When choosing lighting for the home, more and more people are paying attention to the energy-saving aspect. Those planning renovation or construction, as well as those who value an eco-friendly lifestyle, will be interested in how to choose energy-efficient lighting. Energy efficiency allows not only to significantly reduce energy bills, but also to reduce one’s own impact on the environment.
Consideration of energy-efficient lighting for the home should begin with a basic understanding of what energy efficiency is, what its benefits are and what technologies are available. The ideal place to begin such a study is this beginner’s guide.
Which lights are the most energy efficient
If we want to reduce energy consumption in the home, we must first understand what lights are the most energy efficient. With this knowledge, we will be able to make informed decisions when choosing lighting. Currently, LED light sources are the most energy-efficient. They save up to 90% of energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.
The advantage of LED lights is also their long life. The average service life of an LED bulb is 15,000 to 50,000 hours, while traditional incandescent bulbs typically work for only 1,000 to 2,000 hours. It follows that despite the higher initial price, LED bulbs are ultimately cheaper because they need to be replaced less often.
Determine your lighting needs
Choosing energy-efficient lighting should start with determining your individual lighting needs. Depending on whether you need lighting for reading, cooking, working, relaxing, for different rooms in the house, and for outdoor lighting, you may need different types of bulbs and different light intensities.
For rooms where bright lighting is important, such as the kitchen or study, higher wattage bulbs are best suited. On the other hand, bulbs with a warm, cozy light are better for relaxing rooms such as the bedroom or living room.
Pay attention to the color rendering index
The color rendering index (CRI) is an indicator that determines how truly an incandescent bulb reproduces colors compared to natural sunlight. The higher the CRI, the better the bulb reproduces colors. For homes where accurate color reproduction is important, such as art studios, bulbs with a high CRI should be chosen.
However, keep in mind that bulbs with higher CRI may cost a bit more. Therefore, it is necessary to understand your lighting needs and make the right trade-offs between cost and lighting quality.
How to get started with energy-efficient lighting
Getting started with energy-efficient lighting is simple. First, choose the most commonly used lights in your home and replace them with energy-efficient LED bulbs. Remember that although the initial cost may be higher, over time you will save on your energy bills.
Also, you can install motion sensors for outdoor lighting or in frequently used rooms. This will automatically turn off the lights when no one is around, giving you additional energy savings. In this way, you will gain not only economic, but also environmental benefits. https://furniture-story.co.uk/
