Nip those electricals in the bud.
About 11% of electricity used at home supports our light hungry habits, not to mention our commercial addiction to kicking footcandles into the stratosphere. Consider the alternatives.
Conservation - reduce the use, now there’s a concept. Aside from sitting fireside while reading or doing the mending, the ‘energy efficient’ market is coming up with some great ideas for saving energy.
- Use LED lights now available in white light and a wide range of styles. They are very energy efficient and improving all the time.
- Use low mercury CFLs (compact flourescent lights) or low mercury T8 lamps such as Philips ALTO II for the office or shop instead of incandescent bulbs.
- Light switch motion sensors can effectively be used in low traffic areas to automatically turn lights off when not needed.
- Meet IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) standards, but don’t exceed them.
Task Lighting – There are some very hip and/or sleek focus lights out there to put the lumens right where you need them. Even some LED tasks lights are available now, which only use 9 watts of power and last for 60,000 hours. (See Herman Miller – Leaf Light)
Use the power of the SUN, turn the main lights down (or off) and cool down the watts. Harvest free light when it’s available.
- If you’re building, place windows to strategically take advantage of indirect light when possible.
- Use solar shelves or louvers at window interiors to bounce light deep into long spaces.
Be proactive about lighting at home or work, or in your next project, and reap the benefits of lower electrical bills and better quality light.
One last Kick: Better daylighting makes us feel… well, better.