You want the right amount of light, and you want it to last a long time, especially if it’s for a hard-to-reach place. But you don’t want it to add to your electric bill. You can get everything you want if you use a little energy know-how.

Fluorescent bulbs

Highly efficient compact fluorescent bulbs may cost more than regular incandescent bulbs, but their efficient use of electricity and long operating life can offset the cost. Here’s how: Suppose your living room table lamp is turned on for 1,000 hours a year, every cent counts.  Check out Eskom’s energy calculator.

Living room energy savers, the green way.

Your local grocery or home store offers a dazzling array of light bulbs. Here’s “watt” you need to know before you buy.

Regular incandescent bulbs.
Everyday pear-shaped bulbs with a screw-in base, these bulbs use electricity to heat a filament until it glows white hot, producing light. About 90% of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs is lost as heat. These bulbs typically burn for 750 to 1,000 hours—or about three hours a day for a year.

Compact fluorescent bulbs.
These bulbs provide as much light as regular incandescent bulbs while using just one-fourth the energy. For example, a 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb gives out the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. Compact fluorescent bulbs last about 10,000 hours—10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Incandescent spotlights and floodlights.
Known as spotlights or floodlights, these bulbs are used in recessed ceiling fixtures or outdoors. A special coating helps direct and focus the light. They burn for about 2,000 hours.

General service fluorescent bulbs.
More energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, general service fluorescent bulbs don’t produce heat. They’re thin, long tubes often used in kitchens, offices, garages, and basements. They last from 10,000 to 20,000 hours—10 to 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Zero Energy Homes optimize and include the following design features:

• Climate-specific design
• Passive solar heating and cooling
• Energy-efficient construction
• Energy-efficient appliances and lighting
• Solar water heating system
• Small solar electric system.

These homes have a number of advantages:

• Improved comfort—an energy-efficient building envelope reduces temperature fluctuations
• Reliability—a Zero Energy Home can be designed to continue functioning even during blackouts
• Energy security—a home that produces energy protects its owner from fluctuations in energy prices
• Environmental sustainability—a Zero Energy Home saves energy and reduces pollution

There are many ways to go green in your kitchen.  here are some ideas how:

• Move your refrigerator away from the stove, dishwasher, or heat vents. Make sure the door seals are airtight.
• Wait until your dishwasher is full before you run it but don’t overload it.
• Use pots that fit the size of the burners on your stove. Use lids so you can cook at a lower temperature.
• Match the water level and temperature settings on your washer to the size of your load. Don’t fill the machine for just a few items.
• Clean your dryer lint filter before you put in a new load.
• Make sure your water heater is set to 48 degrees Celcius. Some thermostats are preset to 60 degrees Celcius, which can cost you more money.

Choosing the right refrigirator (Go Green)

You’re on a budget and need a new refrigerator. The best buy is the fridge with the lowest price, right? Not necessarily. How much an appliance costs depends on three things: purchase price, repair and maintenance costs, and energy costs. To estimate how much you’ll spend on an appliance over time, you have to consider all these costs.

Energy efficiency is an important part of any decision. What makes one appliance more efficient than another? Most of the differences are on the inside. Even if two models look the same, certain features can mean a big difference in your energy bills.

To make an energy-smart decision (Green choise):

• Select the appropriate size and style . Measure the space in your kitchen to be sure your new appliance will fit. Make sure that you have room to open the door fully and have enough clearance for ventilation.
• Know where to shop. Appliance outlets, electronics stores, local retailers, and Internet sites often carry the same brands and models. Once you’ve narrowed your choices, compare deals.
• Ask about special offers . Your local utility company may offer cash rebates, low-interest loans, or other incentive programs if you buy energy-efficient appliances

The lighbulps we use, choose green.
Energy efficient lighting can save you money. The law requires light bulb manufacturers to provide information to help you choose the most energy efficient bulb. For all standard bulbs, including halogen, reflector, and compact fluorescent bulbs, the package must tell you about:

• Light output: How much light the bulb produces, measured in lumens. A 60-watt regular incandescent bulb yields about 855 lumens. A 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb yields about 900 lumens.
• Energy usage: The total electrical power a bulb uses, measured in watts.
• Voltage: If the bulb is not 120 volts, the voltage must appear on the label. Most bulbs run on 120 volts. Light output and efficiency decrease when you use a bulb with voltage that is different from the voltage you use in your house. Most places in the United States operate on a 120-volt system.
• Average life in hours: How long the bulb will last.
• Number of light bulbs in the package (if more than one).

use the energy calculator :Eskom Energy Calculator