Colour Matters
Colors; the one aspect of our lives that brings us much joy. The colors of the walls in our homes, offices and other spaces; the colors of our cars; the colors we like to dress in. It is through colors that we largely define our personalities and define our unique preferences. Consciously, or subconsciously, we drift towards our favorite sets of colors and use them wherever we can.
Colors are a great way to express our individuality. However, if we are a little mindful of colors and how they impact and interact with the environment we live in, we can make a significant impact on our energy consumption. Find that hard to believe? Well, it’s actually just common sense.
Among others, some of the darker colors include deep blues, dark reds and blacks. While these colors really nice, if used in very warm climates on walls, they attract and trap heat and absorb more light. You will, therefore, need more cooling power, more air conditioning, more lighting and therefore more electricity.
On the other hand, if you decide to have light pastel shades like cream, pale green, and such other shades on your walls; the amount of lights required will be much less. That’s because they reflect and amplify light. The same principal applies to lights’ colors as well. Regular yellow incandescent bulbs are warmer than white tube lights, or the newer LED & CFL lights. These new lights are cooler, use less energy and thus expenditure.
In case you have fancy lighting around your house, e.g. lamp shades, make sure they are transparent enough and of light colors to allow light through for efficient energy distribution. Another tip is to angle your light against a plain surface as this will allow greater distribution of light.
The choices are as endless as the possibilities. The key is to do one’s homework well!
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