Lighting Tips
Lighting is the largest part of the energy bill of most small businesses, and can cost between $500 and $2,000 a year.
This can easily be cut by up to 50% without having to walk around in the dark!
Whatever types of lighting you use there are ways to reduce your lighting bills without reducing the impact on your premises.
- Turn off lights when they are not required. It's a myth that it's cheaper to leave a light on, even fluorescents.
- Use fluorescent lamps in rooms where the light is on for long periods, and replace incandescent globes with compact fluorescent globes.
- Install timer / delay / movement detector switches to turn off lights in rooms only accessed occasionally.
- Use timer switches and movement / daylight sensors for outside lights so they are only on when they are needed.
- Make the most of natural light by placing desks near windows.
- When your current standard globes blow, replace them with energy saving globes. Just one 75W incandescent globe replaced with a 17W compact fluorescent will provide the same light and save you $70 a year on your electricity bill.
- Use the lowest wattage light needed to adequately illuminate an area.
- Use task or special purpose lighting to supplement general lighting as required.
- Keep lights and fittings clean.
- Avoid using dichroic spotlights (standard downlights). Energy efficient alternatives are available that provide the same 'look' and light.
- Avoid using multiple globe fittings.
- Avoid having many lights on one switch – use separate switches for each light and only turn on what you need.