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SWITCH YOUR SWITCHES.
Dimmers allow you to reduce lighting when you don't need it, which saves both energy and light bulbs. Occupancy sensors turn lights off after you leave the room or shut the closet door -- even if you forget.
It's easy to replace regular light switches with dimmers or occupancy sensor switches. These cost more than standard switches to buy, but there is no difference in cost of installation.
The three enemies of bulbs - voltage fluctuation, vibration and heat build-up - create wear and tear on light bulbs. But you can protect against all three with a dimmer control. I have 14 dimmer controls in my own house and my electric bill is moderate now.
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MOVE TO MOTION DETECTORS.
Motion detectors offer another bright idea for snipping the electric bill. These are great for outside lighting. You have security, but the light shuts off when not needed.
LIGHT IN LAYERS.
Those lighting new homes for the first time might consider a less is more approach. Think of lighting in layers. Start with the spots where lights are most important - where tasks are performed, like reading. Don't accent everything in the living room, just the important stuff. This allows a thinning of lights without the house looking dark and will save energy.
ADD CEILING FANS.
Ceiling fans are a great way to conserve electricity year-round. They are economical and energy efficient, utilizing about the same energy as a 100 watt light bulb.
Ceiling fans don't actually lower the temperature of a room like an air conditioner. But by spinning the air, they create a wind chill effect that makes you feel up to eight degrees cooler.
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Running a ceiling fan costs about one cent per hour, or pennies/day, vs. the several dollars/day to run an air conditioner. Fans can be used alone or in conjunction with an air conditioner. When used with an air conditioner, the thermostat setting can then be raised, resulting in reduced cooling costs of 40% or more.
Simply raising a thermostat setting two degrees will save about 14% on energy consumption. Studies show that setting ceiling fans to spin in a counter-clockwise pattern, will save as much as 40% off summer cooling bills - without sweltering. Simply set the thermostat a few degrees higher and flip on the fan.
In the winter, ceiling fans move warm air back to the center of the room, pushing it down from the ceiling and helping homeowners save as much as 10% on their heating bills. Simply switch the direction of the blades to spin clockwise and turn on the fan.
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