Eco-Tips: Lighting

Lighting is a significant contributor to your energy consumption, which tends to climb as the days get shorter. There are several hints and tips you can follow to reduce your electricity bill.

We'll take you through them in this video.

First tip: Make the most of natural lighting

When you get the chance to benefit from natural lighting, make the most of it and optimise it!

For example, put desks, reading chairs and kitchen worktops as close to natural light sources as possible.

This could help you save up to an hour of lighting per day.

Opt for light colours when decorating your rooms, as they will reflect light, as opposed to dark colours, which can absorb up to 75% of light.

Second tip: Adapt your lighting to your personal needs

Switch off the lights when you're not using them.

For example, in the middle of the day, if the room is light enough, or when you leave a room, even if it's only for a short period of time.

Similarly, it's not always necessary to turn the hall light on if it's not completely dark or if you're just passing quickly.

Choose bulbs with an appropriate wattage to your needs:

15-20 watts per square metre is the best level for living spaces;

10-15 watts per square metre is sufficient for hallways and bedrooms.

Bear in mind that it can often be more effective to spread several dimmer lights around a room, rather than picking one, intense light.

Third tip: invest in energy-saving lightbulbs

Energy-saving lightbulbs and other fluorescent lights are much more economical than halogen bulbs or other incandescent and filament lights.

You can get LED bulbs, for example, which are equivalent to a 60w lightbulb whilst only consuming 8w.

Invest in supplementary lighting, like reading lamps

You'll often find that it's actually better to use only a small desk lamp, even with a halogen bulb, rather than switching on your lighting system.

By integrating these eco-tips into your day-to-day life, you could significantly reduce your electricity bill.