Most energy wasted in the common home comes from lack of attention to how lights are being used. Some simple actions that anyone can get into the routine of doing can end up saving lots of money on the annual power bill each and every year. The first and most essential step is to convert all the conventional light bulbs in your home to those that have earned the Energy Star. This label means that they meet the energy consumption regulation set forth by the US Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, if each home in the United States replaced just one bulb with such a product, the country would save enough energy to light nearly three million homes for one year. These types of bulbs produce less heat and have a much longer lifespan than the conventional light bulb. Incandescent bulbs generally use seventy-five percent more electricity than newer, more efficient bulbs with the Energy Star marking.

Another important step to saving money and electricity when it comes to lighting is to be conscientious. Turn off lights in rooms that are not in use. Many people have lights on in three to four rooms at a time when in fact only one or two of them is in actual use. For those that cannot seem to get in the habit of hitting the switch as they exit a room, sensors can be installed that turn on lights when occupied and turn off lights after a certain period of inactivity. For those that use lights as a measure of security, timers can also be installed to cut back on unnecessary energy consumption. People should also remember to take advantage of natural lighting by opening up shades and windows in their home in place of automatically switching on overhead lighting. Combining all of these measures will not only save you money, they will reduce energy consumption and the overall greenhouse gases produced when manufacturing that energy.