Tips
General tips
Design tips
Outdoor lighting tips
Tips for work
General tips
Dispose of CFL bulbs correctly
If there are no CFL disposal facilities in your area, the dead bulb should be disposed of in the same way as any other light bulb ie. wrap it in newspaper and dispose with your household rubbish.
Turn lights off
The simplest way to save energy is to turn off lights when you're not using them.
Use CFLs in high-use areas
Use CFLs in light fittings that are turned on for more than 15 minutes at a time or several hours per day to maximise energy savings.
Replace lights to save
Replace incandescent lamps with CFLs or new generation halogen bulbs to save energy and money.
Follow manufacturer instructions
Only install light fittings and bulbs in accordance with supplier and manufacturer recommendations.
Keep halogen lamp surfaces clean
Don't touch the surface of a quartz halogen lamp with bare fingers. If you do, carefully clean the quartz surface with a gentle solvent such as alcohol to avoid weak spots that often lead to early lamp failure.
Design tips
Achieve the right solution with quality and colour of light
Remember that more light is not necessarily better. The quality and colour of the light as well as the design are important in achieving the right lighting solution.
Tailor the lighting to the task required
Different tasks require different levels of lighting. Use specific task lighting in areas where this is needed rather than over lighting the entire room.
Use light to create a warm feeling
Light common areas with warm white colour to give a warm comfortable feel to the space.
Maximise natural sunlight
Maximise natural light in your home by using light-coloured walls and other surfaces, and by pulling back curtains and blinds so they're not blocking daylight.
Install solar tube lighting
Install solar tube-type lighting in walk-in-wardrobes and toilets, where natural light can easily and effectively simulate artificial lighting.
Skylights increase natural light
Skylights and solar tube-type fittings can increase natural light without glare.
Avoid lights that compromise insulation
Recessed ceiling lights should be avoided anywhere that their use may compromise the home's insulation envelope and let heat escape.
Single lights can create a better mood
A single ‘warm white' suspended light fitting over the dining table will set the mood better than using many recessed lights.
Install task lights
Reduce your overall energy use by installing task lights where needed and reduce ambient light elsewhere.
Use low watt lamps in bedrooms
Use a lower wattage lamp over bed heads for night reading and switch off the background room lights. This will create more contrast and save you energy.
Light high precision areas with cool white
Light high precision areas such as workshops with cool white colours to increase eye sensitivity and reaction time.
Switch lamps on separately
When using two or more lamps in a luminaire, allow each lamp to be switched on separately. This way you'll only use as much light as needed.
Provide many power sockets around rooms
When designing your own house, provide more power sockets around the rooms for task lighting such as table or floor lamps.
Conveniently locate switches
In large rooms, provide many switches, at convenient locations. This way, occupants will be more inclined to switch lights off when not required.
Outdoor lighting tips
Talk to experts
Talk to a lighting designer or landscape architect as well as an electrician when planning your outdoor lighting project. They will help enhance your landscape beauty, add drama and control spill light and glare.
Set security lights to sensors
Set security lights with movement sensors to conserve energy and deter intruders.
Minimise spill light into the sky
Direct all external lighting onto a surface and minimise spill light into the sky.
Use beam angles outdoors
Use lamps with precise beam angles outdoors to control the spill of light.
Tips for work
Use light wall colours
Consider light wall colours to minimise the need for artificial lighting.
Install occupancy sensors
Install occupancy sensors as a cheap and effective way to save energy.
Integrate sensors and office lighting
Integrate day light sensors and dimming control into office lighting to reduce your power bill.
Use smart control systems in large car parks
In large car parks, use a smart lighting control system to maximise energy efficiency.
Reduce the number of lamps
Selectively reduce the number of lamps in over-lit areas.
Use lamps to light work desks
Use table lamps or task lighting to light work desks rather than lighting the entire room.
Light high precision areas with cool colour temperatures
Light high precision areas such as workshops with cool white colours to increase eye sensitivity and reaction time.
Allow each lamp to be switched on separately
When using two or more lamps in a luminaire, allow each lamp to be switched on separately. This way only as much light as is needed will be used.
Provide switches at convenient locations
In large rooms, provide switches at convenient locations. This way, occupants will be more inclined to switch lights off when not required.
Label switches for cleaners
In large offices, label a switch that provides a uniform level of lighting for cleaners (cleaning requires less light than that for computer and desk-type work).
Replace all lamps at once
Consider group relamping. Fluorescent lamps can lose 20%-30% of their light output over their service life. Many lighting experts recommend replacing all the lamps in a lighting system at once. This saves labour, keeps illumination high, and avoids stressing any ballast with dying lamps.