out of landfills as they are recyclable. Not to mention, if you were to break a CFL or LED bulb, you will not have to worry about mercury vapors being projected into the air like you would if you were to break a standard bulb.
- Money savings. Using LED bulbs can save you up to 90% on your electric bill which is a great savings. You may not notice a decrease in your bill right away but once you have your lightbulbs completely replaced and other appliances upgraded to being energy efficient, you will begin to notice. You can save between $50 and $100 per year by switching out your light bulbs and even more if you upgrade your appliances.
There are many people switching their lightbulbs and home appliances to be more energy efficient. Saving money, helping the environment, and improving your quality of life are all significant reasons as to why people have made the switch. While it may cost you up front to invest in energy Star appliances and LED or CFL lighting, you will save money in the long run as the life of the products will last much longer and they will use less electricity. The final perk is that you are reducing your carbon footprint by lowering greenhouse emissions which is a benefit that your family can benefit from even after you have gone from the earth.
partnered post • cc-licensed image by Jonathan Cohen