Americans buy about 2 billion light bulbs every year, and as of October 2007, about 85% of those were incandescent bulbs, according to the Vermont Environmental Consortium.
Of course, that percentage is going to drop a bit every year as lighting manufacturers are now producing fixtures that, for the most part, require compact fluorescent bulbs. Sea Gull Lighting, for instance, is only producing fluorescent fixtures, and energy-efficient products group director Paul Vrabel says homeowners are pleased. “Energy efficiency has become beautiful,” he says. “With the advances made in the technology in the last several years, and the wide range of fixtures available, lighting becomes an easy and low-cost upgrade that can generally pay for itself in a year or two.”
Timer-based lighting control ensures lights don't stay on longer than necessary. Dimmers and sensors save additional energy.
That quick ROI comes from the fact that fluorescent bulbs consume dramatically less energy than incandescent lamps. A 13-watt CFL, for example, will provide about the same illumination as a standard 60-watt bulb, according to manufacturer Thomas Lighting.
Of course, switching out your bulbs isn't the only way to lighten the energy load. “A lot of people are under the misconception that dimmers don't save energy,” says Dr. Ian Rowbottom, energy expert for Lutron. “A dimmer is like a valve on your faucet. When you close the valve, it's not like you're building up water behind it.
Click here to read full article from Remodeling