Use tube fluorescent and energy efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in fixtures throughout your home to provide high-quality and high-efficiency lighting. According to EPA, ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent lamps use approximately 75% less energy than an incandescent (standard) bulb and last about 6 to 10 times longer.

Today's CFLs fit almost all indoor lighting fixtures, offer brightness and color rendition that is comparable to incandescent lights. Although fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps cost a bit more than incandescent bulbs, they pay for themselves by saving energy over their lifetime. CFL fixtures are now available that feature dimmers and operate much like incandescent fixtures.

How To Choose The Right Light

Matching the right CFL to the right kind of fixture helps ensure that it will perform and last a long time. CFL’s perform best in fixtures that allow airflow, such as table and floor lamps, wall sconces, pendants and out door fixtures. For recessed fixtures, it’s better to use a reflector CFL that a spiral CFL since the design of the reflector evenly distributes the light down to your task area.

If a light fixture is connected to a dimmer or three-way socket, you’ll need to use a special CFL designed to work in these applications. Make sure to look for CFLs that specify use with dimmers or three-way fixtures.

Not all home improvement or lighting stores carry all types of energy efficient lighting products, that’s why EGIA has established its online ENERGY STORE to make it easy for consumers to find an efficient lighting solution for just about every possible lighting application. To find a full range of energy efficient lighting products, visit the GEOSmart Energy Store.

BARE PRODUCTS		COVERED PRODUCTS			REFLECTOR PRODUCTS
Mini-Spiral or Twist	Tube or Universal	Incandescent/ A-line	Globe G25, G30, G40	Candelabra, Post or Bullet Shape	Indoor and Outdoor R20, R30, R40, PAR38

Mercury & Energy Efficient Lighting

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 5 milligrams – about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take 100 CFLs to equal that amount.

Mercury currently is an essential component of CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use. Many manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has develop a fact sheet Mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) to respond to questions and concerns about mercury in energy-efficient lighting that uses compact fluorescent technology.

LED Holiday Lighting

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are small, solid light bulbs which are extremely energy efficient. For many years LEDs were limited to single-bulb use in applications such as instrument panels and electronics. Today, LEDs are used throughout the country as an energy efficient way to decorate for the holidays.

LEDs use significantly less energy than standard incandescent holiday lighting and can last up to 100,000 hours or more. So, while they may cost more initially, they will a lot of energy and money when you compare the cost to purchase and operate a system for five years (and beyond)

Indoor Lighting Tips
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing these products.
• Turn off the lights in any room you're not using, or consider installing timers, photo cells, or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.
• Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops under cabinets.
• Consider three-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light is not necessary.
• Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for your workroom, garage, and laundry areas.
• Consider using 4-watt mini-fluorescent or electro-luminescent night lights. Both lights are much more efficient than their incandescent counterparts. The luminescent lights are cool to the touch.
• Use CFLs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Consider carefully the size and fit of these systems when you select them. Some home fixtures may not accommodate some of the larger CFLs.
• Recessed downlights (also called recessed cans) are now available that are rated for contact with insulation (IC rated), are designed specifically for pin-based CFLs, and can be used in retrofits or new construction.
• Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.
• If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, consider replacing them with compact fluorescent torchieres. Compact fluorescent torchieres use 60% to 80% less energy, can produce more light (lumens), and do not get as hot as the halogen torchieres. Halogen torchieres are a fire risk because of the high temperature of the halogen bulb.

Many homeowners use outdoor lighting for decoration and security. When shopping for outdoor lights, you will find a variety of products, from low-voltage pathway lighting to motion-detector floodlights. Some stores also carry lights powered by small photovoltaic (PV) modules that convert sunlight directly into electricity; consider PV-powered lights for areas that are not close to an existing power supply line.

Outdoor Lighting Tips
• Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motion sensor so they will turn on only at night or when someone is present. A combined photocell and motion sensor will increase your energy savings even more.
• Turn off decorative outdoor natural gas lamps; just eight such lamps burning year-round use as much natural gas as it takes to heat an average-size home during an entire winter.
• Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use CFLs because of their long life. If you live in a cold climate, be sure to buy a lamp with a cold weather ballast since standard CFLs may not work well below 40°F.
• Also consider high-intensity discharge (also called HID) or low-pressure sodium lights.