LIGHTING

Lighting can represent up to 25% of your monthly utility bill and is one of the easiest energy appliance to control. For instance, if you replace 25% of your lights in high-use areas with fluorescent bulbs, you can save about 50% of your lighting energy bill. Using motion sensors and photocells ensure that lights are turned on only when you need them, helping you to cut down on unnecessary electricity use. In addition, many types of solar-powered outdoor lighting are also available. See listing under Renewables.

Get Time Savvy: Want your lights or appliances to turn on and off at specific times of the day? Timers are a great way to ensure that devices are properly turned on and off even if you're asleep or away from home.
Cost: Less than $20

Don't Be Dim-Use Dimmer Switches: Want your lights or appliances to turn on and off at specific times of the day? Timers ensure that devices are properly turned on and off when you're asleep or away from the house.
Cost: Less than $20

Go Three-Ways: Bulbs and switches that have three different settings allow you to select a lower energy consuming light level than bulbs and switches with only one level of lighting output. Three-way fluorescent bulbs are also available on the market. 
Cost: Less than $20 for CFL three-way bulbs

Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs): 90% of the electricity used in an incandescent bulb is wasted as heat. Fluorescent bulbs use 60 to 80% less electricity than incandescent and halogen bulbs. If you replace even two 60 watt bulbs that run for 5 hrs. per day with 2 CFLs that use 22 watts instead, you'd save $1.59 per month (72% savings). These bulbs last for upwards of 10,000 hrs. and emit the same amount of light!
Cost: $5 to $15 per bulb

Light-Activated Photocells: Light-sensitive devices turn lights on when ambient lighting gets too dark and turns lights off at daylight. Don't keep those outdoor or indoor lights turned on when they're not needed. 
Cost: $10

Motion Sensors: No need to have outdoor lighting burning all night long. The sensors on these lights are sensitive to motion and heat up to 35 feet away. 
Cost: $30 to $70

Fluorescent Ballasts: Use 4-foot low-wattage, fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for your workroom, garage and laundry areas.
Cost: $25 to $75 per fixture

Skylights: Allow natural daylight into your home or business and avoid turning on the switch. Look for energy efficiency and non-aluminum frames.
Cost: $100 to $500