The majority of energy consumed in the average South African home is expended for water heating and light. South Africa does have vast coal deposits, used for generating electricity, but fossil fuels are limited! We need to take responsibility for our use of energy in our homes. By keeping energy efficiency in mind every day, especially when designing or redecorating our homes, we can make a big difference in the amount of energy needed to light up our lives.
Seize The Day
Make the most of the daylight you get! Yes its a simple idea, but is often overlooked. If your decor scheme allows, use light coloured curtains with a loose weave. Wispy, light curtains allow more light to enter while still preserving your home privacy. For windows that do not face the street, there are various kinds of blinds on the market, which can be opened to allow the maximum amount of sunlight in, or closed for privacy or at night.
Save Energy
The simplest energy saving tip, when it comes to home lighting, is also the most effective: Turn the lights off in any room that you are not using. When you leave a room, turn around and make sure the lights are turned off, just like your father used to try and teach you! Kids don't get that energy saving trick until they have to pay their own electricity bills, do they?
Timers And Photo Cells
So, turning the lights off in all the rooms, when they aren't being used, works wonders for saving energy in the home. But only if you remember to switch those lights off! Switching lights off all the time can become a bit of a hassle, especially if you are the only member in the household who can remember to do it. If your family is one of many that just can't seem to switch lights off, you might consider installing timers or photo cells to do the dirty work for you. That way the lights are automatically turned off by the timer switches, or photo cells, when not in use. This would work well for lights in areas where you can predict when they will be needed.
Task Lighting
Another approach to saving energy in your home involves task lighting. Why light up the entire room when you're only working in one corner? Task lighting allows you to illuminate mainly the functional areas in a room. A great room atmosphere is an added benefit of using well-planned task lighting. The diffused glow of a good reading lamp is so much cozier than the stark glare of a ceiling fixture, isn't it?
Adjustable Lights
Lights with an adjustable intensity feature can also save precious energy and give you control over the atmosphere your lights give a room. Adjustable intensity lights come in various forms. Light dimmer switches based on rheostats (variable resistors) have been around for ages. These dimmer switches allows you to adjust your lighting brightness to any level you desire, from 0% to 100% of the light's full brightness.
Another variable light intensity option would be multi filament light bulbs and light fittings and switches with a multi position feature. Three-way lamps are widely used in other areas of the world, but they are quite rare installations in South African homes. Three-way lamps have a special modification on the bayonet or thread, which allows you to switch between two filaments of differing luminosity in the light bulb. Three switch positions are available. You can choose to switch on either one of the filaments, or switch them both on, for maximum illumination. With three-way lamps you can control the level of lighting according to your need.
Fluorescent Light
Ever heard of mini-fluorescent lights or compact fluorescent light bulbs? Compact fluorescent light bulbs are made by most of the well-known light bulb companies and are reported to be up to 5 times more energy efficient than incandescent light bulbs. Fluorescent light bulbs are energy efficient, but still give off the same amount of light! Instead of relying on heat and resistance to produce light, fluorescent lights depend on the luminosity of certain special gasses when electricity is passed through it.
Save good money by replacing your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. You can find them in specialty lighting stores, or your local supermarket's hardware section. These little fluorescent light bulbs will save money and energy, especially if you need a night-light to illuminate a passageway, or a bedside night-light to keep "midnight-monsters" away.
Think Energy Efficient
Keep energy efficiency in mind while designing or redecorating your home. Teach your kids how important it is to save energy by setting a good example. Make your home a "green" house by helping to conserve energy through your use of light. It is the right thing to do. And your children will thank you later...
