Turn off lights when not in use, even for short periods of time. Turning lights off and on uses less energy than if they are left on all the time.
Use timers to turn lights on and off to help regulate use. To assure only dusk-to-dawn operation of your outdoor lights, control your fixtures with a photocell or a timer.
You can cut your electric bill by $60 per year if you replace the standard bulbs in your 5 most frequently used light fixtures with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). And always remember to recycle or properly dispose of CFLs.
Consider LED lighting. LED lights use 10 times less energy and last 50 times longer than traditional incandescent lights.
Consider using task lighting (lighting directed at a specific area) instead of overhead or general lighting, which may light unused areas of the room. By limiting lighting only to areas where it is needed, savings in the cost of bulbs and energy can be made.
Use natural lighting. Open curtains and shades during the day instead of using lighting. Consider skylights and solar tubes during remodeling or new construction design. This allows the maximum use of natural daylight.
Kitchen fixtures are some of the most used light fixtures in a home. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures are available in popular styles that may be just right for your kitchen, such as cabinet-mounted, ceiling-mounted, and recessed can models. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting provides bright, warm light while using 75% less energy, generating 75% less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than standard lighting.