Effective Lighting Techniques

Many of us cannot imagine what life would be like without lights. For starters we would not be able to have a productive life during the nights. Lighting helps to illuminate areas where we live and work so that we can be more productive.

However, many of us do not have adequate lighting in our own homes. As an example, we have ceiling lights in our rooms but we don't always have a desk lamp to help us when we are doing our work and this can have adverse effects on our eyes. So what types of lighting should we have in our homes?

There are so many types to choose from including chandeliers, halogen lights, ceiling lights, fluorescent bulbs, table lamps and outdoor lights just to name a few examples. They vary in function and price and it can sometimes be difficult to choose the best form of lighting for your home.

In this article, Property Guru will take a closer look at some cost saving lighting techniques that you can use for your home that will not compromise your standard of living.

Use compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs do not give the effect of luxury so avoid using them for your living areas. Instead, use them in your room as a desk lamp. The light they emit is good for those wanting to read at night. You also save on your energy bill because you achieve the same level of brightness with a 17-watt fluorescent light bulb as you can with a standard 60-watt bulb. It also lasts longer.

Install ceiling fans with lights. They will not only add light to your rooms but save money on your energy bill by up to 40 percent.

Invest in illuminated cabinets and mirror lighting for your bathrooms. It will save you space and you won't have to spend extra money buying individual lights.

Install a dimmer switch. This will help to change the mood of lighting in your room depending on what type of feel you're going for and it saves you money on your energy bill as well as doubling the life of your bulbs.

Use solar-powered outdoor lighting. Not only will it beautify your home at night, but it will bring added security to your property. Another bonus to using solar-powered lighting is you will save money on your energy bill.

Use high-efficiency bulbs for outdoor security lighting. You will save up to 80 percent on outdoor lighting costs by using higher efficiency incandescents or watt misers, compact fluorescents or mercury vapor bulbs.

Have a motion sensor for outdoor security lighting. When there is nobody present outside, the light stays off but when it detects motion which can come from an intruder or a family member, then it switches on.

We all have a tendency to leave the lights on in our rooms. This is a bad habit and we should learn to switch off lights when we are not using a room. This is a simple tip you can try that will save you close to 20 percent on your monthly energy bill.

Make hay while the sun shines. On a sunny day, you can save on electricity bills by opening the windows to let natural light through. Indirect exposure to sunlight is also healthy for your skin.

Clap on! Clap off! There are remote controlled lights that switch on at the clap of your hands. They are called cordless lights and they emit light only when you need them to.