Everything you posted above is absolutely true... Perhaps you need a bit more explanation, so here it is.
Incandenscent lights turn MOST of the electricity they use into light of a frequency that we cannot see. That light, which we call "infrared" just bounces around in a room and heats up the place. Fluorescent converts MORE of the electricity into light that our eyes respond to. Consequently,, if the goal is to "see", fluorescent is the better choice. It is also more costly to buy... so it is a tradeoff.... If you use incandescent in the winter, when you need heat, you are "helping" your furnace. If you use fluorescent in the summer when you need "cool", you are helping your air conditioner..... However, you have to weight the COST of the fluorescent lights against the SAVINGS in electricity used.
Personally, I use a LOT of incandescents inthe winter and unscrew a LOT of the bulbs in the summer...Just my method.....
Regarding shading the airconditioner......
Direct sunlight puts about 1000 watts per square meter onto the earth. That means that in the summer (or winter ), not only is the outside of your air conditioner condenser heated by the surrounding air , but it ALSO get an extra 1000 watts or so from continuous sunlite.... 1000 watts is about 5000 BTU, so it would take a 5000 watt air conditioner running full time just to get rid of the heat from direct sun radiation which shines on your outside consdenser unit.... Roughly 12 cents an hour extra, during daytime....
So, if you plant a screen , like a bush or tree, in from of the condenser, you get rid of this undesired direct heat source..... ........ if you block the air flow, tho, you are screwing things up...
The preceeding explanation is exactly accurate, although it does not include several other factors which merely confuse the issue for the novice........ If one wishes to discuss in detail some of these factors, and get into depth,..... let's do it by email......
Andy Registered PE in Texas , MS, BS, GMDSS, NCE, etc