Green Housing: Lighting
San Diego based - World Conscious
Green Topics
Green Housing Blog
This is where I will be posting my blog on green housing for our green readers. I encourage and seek help from other like-minded individuals. Send me information, blogs & articles you feel need promotion to our community and I will post them in this spot and give reference to you.
Articles & News
Here I will be posting links to other news & articles that I find on the web. I encourage our readers to help us by sending links to your blogs or any articles/sites you find on the web that promote the green cause.
Energy-efficient Lighting in Green Homes
Standard incandescent bulbs are the most commonly used lightbulbs in the home, but did you know that they are the most expensive and inefficient? Using energy efficient lighting is probably the first and easiest step in your home as an aspiring everyday Greenie. But don't forget that natural light is free!
Indoor Flourescents
Fluorescents are very flexible and fit in most standard incandescent sockets. With modern electronic ballasts, there is no more flickering or humming that was common with older ballasts. Some can even be used with dimmers. Fluorescents are designed to last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Operational savings reach 60%. Light quality is measured by the Color Rendition Index (CRI). Look for a CRI of 82 or higher when shopping for bulbs.
Halogen Lighting
Lights that use halogen gas are 30 to 50 percent more efficient than common incandescent lights. The initial cost for halogen lights is higher, but they often last two to three times longer than incandescent bulbs. Halogen lights perform best when used for focused, high quality light rather than indirect lighting. Many designer fixtures commonly have halogens and they are often considered upgrades.
Recessed Lighting Housings
Insulation Cover or IC-rated housings are recessed lighting fixtures that are safe to have in direct contact with insulation materials. With fully sealed housings, the fixture becomes airtight and reduces heating and cooling costs. IC-rated housings generally cost the same as unrated housings making this yet another no-brainer when remodeling.
Natural Light
Let's not forget about using natural light to provide a free and completely renewable lighting source (during daylight hours, that is). A well-designed home will bring in a lot of natural light from outside using windows, skylights & solar tubes. Solar tubes in particular are gaining much popularity for remodeling due to the ease of installation and lower cost as compared to creating a skylight.