Lighting

Switch lights off when not in use. 

Use the lowest wattage bulb possible.  Buy three-way bulbs or use dimmers to reduce energy use.

Place lamps near the corners of rooms.  The light reflects off the walls and will light the room more effectively.

Use daylight, skylighting and task-lighting as much as possible.

Paint walls light colors.  This may allow you to replace 100 watt bulbs with 75 watt bulbs since the room is brighter.

Use timers or motion sensors for outdoor lighting.

Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL) instead of incandescent bulbs.  They use less than one-fourth the energy for the same light output.  They even come in decorative candle shapes and dimmable canned recessed lights. Recyle these bulbs responsibly through local household hazardous waste collection centers.

Replace older halogen torchiere lights with compact fluorescent (CFL) torchieres.  CFLs burn cooler (100 degrees Fahrenheit versus 1000 degrees Fahrenheit), and use more than 75% less energy (36 watts versus 300 watts).

When using tube fluorescents, use T-8 (1-inch diameter) bulbs.  They last 10 to 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use one-third less energy. 

For down lights, use halogen PAR bulbs to replace incandescent bulbs.  They burn brighter, so usually, a 150-watt bulb can be replaced by a 90-watt bulb.

For small areas, use low-voltage halogen bulbs.  A 150-watt R-lamp can be replaced by a 75-watt MR16 lamp.