Guide to energy-saving lighting choices

A beautifully designed home brings pride to every homeowner. When it comes to interior decor, color and lighting are the most important. Getting them right is the key to creating an attractive home that will stand out. Color combinations will draw attention, while perfect lighting will create an inviting atmosphere. Both natural and artificial light will make your home look more spacious and cozy. Whether you opt for ceiling lights, stone table lamps, or floor lamps, extra lighting will create the ambiance you want. However, when choosing the proper lighting for your home, there are more things to consider. You want your home to be comfortable as well as stylish. If you follow this guide, you can have both! Energy-saving lighting will make your home both functional and elegant. What’s more, it enables you to save money and live green and protect the environment.

What are the benefits of energy-saving lighting?

If you’re looking for ways to improve your home, changing the lightbulbs can be a good start. Traditional filament lightbulbs are slowly leaving the market. Although they have been used for over a hundred years, they don’t suit modern life anymore. The fact that they use a lot of energy also means that they generate more carbon emissions. Moreover, apart from light, they also emit a lot of heat. Since we only use them as a light source, that extra heat is simply wasted. The only thing it accomplishes is to amp up your electricity bill. On the other hand, energy-saving lightbulbs have many benefits. For example, they:

• produce more light while being more energy-efficient
• help you save on electricity
• last longer
• are durable
• are eco-friendly and reduce the carbon footprint of your home

Where to start?

Of course, you don’t have to go on a shopping spree and change all of your lightbulbs at once. Instead, you can start with those light fixtures that you use most often. Additionally, you can start with the outdoor lights that you leave on during the night. Then, when your incandescent lightbulbs burn out, you can replace them with energy-efficient lightbulbs of your choice.

On the other hand, if you’re planning to move, you can change them all at the same time. City Movers advise against bringing old light bulbs. During the relocation, you have a lot to pack. When you prepare your light fixtures for the move, remove the old lightbulbs. Not only are they tricky to pack, but they can be a risk for your other belongings too. So, buy new bulbs when you arrive at your new home. That way, you’ll have a fresh, energy-efficient start!

Energy-saving lightbulb choices

Before you make the change, you need to know what kind of lights will work best for your home. There are several energy-saving lighting choices you can opt for. However, people often worry that they’ll have to change their lighting fixtures because the new bulbs won’t fit. The truth is completely the opposite! Energy-efficient lightbulbs come in various sizes and shapes and also with different fittings. Therefore, you don’t have to get rid of your favorite chandelier or a table lamp to enjoy their benefits. Here are several lightbulb options you can find on the market.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)

CFLs are spiral-shaped tube bulbs that you’re probably familiar with. Maybe you already have them in your kitchen or garage. They use 75% less energy than incandescent lights. What’s more, they last about ten times longer! While they’re a bit more expensive than traditional bulbs, they’re worth the investment. They’ll soon pay themself off and start saving you money. Also, they are available in a range of colors, from white to yellow (including warm tones). As you well know, light has an impact on interior design, and you can use them to create a perfect ambiance for your home.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

LED lights are one of the most energy-efficient and rapidly developing light choices today. They convert 90% of the energy they spend into light and only 10% into heat. Not to mention they need far less energy to produce more light, which is precisely the feature you’re looking for. They come in a variety of colors and have a lot of additional options. Depending on the type you choose, they can be dimmable or have motion and daylight sensors. Also, they’re becoming a popular replacement for traditional bulbs, so you can use them with all of your lighting fixtures.

Combine useful with pleasant

So, if you’re planning to make some home improvements on a budget, don’t hesitate to replace your old lightbulbs with more energy-efficient models. You want your home to be beautiful and functional, so spruce it up with minimal investment. CFLs and LEDs will provide more light, save more energy, and cut down your electricity bills!

How to choose the right lighting for your home?

Naturally, you also want to create a warm, cozy atmosphere in your home. Since there are many kinds of energy-efficient bulbs on the market, you have to make a plan and ensure you choose the right ones. Here are some things to check before buying:

• fittings – if you have the old bulb, take it to the store with you. That way, you’ll find the one that fits perfectly with the light fixture you have in mind
• shape – the shape of the bulb affects the type of light it casts – directional, diffused, etc. So think about the ambiance you want to create and choose the correct shape
• brightness – since these lights don’t spend much energy, their power is not measured in watts but lumens. For example, traditional 60w equates to 700 lumens (and only 10w for some energy-efficient lightbulbs!)
• warmth – depending on the atmosphere you want to create, you can choose natural white, daylight white, etc.

Final thoughts

You probably have around ten or twenty lightbulbs in and around your house. Replacing them with energy-efficient options will save you a lot of money over time and minimize your home’s carbon footprint, too. These lights come in various shapes and sizes, and you can also choose their brightness and warmth. These features enable you to make your home cozy and elegant as well as functional and efficient. As you may see, opting for energy-saving lighting choices doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style!

Author bio

Ellena Riddley is an interior design enthusiast and a freelance writer. She deeply cares about environmental issues as well as about beauty and decor. In her blogs, she shares her ideas and experience on improving the quality of life and provides valuable tips on lifestyle and decoration.