Recessed light fixtures can be a major source of heat loss, but you need to be careful about how close you place insulation next to a fixture unless it is marked "I.C.-designed" for direct insulation contact. Check your local building codes for recommendations.
Increasing your lighting efficiency is one of the fastest ways to decrease your energy bills. If you replace 25 percent of your lights in high-use areas with fluorescents, you can reduce your lighting costs by about 50 percent.
Compact fluorescent lights — known as CFLs — that qualify for the Energy Star label use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They also generate less heat.
Turn off the lights in any room you're not using. Install timers or occupancy sensors to cut back on lighting use.
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Use task lighting. Instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it.
Consider three-way lamps; they make it easier to keep lighting levels low when brighter light is not necessary.
Use fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for your workroom, garage and laundry areas.
Use CFLs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home. Consider carefully the size and fit of these systems when you select them. Some home fixtures may not accommodate some larger CFLs.
SOURCE: Tucson Electric Power Co.