Lighting

LED, CFL and other Green Lighting Options

I work as a blogger for businesses although I do a variety of different types of writing. I particularly enjoy writing about all aspects of design and creativity. I think that your home should reflect your personality and that it should change as you change. More about me at www.kathrynvercillo.com and http://diaryofasmartchick.com.

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Combining eco-friendly values with great design is the key to today's home. One terrific way to save energy around the house is by using smart green lighting. Do so in interesting ways to boost the decorative appeal of the home.

The top green lights are LED lights which last a long time (as long as ten years), come with a warranty and are the most energy-efficient lighting option available for the home. They are best used in fixtures where lights don't get changed often as well as in small areas like under cabinets and inside of lamps. Interior design manufacturers are coming up with all kinds of cool ways to incorporate them into the home, though, so keep your eye out for fresh new options.

If you don't want to invest in LED bulbs, which cost a lot initially although they save money over time, then the next best choice is to use CFL bulbs. These can be used in any place where you are currently using traditional bulbs and provide a much more energy-efficient lighting option.

Going green with your lighting is about more than just the bulbs that you choose, though. It's about using the right fixture materials and taking advantage of natural lighting in home design so that you minimize your eco-footprint in as many ways as possible.

How have you gone green with lighting in your home and yet maintained cool home design?

by Innovative Construction

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Using LED lights for under-cabinet and under-counter lighting is a highly energy-efficient choice for your kitchen or bathroom. Placed properly it can also provide great dramatic effects for the room (as we see with the backsplash highlighting here).

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by Mal Corboy Design

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LED lighting isn't just eco-friendly; it's also aesthetically interesting. The single-direction lighting highlights key areas of a room especially when used in down-lighting. The unique glow reflects wonderfully off of certain surfaces like the marble countertops we see here.

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by Susan M. Davis

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As with traditional light bulbs, LED lights can be installed inside of beautiful light fixtures to enhance their appeal.

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by MusaDesign Interior Design

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This room divider is made from LED lighting interspersed on a metal mesh screen. It provides a cozy glow that would be energy-efficient for pretty nighttime lighting in the home. And it's definitely a stunning conversation piece as far as home decor goes!

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Always use LED lights when decorating for the holidays. They're the greenest option that you have when it comes to Christmas lights.

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Do you love the idea of having a stunning chandelier in your home? That can be a green choice. Choose one that uses real candles for light. Or choose one that is placed on a dimmer switch for low-energy mood lighting in the dining area.

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by Kerrie L. Kelly

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Decorate your home with large mirrors. This will reflect your existing lighting so that the room is more well-lit without the need to have additional bulbs or fixtures. It will also make small spaces look larger.

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Being green with lighting doesn't stop with the bulbs that you choose. Your lamps and fixtures can also be green. Recycled and natural materials (like the cardboard we see here) are a great choice for eco-conscious lighting.

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by FR James Construction

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Of course, skylights and big windows that allow natural lighting into the home are the greenest lighting option of all!

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Comments

kate skouros says:

i don't consider CFLs to be at all "green". they contain mercury which will end up in land fills and cause further contamination of soil and in turn, water. CFLs are far from being a great idea.

2 years ago · Like

chelsea_connolly says:

note: candles are much less 'green' than light bulbs

2 years ago · Like

danthehandyman says:

Actually, Kate, CFLs can be recycled and some states actually require that you recycle your used CFLs. Though LEDs are more energy efficient, their technology is still improving year-by-year and it'll be a little while before the prices come down. CFLs are indeed a great option for energy efficient home lighting.
http://www.novalightingstore.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=605&cat=Fluorescent+Lighting

2 years ago · Like

strag says:

hmm no mention of compact fluros?

2 years ago · Like

kate skouros says:

it's great to assume people will recycle their CFLs but i think it's fair to say most will not. mercury is a poison which leads to a host of diseases; cancer and alzheimer's amongst the worst of them. the latest trend to be "green" is a good thing, but very few materials actually are.

2 years ago · Like

salex says:

Burning coal to power your non-CFL lights releases far more mercury than that contained in CFLs.

2 years ago · Like

Barry Baker says:

Like nearly everything in our world, CFL, LED and incandescent lights each have their place and their use. CFLs do not work below certain temperatures so cannot be used effectively on an outdoor porch that is subject to cold weather and the mercury issue is not trivial. LEDs actually live up to the long life claims shere CFLs can fall short . LEDs are promising but expensive and limited in light output. Incandescent do generate significant heat, but in many places, that is a benefit (think Seattle nine months out of the year where a little light and heat are both good things!) There is no one answer and every light source has benefits and drawbacks. The important part of thinking green is to actually THINK.

11 months ago · Like

EnvironmentalLights.com says:

How are LEDs different?
Incandescent bulbs create light by passing electricity through a filament until it becomes so hot that it glows. Incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat. With CFL bulbs, an electric current is driven through a tube containing gases which creates a reaction with the coating inside of the tube. CFL bulbs release 80% of their energy as heat.

LEDs can produce the same amount of light (lumens) as these traditional bulbs while using significantly less energy (up to 85% less).

How long do LEDs last?
LEDs last significantly longer than traditional bulbs, so you won't need to replace them as often – making them environmentally friendly as well. LEDs use about 25% of the energy and last up to 25 times longer than the traditional incandescent bulbs they replace. Their expected lifetime can range from 35,000 to 50,000 hours, compared to 1,000 to 2,000 hours with incandescent lights.

http://www.environmentallights.com/LED-Light-Bulbs_C345.aspx

How big are LEDs?
LEDs are very compact and low profile, an advantage where space is at a premium. Depending on the type of lighting required, LED light bars and LED strip lights are great for display case lighting and shelf lighting because of their slim size and high brightness. LED light bulbs come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

LEDs use no breakable glass or filaments, so they are very durable and great for high-usage areas.