"Tip Of The Month"

• Save 10% on your electric bill.
• DOUBLE the life of the bulb
• Be virtually indistinguishable in brightness from a 'full on' bulb.

Dim it 25 % and you will save 20% on electricity and QUADRUPLE the bulb's life.

This is an especially good strategy for those hard to reach light bulbs in the ceiling and roof mounted, outside floodlights.

Lights can be automatically dimmed throughout the home using a central 'master' dimmer switch for added convenience.

20% of U.S. electricity is used for lighting but 50% of it is wasted through inefficient fixtures or careless consumers. - Source: ECE project @LSU
 

When it comes to energy usage, lights are a big household expense but so are heating & cooling.

One of the best ways to save on heating and cooling costs is to manage the temperature carefully and adjust your window treatments regularly.
Programmable thermostats are a good start but they must be carefully set to match your family's lifestyle. Don't spend money on heating and cooling when no one is home. For a home where the family's schedules are unpredictable, thermostats are available that can be adjusted remotely from the office of triggered automatically when someone opens the front door.
Adjusting your window treatments can greatly enhance the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems.

In the summer, drapes and shades should be closed during the day to keep the heat out and protect your furniture from the sun's damaging rays. In the winter, leave treatments open on the sunny side of the house to collect sunlight but keep them closed on the shady side to lessen heat loss.

While this may seem like a bit of a hassle, it will make a noticeable difference. Motorized curtain rods and roller shades are available that can be tied in with the thermostat to automate the entire process year round.