Use these easy tips to increase your comfort and safety.

Using the right amount of light in each room of your house will make your home bright and welcoming.  But good lighting is more than decoration: it can make you more comfortable
by increasing your feelings of security and reducing eye strain and the likelihood of trips
and falls.

Good lighting also includes good economic and environmental sense. Compact florescent bulbs can reduce your energy bills while reducing greenhouse gases and fuel used to generate electricity.

Tips and Tricks

• Use several lamps to light a room adequately. Most lamps will light 40 - 50 square feet.
• Multiply the square footage of a room by 1.5 to get the right amount of light. For example, a 20 X 12 room should have about 360 watts (20 X 12 X 1.5) of lighting.
• Place lighting fixtures at different heights in the room to provide good lighting for all the different activities for which the room is used.
• Look for the most energy efficient lightbulb to meet your needs — many local retailers offer a variety of options.
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the number and wattage of bulbs per fixture.

Be Comfortable

• At your desk, use a lamp with a total wattage of 75-150 watts depending on your age - older eyes need more light.
• Watching TV in the dark can cause eye strain and fatigue. Maintain a comfortable lighting level while watching to reduce contrast.
• When reading, lights should be 75 - 150 watts and should be placed so that shadows don’t fall on the pages.

Be Safe

• Turn on your walkway and porch lights to see your way on dark nights and to help deter intruders. A porch light is a great value, too! For only $1 in electricity, you get over 140 hours of light.
• Use timers or other devices to turn on lights when you are away or to welcome you home on a dark winter night.
• In the bathroom, illuminate your shower and tub areas for safety and ease of access. 
• Light the top and bottom of stairways for safe stepping.