Lighting accounts for about 15% of your electric bill, or about $120-$150/year if you are an average New Yorker. Energy efficiency experts suggest that the average home could save up to half their total cost for lighting through efficiency measures alone. Main ways to reduce energy consumption for lighting include using task lighting instead of general overhead lighting; reducing the wattage in lamps to what’s required; turning off lights when not needed; keeping light sources (windows and light bulbs) clean; substituting natural light for artificial light; using lighter colors for fabrics and paints to reflect more light back on the task.

What you can do:

• Consider replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in those locations where you require lighting for 2 hours or more day. Replacing one 60 watt incandescent bulb burning two hours a day with an 18 watt CFL will save you over $5/year in electricity.
• Use night lights instead of incandescent or CFLs for night lighting. Night lights use only 4 watts/hour or about 20%-30% of what CFLs use, and cost much less to purchase.
• Get rid of halogen torchieres. These often use 300 watt bulbs. If you must have a torchiere replace it with CFL torchieres which are safer and use only 20% of the electricity.
• Use task lights instead of whole room lighting.
• Turn off lights when not needed! Timers and motion sensors can help here, if you are forgetful.

Savings:

• Replacing incandescents with CFLs: Save $5/year for every 60 watt bulb you replace with an 18 watt CFL.
• Replacing incandescents with night lights: Save $24/year for every 60 watt bulb you replace with a 4 watt nightlight.
• Replacing halogen torchiere with CFL torchiere: Save about $35/year for every torchiere replaced.

Savings on the others depend on usage and on how often your household leaves lights on when no one is in the room.