One issue when you’re trying to be sustainable and not harm the environment yet have an attractive and well-lit house is choosing the right type of sustainable lighting ideas. Here are eight ideas to inspire you.
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Replace Your Incandescent Bulbs
The first thing you need to do as the lights burn out is to replace them with newer green lights such as LED lighting. LED lights are no longer ugly and offer the brightness and shades that you need, while lasting longer and using far less electricity.
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Use High-Tech Lighting
It might seem to be an added expense, but some of the high-tech features that allow you to control the intensity of the lights easily or put them on a timer so they go off if you forget, are very helpful and good to help you lower your carbon footprint. Plus, many of them look amazing.
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Use Task Lighting
You don’t have to make the entire area bright with your lighting. Use ideas that focus on specific task lighting that is only used when you’re doing that task. For example, a light over your stove, on your desk, by your nightstand, and in the bathroom mirror. These areas need brighter lighting, but your entire living room doesn’t.
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Design Your Working and Living Areas to Use More Natural Lighting
If you’re lucky enough to be starting from scratch with your sustainable designs and décor in your home, consider building rooms with a lot of natural lighting. That will eliminate most of your need for lighting, other than in the evening.
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When Buying New Fixtures, Avoid Unnatural Materials
It’s always going to be more sustainable to reuse something that has already been made instead of buying something that has to be made and manufactured. When you buy new lighting fixtures for yourself, try to focus on natural materials only if you’re not going to find used.
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Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle
Just don’t buy anything new if you don’t have to. There is so much décor and used items to buy at thrift stores, the Facebook Marketplace, and other markets that you don’t really need to buy something that is being newly made. You can find excellent options that you can upcycle and make new again.
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Buy LEED Rated Lighting
When you do buy new lighting, go ahead and buy LEED rated lighting. This means that it’s been rated as more sustainable and environmentally friendly. You’ll use less electricity, and the materials will usually be more sustainable and landfill friendly.
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Put the Lighting in the Right Place
When you design your spaces, really consider the right place for the lighting. If you design your home to make use of natural lighting, you’ll need fewer lights. Ensure that you place them where you need to use them for maximum effectiveness for the lighting you choose.
Use your imagination to create sustainable lighting solutions for your environment. Buy used and upcycle items to make creative lighting solutions. If you do buy new, make sure you find LEED rated lighting solutions that make your job much easier and your environment much more sustainable.
