Lighting
We need lighting for convenience and safety, but it’s responsible for about 16% of a home’s electricity consumption1. There are many ways to conserve energy use, such as installing timers and motion detectors where appropriate, using low-energy bulbs or retrofitting older fixtures. Some of the best options are discussed below.
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
Changing the light bulbs from the conventional incandescent kind (that produce heat) to low-energy, CFL bulbs is one of the easiest steps to take both in a condo/apartment, and in common and public areas. CFL bulbs consume approximately ¼ of the energy, and last 10 times longer. It’s a low-cost investment that quickly reduces electricity consumption. They’re widely available and now cost little more than traditional bulbs.
CFLs are best installed in fixtures that are used frequently and left on for at least 15 minutes at a time (switching CFLs on and off frequently can shorten their lifespan), so buildings’ common areas, including outdoor patios and spaces, garbage rooms, lounges and foyers – as well as in individual apartments and condos – are all ideal locations for CFLs. Note that only certain CFLs can be used in dimmable fixtures. Some people remain sensitive to the bluer light given off by CFL bulbs, even though their tone has improved greatly since they were first introduced. Low wattage traditional bulbs (e.g., 40 watts) may be a practical alternative.
CFLs do contain trace amounts of mercury — about 1/5 of what you would find in an average watch battery — so used bulbs should be recycled appropriately. Do note that in many jurisdictions, more mercury would be released by burning the coal needed to light an ordinary incandescent bulb.
Here is BC’s list of retailers who take CFL’s back for recycling.
BC Hydro’s PowerSmart programme provides very thorough information on CFL’s. Click here.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
An alternative to CFLs are LEDs, which consume even less energy. LEDs are found everywhere from computers, to ambient street lights, to flashlights. Screw-in LED bulbs that can replace conventional light bulbs do exist, but are still difficult to find in the Metro Vancouver region, and can be expensive. They can be purchased online from a number of manufacturers.
Fluorescent lights
Fluorescent lights are the most common lights in schools and in office buildings, and can be found in homes too. Newer ‘T8’ fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts are now the norm, replacing the older T12 lamps and magnetic ballasts.
Pulse-start metal halide lights
Despite their sci-fi name, pulse-start metal halides are about three times as efficient as incandescent bulbs. They offer high light output per unit of energy, and a long lamp life. They’re ideal for permanently lit areas such as underground parking areas, or for lights that go on at night outside a building.
High-pressure sodium lights
Primarily used for outdoor and garage lighting, high-pressure sodium lights are an effective energy-saving alternative to incandescent bulbs. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provides more information on these types of lights.
For more information on lighting, click here.