Minutes with Meg: Shedding Some Light!

Shedding Some Light on Sustainability

Lighting in your home is one of the most affordable ways to  incorporate a more sustainable way of living. ANNDDD It can actually save you money to use eco-friendly products. A combination of natural light and artificial lighting, when used in the correct way, can make your home a greener household.

Light is something we tend to forget about; but the funny part is, without it, we would not be able to see anything else!

We take light for granted without realizing its’ impact on our everyday lives. With this in mind, the actual amount of energy lighting takes up is rarely something we think about. We expect that when we flip the switch that the light is never ending and will always be obtainable. 

Artificial lighting accounts for 20% of electricity usage in a home. However, by making small changes, we can reduce this number down to 10%!!!

Types of Lighting

With all of the lighting options available, incandescent lighting takes the cake for the least sustainable. It uses the most energy and lasts a fraction of the time in relation to the newer, more efficient options that have been created.

The two most common lighting types outside of incandescent are fluorescent and light emitting diodes (LED). Fluorescent light bulbs use 65-75% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times as long! THAT IS NUTS!  Furthernmore LED’s  use 75%  less electricity and last x25 times longer than fluorescent! LED’s are the best option to put in your home as they are the most eco-friendly option. 

These bulbs are much more obtainable now than they were just a handful of years ago. Also more affordable. Plus think, if your new LED bulb lasts x25 longer then your lifetime cost outweighs your initial cost! 

Temperature of lighting plays a big part in the comfort and efficiency of your home as well. A dimmer can control energy used and be set to exactly what suits the activity taking place. Temperature of lighting is measured in kelvins. The higher the kelvin, the brighter/cooler the light. For example, 5700k is the temperature of daylight, whereas 2700k is much warmer and something you might find in a fancy dinner restaurant. This can be set on a dimmer to match our circadian rhythms. ​

"A circadian rhythm is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours. It can refer to any biological process that displays an endogenous, entrainable oscillation of about 24 hours."

Natural Light

Using daylight to its full potential can DRAMATICALLY reduce the energy costs of using artificial lighting in your home. If you understand the direction that the majority of light enters your space you can best design the complimentary use of artificial lighting to work in the most efficient manner . 

Also consider smart placement of reflective surfaces to bounce the light around each room and therefore needing less and less artificial light!

If your'e in the market to buy a new home, pay attention to the direction that the majority of your windows face. This will give you an idea of how much natural light will be in your spaces daily. 

Small Steps You Can Take to be More Eco-Friendly

The idea of trying to adjust all of the lighting in your home can seem totally overwhelming so don't try to solve every problem at once! Here are some small steps you can take to be more ECO-Friendly with your lighting at home!

1. Switch to LED bulbs : x25 times the lifespan of incandescent bulbs & 75% less energy use

​2. Use dimmers : They use less wattage, extend the life of your bulb, and have the ability to adjust the temperature of lighting to suite different times and acitivites of the day.

3. Keep paint colors light: Doing this allows light to  reflect more light within the space off of the lighter walls. Dark hues soak in the light which then does not allow for any reflection around the room!

4. Employ tactical lighting: Utilize lamps instead of lighting the entire room when doing specific tasks in a space. 

​5. Keep fixtures/light bulbs clean: Simple right! This allows the fixtures to shine to their full potential. This may be a small thing but over time the energy saved adds up!​

6. UTILIZE your Natural LIGHT as much as possible!: Be mindful of where, when, and how the natural light enters yours spaces. Utilize it as much as possible and make other design choices that will assist in making the absolute best out of that natural energy. 

In my opinion, lighting is the most important part of design. Without it, all other design decisions would be nothing as it would not be able to be seen.
While keeping the dignity of the lighting we are STILL able to easily create a more sustainable space that conserves energy for our planet.
These small changes are not only eco-friendly.... But keep more money in our pockets!

Until next time, that's Minutes with Meg!  

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https://www.wildhearthblog.com/home/2018/2/28/graypants-scraplights
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https://www.cubagallery.co.nz/blogs/news?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=603573530_22909610_405768
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