It's easy to use more lighting than you need. Since it amounts to about 10% of the typical electric bill, you don't want to waste it.

• A simple way to reduce the electricity used by lighting is to turn lights off when you leave the room. Remember that switching an incandescent light on and off does not use a "surge" of electricity. Each 100-watt bulb you leave burning half the day uses one-half pint of oil at the electric generating plant.
• Whenever possible, use fluorescent instead of incandescent lights. Fluorescent lights give off four times the light per watt and last ten times longer. Unlike incandescent lights, the life of the fluorescent tube is shortened about two hours each time it is turned off and restarted.
• Lower wattage incandescence bulbs use less electricity, but larger wattage bulbs are more energy efficient and produce more light per watt than smaller bulbs. For example, a 100-watt bulb produces 50% more light than four 25-watt bulbs for the same energy used.
• What about long-life bulbs? They're a bargain only when you need them, such as in places where bulb replacement is difficult. Long-life bulbs do last longer than standard bulbs, but they put out less light per watt, which is a reduction in energy efficiency.
• Keep lamps and lighting fixtures clean. Dirt absorbs light and cuts down on lighting efficiency.