As the days get darker, we turn the lights on earlier and leave them on more each day. Lighting accounts for about a quarter of all electricity consumed in the U.S. Here are some ways to lighten the energy load while keeping your home bright:

Replace light bulbs.

Regular incandescent light bulbs are inefficient, with 90% of their energy going to generate heat not light. Replace standard lamps with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs -- they cost more per bulb but are far more efficient and last up to ten times longer. Over the life of one CFL, you can avoid replacing up to 13 incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy! Visit www.energystar.gov for more information.

Use lighting controls.

Photocells turn lights on and off in response to natural light levels - for example, on at dusk and off at dawn.
Crank timers, which are spring-driven and similar to old oven timers, limit lights to short durations where the need for light is brief.

Occupancy sensors activate lights when you enter a room and turn them off after you leave. They are good for areas of infrequent use, such as storerooms.

Dimmers reduce the wattage and output of light bulbs. They also significantly increase the life of incandescent bulbs.
Don't overuse kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans. Left on for too long, these fans can pull out much of your heated air.

Clean fixtures and lamps annually by wiping off the dust (make sure the bulb is cool first).

Clean or repaint walls.

Dirt on surfaces reduces the amount of light they reflect and make the room feel darker.

Turn off incandescent lights when you’re not using them, even if you’re just leaving the room for a few minutes.

•  "Tune up" your home: caulk around windows and doors; clean your heating and air conditioning system to improve operating efficiency; insulate attics and crawl spaces.

•  Substitute burned out light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent fixtures.

•  Replace aging appliances with energy-efficient ones.

•  Turn off computers, televisions, CD players, and other electronic devices when they won't be used for at least half an hour.