I moved into my apartment about four years ago. Little by little, I've continued to make improvements that help me save money on my energy bills. I've:
Applied weatherstripping to seal air leaks around windows
Insulated my crawl space
Installed storm windows to reduce air movement into and out of existing windows I live in a historic district and can't replace my windows
Installed window shades to help with insulation
Replaced my incandescent lighting fixtures with compact fluorescent lamps CFLs
I even purchased outdoor solar lights for my dad for Fathers Day.
I'm now ready to take on a more complex lighting project in the kitchen and family room. While doing my research, I was again reminded of the many resources on the Energy Savers Web site. Information about lighting principles and terms, lighting design, the types of lighting, lighting controls, and lighting maintenance helped me learn and understand lighting performance and design factors, basic lighting design principles and methods for energy efficiency, lamp types, and basic maintenance to help keep your lights operating at their optimum energy efficiency.
I'm definitely drawn to the light-emitting diode LED under-cabinet and recessed downlights-just two of the many LED products. LEDs are incredibly energy-efficient, last longer, are more durable, and offer better light quality than nearly any other type of lighting available.
In the next couple of weeks, I'll need to make the final decisions on upgrading my kitchen and family room lighting. It's an exciting decision-and one that I'll make knowing I thoughtfully considered all my options with an eye toward saving money and energy at home.
