Lighting

BRIGHTEN UP WITH CFLs

An ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) uses about 75 per cent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light. Using less energy means more money in your pocket.

SAVE BIG WITH EFFICIENT LIGHTING

Good indoor lighting adds warmth and sparkle to any room. Today's lighting products and lighting controls let you keep that charm and save money, too.

Incandescent light bulbs have been around for more than 100 years, and most of us love them for their mellow, warm light. But the fact remains that they are, to put it bluntly, energy hogs.

Less than 10 per cent of the energy consumed by an incandescent bulb is used for lighting. The remaining 90 per cent simply goes to waste in the form of heat (making an incandescent bulb essentially a small heater that gives off a little light). But there are new alternatives on the market today that do a terrific job of recreating the ambiance of incandescents, while consuming a fraction of the energy and lasting much longer - saving you money both on your energy bills and on replacement costs.

Combine those new bulbs (or even your old ones) with the latest in energy-efficient fixtures and lighting controls, including dimmers and timers, and you’ll be well on your way to terrific energy savings.

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTING

An ENERGY STAR CFL uses about 75 per cent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light – and it will last up to eight times as long: an average of 8,000 hours compared with fewer than 1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb.

What does that mean in real life? It means that as soon as you install a CFL, you’ll be using a quarter of the energy you used to in that spot, and that you’ll need to buy only one CFL for every eight incandescents you used to – adding up to fewer trips to the store and, even though they cost more upfront than incandescents, more money in your pocket over time.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CFL

CFLs now come in a variety of shapes, colours and configurations to fit pretty well any light fixture you’ve now got in your home, including table lamps, chandeliers and pot lights. But since they do cost more, you’ll want to be very careful that you choose the right CFL for each fixture in your home.

SAVE WITH POWER SMART

Visit participating retailers for discounts on ENERGY STAR light fixtures and CFLs, and look for the Power Smart label at shelf level.

Product selection for fixtures and bulbs varies by store and retailer.

See our tips pages for detailed information about energy-efficient lamps and fixtures, including which qualify for lighting rebates.

LightRecycle Program

Wondering what to do with your burnt-out fluorescent lights? LightRecycle is a B.C. program keeping them out of the landfill and ensure safe recycling. British Columbians can return used fluorescent lights to a LightRecycle drop-off location for safe recycling.

A retailer goes big on ENERGY STAR

London Drugs has committed to energy conservation by ensuring that all of the light fixtures that are available at all 50 stores across the province are ENERGY STAR qualified.

Visit your local London Drugs to find additional savings at the shelf on ENERGY STAR light fixtures or online at londondrugs.com.

Power Smart
tip sheet

> Indoor lighting [PDF, 117 Kb]

> Lighting Comparison Chart [PDF, 116 Kb]