We all want to live in a cleaner, more beautiful world. These kitchen lighting ideas will reduce unnecessary energy consumption and even decrease your monthly spending. Who doesn’t want to save a little on their electric bill each month? Try any of these innovative kitchen lighting ideas in your home today, and enjoy a little extra cash tomorrow.
Kitchen undercabinet lighting is an easy update for your home. Tucked away beneath upper cabinets, kitchen undercabinet lighting sets the work surfaces aglow when switched on. These subtle lights are great at night when the hubbub of the kitchen has died down, and only one person is left to his or her work. Save energy by switching off the main lights and using your kitchen undercabinet lighting to illuminate your countertop. This is also a low-energy light to leave on when one family member will be home late.
While we are on the subject of savings, you may want to consider switching to fluorescent lights. Not only do these produce a cooler, brighter light, but fluorescent lights are also cost-effective on two levels. There are two expenses to a bulb. There is the initial amount that the bulb costs (this includes how many hours it lasts because a bulb that is cheap but only lasts a few hours ends up being more expensive from constant changing) and the energy efficiency (i.e. how much energy it costs to run). The difference between incandescents and fluorescent lights is astounding. A 60-watt incandescent bulb uses the same energy as a 15-watt fluorescent bulb. That is a tremendous energy savings right there. Fluorescent lights also produce a third less heat than standard bulbs, so you are saving on your AC bills in the summer as well. All in all, CFL and fluorescent lights save you a remarkable amount both in the long and short run.
Ceiling fans are also effortless energy savers. The ultimate lifesavers in the kitchen, ceiling fans take the sauna out of a busy day cooking and replace it with a pleasantly cool breeze. Instead of running the AC whenever it gets warm in your kitchen, switch on the ceiling fan for both illumination and exhilaration. In addition, ceiling fans help save energy in the winter. When the weather gets cooler, reverse the direction that your ceiling fans rotate in, and this will effectively warm your rooms instead of costly heaters.
Kitchen track lighting, when used properly, can further your savings. Adjustable light fixtures make kitchen track lighting ideal for homes with multiple work surfaces in a room. Instead of using several light fixtures to illuminate each area properly, fix each head of your kitchen track lighting onto the work surfaces that are being used. Directing the light at the specific locations being used, you are harnessing all of the illumination power, making additional lighting elements unnecessary. Why use two lights when the full power of one light will suffice?
Finally, look towards recessed kitchen lighting for a little time-savings in your life. With our busy schedules, everyone could use a little extra time. Recessed lighting gives you the luxury of ample illumination without the hassle of cleaning several light fixtures. Because your recessed kitchen lighting is stored up in the ceiling, none of the fixture is exposed to become dirty. This saves you time from cleaning all those light heads. Even if it’s only twice a year, this is one chore that you will be grateful to pass up.
Do your part to save energy wherever you can. With all the money you save using these kitchen lighting ideas, you can treat yourself to a vacation or a new piece of furniture. Keep the earth clean and cash in all at once with these effortless lighting solutions.