September, 2017

Are You Missing Out On Energy Savings For Your Denver Home? September 12, 2017 Are You Missing Out On Energy Savings For Your Denver Home? Here's how energy-efficient lighting can save you money on your utility bills As a homeowner, you're probably on the lookout for ways to save money on your utility bills. One great way to do this is by using energy-efficient lighting in your home. Using light bulbs that comply with EISA (the Energy Independent and Security Act) standards save consumers nearly $6 billion in a year. EISA was passed by Congress in 2007 and required light bulbs to be 25 percent more efficient by 2012. Your Options for Energy-Efficient Lighting You have three choices for light bulbs that meet the EISA standards for energy efficiency in your home: LED (Light-emitting diode) lights use about 1/30th the energy of traditional incandescent light bulbs and last about 35 times as long. They generate light energy using tiny semiconductors. LEDs emit bright light despite limited energy use. They are also cool to touch and extremely difficult to break. However, they are also one of the most expensive lighting options for your home. This means your upfront costs will be higher, but this can be offset by lower energy bills and the longer lifespan. With the energy savings and longer lifespan, estimates indicate you can lower your carbon footprint by as much as 85 percent simply by switching from incandescent technology to LED technology. CFL (compact fluorescent lights) are more affordable than LED bulbs and more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. But they are not as energy efficient as LED bulbs. You can lower your energy costs by as much as 60 percent when compared with incandescent bulbs while still generating the same amount of light. They also last about 10 times as long, which is good because the price for these bulbs is higher than incandescent bulbs. CFLs use traditional fluorescent tubes that are bent into a light-bulb shape. Halogen incandescent bulbs meet the minimum energy-efficiency standards of EISA. They have a capsule inside that holds gas around a filament to increase bulb efficiency. They are available in a wide range of shapes and colors and can be used with dimmers. The Benefits of Energy-Efficient Bulbs You'll start spending less money on your monthly energy bills almost immediately when you select LED, CFL or halogen bulbs over traditional incandescent bulbs. That's because traditional incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy to produce light. In fact, about 90 percent of the energy used with these bulbs is wasted as heat. Plus, the newer bulbs produce the same amount of light as the older bulbs but with less energy used. The average consumer spends about $4.80 per year in electricity for an incandescent bulb, while spending $1 for an Energy Star LED, $3.50 for halogen, and $1.20 on an Energy Star CFL. Replacing your five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs that have an Energy Star rating can save $75 each year. Shopping for Lighting When shopping for lighting, you can use new Lighting Products label and lumens to compare bulbs. Lumens are the measure for how much light you're getting from your bulb. The higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb. A 1600-lumen CFL bulb is equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent bulb. The Lighting Products Label includes information on the brightness of the bulb, estimated energy cost per year, lifespan, energy usage, and light appearance. You'll save about $6 in energy costs each year if you replace one traditional 100-watt incandescent bulb with an Energy Star CFL bulb. If you're unsure of what light bulbs to buy for your home, contact APower Electric Service at (720) 364-8616. We're happy to help you improve your energy efficiency.