Don't over light. Though you need more light where you read or work, lighting levels can be comfortably reduced in other areas of your home. Switch to lower wattages whenever possible to save energy. If your lighting needs in a room vary, use dimmers for more control over your lighting and energy usage.

Use the right bulb. Save energy by choosing bulbs that give the most light (or lumens) for the electricity or watts they use. The most energy-efficient bulb or lamp produces the most lumens per watt. Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy than typical incandescent bulbs. Reflector bulbs provide more directional light and can last twice as long as regular incandescent bulbs. High-pressure sodium lamps are efficient and have a long life.

One bulb is better than two. Use one higher wattage bulb instead of several with lower wattage. One 100-watt bulb produces more light than two 60-watt bulbs and uses less power.

Lighting controls. Automatic lighting controls save time, energy, and money, and turn your lights into security devices. You can use light-sensors, motion-detectors, and clock timers to turn lights on and off automatically or at preset times (e.g., at night or when you're away).