Lighting accounts for approximately 9% of an average South Australian household's energy bill.
Changing to energy efficient light bulbs and using lighting efficiently within your home can minimise your energy bills and lower your greenhouse gas emissions. |  |
On this page:
Using energy efficient lighting
Switching to energy efficient light bulbs
Disposing of compact fluorescent light bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs and dimmer switches
Using energy efficient lighting
The most efficient way to light your home is with natural light. Maximising the use of sunlight in your home can help to keep your lighting-related energy costs down.
- Use natural sunlight wherever possible before turning on an electrical light.
- Skylights and well designed north-facing windows will allow you to make the most of sunlight, see Designing an energy efficient home.
Choosing energy efficient light bulbs will save you energy.
Compact fluorescent lights
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are an energy efficient option and can easily replace incandescent light bulbs. CFLs are five times more efficient and have longer lifetimes than incandescent light bulbs.
LED lights
LED lights are an emerging lighting technology that provides long lifetimes and high energy efficiency. As this is a relatively new technology for household lighting LED bulbs are more expensive than other types.
Low voltage downlights
Low voltage downlights are a type of incandescent light best suited to task lighting - eg illuminating specific areas such as bench tops or desks.
Low voltage does not mean low energy use and using multiple downlights to light a room is very inefficient. Each downlight and transformer combination can be the equivalent of a 60 W incandescent light bulb.
For a more energy efficient option:
- consider switching to compact fluorescent downlights if possible
- use infrared coated (IRC) 35 W globes instead of 50 W globes.
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Switching to energy efficient light bulbs
When replacing your old light bulbs you now have to choose energy efficient compact fluorescent lights. Inefficient incandescent light bulbs can no longer be sold in South Australia.
Use the following comparison chart as a guide to determine what compact fluorescent light bulb wattage is required to produce the same light output as your old incandescent globe.
| Incandescent light bulb | Compact fluorescent light bulb |
|---|
| 25 W | 5 - 7 W |
| 40 W | 7 - 8 W |
| 60 W | 11 - 12 W |
| 75 W | 13 - 18 W |
| 100 W | 18 - 23 W |
Fluorescent lights are available in different colours or colour temperatures. Colour temperature is a scientific term used to describe the whiteness of a light source and is measured in kelvins (K).
Compact fluorescents are commonly available in the following shades of white:
- Warm white - 2700 K to 3000 K - this is similar to the light produced by an incandescent globe.
- Cool white - 4000 K to 5000 K - this is similar to the light produced by a conventional fluorescent tube and is closer to daylight.
Compact fluorescent lights come in different styles and sizes. Check that the light bulb you intend to install will fit into the light fitting.
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Disposing of compact fluorescent light bulbs
Compact fluorescent lights bulbs cannot be placed into your kerbside recycling bin because they contain very small amounts of mercury.
Several options for recycling compact fluorescent light bulbs in South Australia once they reach the end of their working life, can be found on the Zero Waste website.
Information on the environmental impacts of mercury and how to clean up and dispose of broken light bulbs is available from the Australian Government.
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Compact fluorescent light bulbs and dimmer switches
In most cases standard fluorescent lamps cannot be used with dimmer switches. Dimmable compact fluorescents have been developed though they may not be readily available.
Ask a lighting specialist for advice on compact fluorescent lamps and dimmer switches.
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More information
Other websites
Lighting - Your Home Technical Manual, Australian Government
Lighting - Department for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Australian Government