Lighten Up (Mississippi)
Fewer daylight hours and cooler weather often mean that we spend more time inside during fall and winter. While heating and cooling account for more energy use than other household activities, small appliances and lights still add to home energy costs. Last year, Mississippi residents spent 266 dollars on energy for home lighting.
Viewer Tip: The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that replacing the four most-used traditional light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can save the typical Mississippi household 125 dollars over the lifetime of the bulbs! While CFLs are generally more expensive at the time of purchase, they last about eight times longer than traditional bulbs.
If you are not sure which CFL is right for your home lighting needs, check out Energy Star’s Buyers Guide: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_guide. You’ll find tips on determining how much light you need, choosing the right shade and more.
Seasons: Fall, Winter
(Sources: The Alliance to Save Energy. “2008-2009 Winter State Fact Sheets.” http://ase.org/extensions/state_facts/; Energy Star Buyers Guide: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_guide)