Bright Ideas In New Home Design

Bright ideas in new home design International symbol for energy efficiency - Energy Star

(NC)-(January 2006) Incorporating energy efficiency into the design of a new home is a sound and healthy investment in the future. In addition to the many energy-efficient appliances and furnaces on the market, Canadian homebuilders can choose from an array of lighting products that will also reduce consumption of electricity.

It costs between $200 and $250 in electricity per year to light the average 185.8-square-metre (2000-square-foot) Canadian home. Installing energy-efficient lighting systems can cut that cost by half.

Products featuring the ENERGY STAR® symbol - the international standard for energy efficiency - will deliver the largest savings in energy costs over their lifetimes. Most hardware and home-improvement stores carry ENERGY STAR qualified products, such as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). CFLs are much more efficient than incandescent lamps and come in a range of styles, colours and wattages. In addition, CFLs generate less heat than incandescent bulbs, reducing the load on air conditioning.

Ensure that architects and contractors opt for energy-efficient light fixtures wherever possible in your new home.

General tips on lighting for energy efficiency

Choose light bulbs that will provide appropriate amounts of light for the task.

Install ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs for areas where lights are on for three or more hours a day. Make sure to match the bulb to the fixture - information on the package will indicate where a bulb performs best.

In enclosed ceiling fixtures, opt for pin-type CFLs; they perform better in these types of fixtures than screw-based CFLs.

Choose linear fluorescents for kitchens, laundry areas and family rooms.

Use halogen infrared lamps for recessed or track lighting.

Controllers such as timers, motion detectors and dimmers create a range of moods and reduce waste.

Technical tips for designers and contractors

Linear fluorescents mounted above kitchen cabinets provide indirect lighting that consumes 30 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Install wall-mounted fixtures in bathrooms to house fluorescent tubes.

Whenever possible, opt for fixtures that take pin-based CFLs.

Mount valances on family room walls to focus light from linear fluorescents above and below the fixture.

Choose dimmable ballasts for fluorescent and CFL fixtures.

T-8 bulbs with electronic ballasts are approximately 25 percent more efficient than T-12 lamps. These ballasts also eliminate the flicker and noise associated with older fluorescents.

The Government of Canada has issued the One-Tonne Challenge to all Canadians. It's a personal commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by one tonne, or about 20 percent, per year. Choosing energy-efficient lighting can help you reach that goal.

For more information about CFLs and ENERGY STAR, or to learn more about how to reduce your energy bills, contact Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) toll-free at 1 800 387-2000, visit www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca or www.energystar.gc.ca or write to the OEE c/o S.J.D.S., Ottawa, Ontario K1G 6S3.