How to Choose Energy Efficient Light Bulbs for Your Home

Many homeowners are putting in home automation systems as a way to enhance their comfort, boost the energy efficiency of their dwellings and enhance the safety of their property. An essential part of any automated residential control system is the lighting. While incandescent bulbs were the only choice just a generation ago, today there are many different options to use in your new home control systems.

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Outdoor Lights

Your home control system has outdoor lights that illuminate your front, back and side doors as well as your fence, detached garage and front path. When choosing light bulbs for these fixtures, consider options that include photocells that are charged by the sun during daylight hours. Select motion-activated lighting that saves energy by only turning on when there is movement within a certain distance of the light bulb.

LED Bulbs

LED lights can be used inside or outdoors as specified by the product’s packaging. The greatest benefit of choosing LED lighting is that the bulbs use 1/3 to 1/30 of the energy required by an incandescent bulb. These bulbs also last for up to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs remain cool even when in use for many hours, making them a safe as well as energy efficient option.

Indoor CFL Lighting

CFL bulbs are affordable and last four to ten times longer than an incandescent bulb. This type of lighting is highly efficient, using just 20 to 50 percent of the amount of energy required by an incandescent bulb. The newest generation of CFL light bulbs provides a warm yellow tinted light rather than the jarring bright white light of an incandescent bulb. These versatile bulbs can be used in lamps, recessed lighting fixtures, porch lights and ceiling fans. Replacing one incandescent bulb with an LED or CFL bulb could save you up to $45 per year in electricity usage, especially when coordinated with your automated residential control system.

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