Lighting

Household lighting consumes a large amount of electricity. Follow the Top Tips below to reduce your consumption of electricity through lighting.

Tips

Rooms should be furnished to allow the maximum amount of daylight in
Net curtains reduce the amount of daylight entering a room
Lighter coloured paints reflect more light
Keep windows clean
Turn off lights in rooms that are not in use
Having a number of independently switched lights in a room will allow you to control light use
Choose the correct type of lighting

Energy efficient light bulbs (CFLs) are the alternative to traditional incandescent lighting. The cost per bulb is slightly higher, but over the lifetime of the bulb it could save you up to €170. However, they are not suitable for using with dimmer switches. The Light Bulb Calculator on the ESB website will help you work out how much you could save by switching to CFLs. The ESB has also produced a guide on energy efficient lighting which is available for download from the ESB website.

As part of the EU Regulation (EC) No. 244/2009 with regard to eco-design requirements for non-directional household lamps, the government have phased out the sale of incandescent light bulbs in favour of CFLs and other energy efficient alternatives. There are six different timeframes for phasing out the traditional bulbs by 2012, and full details can be found on the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation (DETI) website

Lighting Choices

Check the energy rating labels on light bulbs before purchasing. Like other household appliances, light bulbs are labelled A-G with A being the most energy efficient.

Watch out for lamp life, i.e. how long the lamp will last, which will give you an indication if your investment is likely to pay back over the lifetime use of the product. High wattage bulbs are generally not needed in bedrooms, so try to vary the voltage in bulbs according to your room function.

CFL long life bulbs are more energy efficient than traditional incandescent light bulbs. They also last up to 10 times longer. Under EU and Government legislation incandescent light bulbs were phased out from September 2009, so if you haven’t already done so, why not make the switch to CFLs now.