Appliances, lighting and water heating
Reduce lighting energy consumption
In a home, lighting generally accounts for less than 5% of electricity consumption.
However, here are some practical tips to help limit your electricity consumption related to lighting.
You can save money by choosing lighting that matches your needs in terms of power and size, and by using it efficiently.
Brightness and energy consumption
Given the vast selection of lighting fixtures available on the market, it is essential to determine your needs before making your choice, for both indoor and outdoor lighting.
Whether you’re looking for direct or diffuse lighting, a reading lamp or a particular lighting ambience, choose the best ratio of energy consumed to brightness provided.
- Choose a bulb that produces the most lumens (unit of light measurement) while using as few watts as possible.
- Purchase a fixture that provides maximum lighting : light-coloured shades or directional reflectors should be preferred.
- Occasionally clean bulbs to maintain maximum performance.
Prefer LED (light-emitting diodes)
Light-emitting diodes, better known by their acronym LED, are often a good choice.
To produce the same amount of lumens, they consume less energy than other types of bulbs and don't emit heat. This makes them well-suited for:
- lamps that stay on longer;
- hard-to-reach areas;
- areas where excess heat is uncomfortable or should be avoided.
In addition, LED lights last much longer than other types of bulbs. Even though they cost more upfront, their long lifespan helps save money over time.
| Lightbulb type | Useful life (hours) |
|---|---|
| Incandescent | 750 to 1,000 hours |
| Halogen | 1,500 to 3,000 hours |
| Compact fluorescent | 6,000 to 10,000 hours |
| LED | 25,000 to 100,000 hours |
Installing electronic dimmers without resistance
By using a light dimmer, you reduce your energy consumption and extend the life of your bulbs. Depending on the decrease in intensity, you can save from 5 to 50% in energy costs. However, it is imperative that this dimmer be marked “without resistance”. Otherwise, there will be no savings.
With the wide variety of bulbs now available on the market, it is important to seek advice. Different dimmers do not necessarily control all types of bulbs. The installation of a dimmer that is incompatible with the bulbs in place may cause sparkling or disrupted lighting and a limited dimming range, and the expected energy performance will not necessarily be achieved. While their energy consumption is steadily improving, there are still substantial savings to be had by choosing devices that match our needs in size and power and by optimizing their use.
Installing a motion sensor
It is expensive to leave a light on unnecessarily.
If you tend to forget to turn off the lights in a room, consider installing a motion sensor.
This control technology is also recommended for your outdoor lighting fixtures.
Reminder – Safely dispose of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
Compact fluorescent bulbs technology was popular in the 2000s. Although CFLs were more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, they have a negative environmental impact.
Fluorescent tubes and CFLs contain mercury, a highly toxic substance.
It’s important to handle them with care, especially when using or disposing of them.
- In Québec, CFLs can be dropped off at various collection points. You can find more information on the RecycFluo website or by contacting your municipality to locate CFL drop-off sites or hazardous household waste collection points.
- In addition to municipal ecocentres, some retailers also offer CFL collection services.
- For safety guidelines on what to do if a CFL breaks, consult the following guide: Avis scientifique sur les risques pour la santé de l’exposition au mercure lors du bris d’ampoules fluo-compactes (in French only).
Last update: November 5, 2025