The modern world without light is as unimaginable as the modern world without computers. Today's designs point to making our small living spaces appear larger because of proper lighting and decoration - this may mean candles, halogen lamps, and incandescent bulbs. But as the cost of living increases, so does the need for energy saving lighting.

There are three key rules to follow in energy saving lighting: clean, focus, and replace.

Cleaner lighting sources make for energy saving lighting. Keep your light bulbs free from dust and dirt. That extra layer of grime not only decreases the light output of your bulb, but makes it consume even more electricity than usual.

Light, on its own, is decorative, and can make small rooms appear bigger. However, we don't need all the light all the time, and concentrating light where it's needed can lead to energy saving lighting.

This energy saving lighting strategy is known as "task lighting," which means focusing light only where and when a particular task must be carried out. It can entail either directing light to a certain area of a room, lowering the amount of light fixed upon a certain spot, or reducing background lights so that only one light source provides illumination.

Task lighting is a common energy saving lighting strategy in offices, but it can be applied to the home as well. Focus your light bulbs on a table top, or a counter top where you do work regularly. If your task does not require writing or reading, and will need only a minimum amount of light, install low wattage bulbs, or use only one source of light providing optimum illumination.

Although a pretty addition to a terrace or room, decorative gas lamps also consume a lot of energy. Turn them off and confine energy use to your task lighting bulbs. Energy saving lighting is not only about using the right light sources - it's about turning off those that aren't practical.

Lastly, for energy saving lighting that will likewise save money in the long run, replace old or inefficient bulbs with newer ones. Old bulbs can accumulate dust and dirt, and will consume more electricity as they grow older. Buy new ones regularly, and keep emergency light bulbs in store.

Halogen lighting uses 40% less energy than traditional bulbs, but can provide bright illumination, especially at night. Use halogen bulbs for gardens and pathways, especially if you're on the lookout for prowlers.

Incandescent bulbs hardly make for energy saving lighting. A standard bulb uses only 5-8% of its energy to produce light - everything else is given off as heat. Replace your incandescent lights with compact fluorescent bulbs. To illuminate exit signs, use light emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which produce the same amount of light, but which use 90% less energy and can last up to 10 years.

However, if your appliances and home demand an incandescent bulb, don't scrimp on the wattage. A 100-watt incandescent bulb can produce the same amount of light as two 60-watt bulbs, but use less energy. Buying a single bulb not only contributes to energy saving lighting - it's easy on the budget too.

The best replacement for expensive lighting is natural lighting, and Nature is the best provider of energy saving lighting around. Turn off artificial lights during the daytime and work near a window. To get natural light deeper into a room, paint your walls a light color, such as yellow or white, and use reflective louvers or Venetian blinds to both bring the light in, and ease its effect on your eyes.

Energy saving lighting courtesy of Nature can continue until the nighttime. Install solar-powered lights outdoors. They can gather solar energy in the daytime, then switch on at night.

All in all, energy saving lighting is all about saving money. If you can't focus or replace your lights, make sure that what you have won't fail you or your pocket. Although expensive, it would be wise to invest in automatic timers, dimmers, solar cells, and motion sensors. These can switch lights on only when needed, and only if someone is around to use them.

The cheapest, surest way to energy saving lighting, however, is the human touch. Turn the lights on when you need them, and turn them off when you leave the room. The lights won't be on all the time, but you can rest assured that, with your efforts, your future will not be left in the dark.

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