Energy efficient lighting

Lighting uses about 8% of energy in a typical household. Energy efficient bulbs use less energy and last longer, so they are better for your power bill and better for the environment.

Old-style light bulbs are very inefficient – only 5% of the energy they use makes light, and the rest just makes heat. Fortunately there is a range of more efficient lighting choices.

New generation halogen incandescents, which look just like old-style light bulbs, are available in many shops. Soon you should be able to buy them just about anywhere you buy light bulbs. They use up to 30% less electricity than old-style bulbs, last twice as long, and can be used in all the same places, including with dimmers. New generation halogens do not contain any mercury.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are the most well-known type of energy saving light bulb and they are very efficient. Good ones use up to 80% less power than old-style bulbs and can last up to 8-10 times longer. Replacing the four most used bulbs in your house with CFLs can save you around $50 a year on your power bill. CFLs now come in a range of different shapes, sizes, colours and functionality – some of the new ones can even be used with dimmers.

CFLs do use a very small amount of mercury to efficiently produce light (about the size of the tip of a ball-point pen), but it’s not enough to put you at risk even if it breaks. The Ministry for the Environment has information on disposal and cleaning up broken CFLs.

Other types of efficient lighting include energy saver halogen lighting and fluorescent lighting, which is commonly used in commercial buildings, but can also be used in the home. The super efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) is another lighting technology we are likely to see a lot more of in future.

The key to good lighting is getting the right light for the job – not all lighting is the same. For more information on choosing lighting that meets your needs, visit RightLight. This site has been developed to help you make more informed decisions on the best lighting for your home or workplace.

From time to time you can buy efficient light bulbs for less thanks to subsidies from the Electricity Commission. Visit the Electricity Commission website for more information.

For more information and frequently asked questions about energy efficient lighting, visit the ENERGYWISE_TM website or see the Consumer energy efficient lighting guide (PDF 1.77 MB).