Lighting
The energy used by household lighting in Australia is increasing as we build larger homes with more lights. Most homes could reduce the amount of energy they use for lighting by 50 percent or more.
In a typical home, electricity for lighting costs about $100 and generates around 20,000 balloons of greenhouse gas each year.
If every Victorian household replaced just one conventional globe with an energy efficient (compact fluorescent) globe, the savings would add up to around 5.6 billion balloons of greenhouse gas a year. There are many changes you can make that will have a real impact on your lighting costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Action:
Switch to energy saving light globes
They may be slightly more expensive to buy, but the advantages far outweigh the initial expense. Energy-saving compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) can last between 4 and 10 times longer than the average incandescent light bulb and use much less energy to produce the same amount of light.
Replace conventional incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light globes and you'll save up to 2,800 balloons a year.
The Australian Government is gradually phasing out all inefficient light bulbs. Visit the Australian Greenhouse Office website (http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/) for more information.
What you can do now:
What you can do this year:
Further information
For more information on how to use your lights efficiently:
- read about choosing lighting in more depth
- research design ideas for enhancing natural light through window placement and location fact sheets
- get a house energy rating to help identify energy saving opportunities
- contact Sustainability Victoria on 1300 363 744.
My Actions
Select an action and see how much green house gas you will save this year.
YOU SAVED:
