It's how they make a living. But the U.S. Energy Information Administration verifies the savings. Technologies developed during the last 10 years can help cut lighting costs by 30 percent to 60 percent. Most homes have incandescent lighting, the kind of bulb Thomas Edison first developed. They also have low efficiency and a short life.
Most commercial buildings use fluorescent lighting.
Yet if you installed your lighting more than 10 years ago, then it's probably the old-style lamp that draws 144 watts of electricity. A newer one gives more light while drawing just 116 watts. Going to the energy-efficient fluorescent lighting isn't just a matter of changing the light bulbs. You must tear the guts out of the fixtures and replace them. That costs a business money.