Recessed lighting involves the use of light bulbs in recessed fixtures (meaning they are inside the ceiling, rather than attached to the outside of it).
Recessed light schemes often involve using many light bulbs (more than 5) (upwards of 25 watts each if incandescent, and upwards of 14 watts if fluorescent) to light only one room. This results in a combined wattage ranging from 125 watts to 375 watts per room, which will require 2.25 kWh per day (67.5 kWh per month), assuming the lights are operated for six hours per day. That translates to a cost of $7.42 USD per room, per month, assuming an electricity cost of $0.11 per kWh.
If electricity costs $0.40 like it does in Jamaica, for example, that is $27 USD ($2,619 JMD) per room, per month, assuming that 1 USD = 97 JMD.
Recessed Lightning – Image obtained with thanks from mccun934 on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mccun934/
This is what I use and would recommend:
Non-recessed Light Receptable – Image obtained with thanks from dpstyles on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dpstyles/
The most efficient room lighting method I have used so far is a single 15 watt fluorescent bulb for a 130 square foot room (which is mounted on the ceiling). This is 360 watts less, and is certainly worth it.
It lights the room just as brightly as 5 typical recessed lamps and requires only 2.7 kWh per month, which costs $0.29 USD at an electricity cost of $0.11 per kWh, and $1.08 USD ($104 JMD), at an electricity cost of $0.40 per kWh.
