Lighting alone accounts for roughly 20% of a home’s electrical use. It goes without saying then that lighting should be one of the first areas to tackle when looking for ways to curtail your overall energy dependency and thereby reducing your monthly utility bill.
Why Lighting Often Goes Ignored
Homeowners don’t seem to have any qualms about leaving the lights on when they leave the room; after all, what difference does it make if they are going to be right back? This appears to be the prevailing mindset, but think of it from this angle: if you don't leave the costly appliances like the television on, why leave the lights on?
Sure, a bulb doesn’t require the same power output as a television or most other home appliances. But there is an accumulative effect. If you made the effort to flip the “off” switch every time you exit the room – even if just for a minute – you would save an incredible amount of energy over the course of a year.
Following a few simple habits and encouraging other occupants to do the same may more of an impact than you realize.
Unplug the Lights
Turning the lights off is a good start, but go one step further and unplug them entirely. You should practice this habit with lights and all electrical appliances. The average household has about 40 appliances, most of which are left plugged in the socket even when not in use. Appliances and fixtures left plugged in account for about 5% to 10% of the total energy use of a home. It doesn’t take a whole lot of additional effort to plug and unplug the lights, television, toaster or coffee maker, so make it an ingrained routine to do so.
The Sun is Also a Light Source
Make use of the sun’s natural rays to light up the room during daylight hours. This means completely opening up those curtains and shutters until dusk sets. You can even take it to the next level and invest in a daylight sensor that can be retrofitted to your fixtures. The sensors will automatically switch off or dim your lights according to a preset target or the amount of natural light present.
Use Lamps
While usually dimmer, lamps will still provide ample lighting and consume less power than an overhead light fixture. In addition, lamps are also useful for providing focused light, which is great for tasks like reading, writing and sewing. Lamps give off a pleasant ambiance, and you can always remove the shade if you want a brighter luminescence.
Get Rid of Those Incandescent Bulbs
It’s understandable why a lot of households still stick to incandescent bulbs; after all, they’re widely available and cheap. LEDs, on the other hand, normally start at $10 but are typically closer to $20 for a single standard bulb. Yes, the price difference is large, but a typical incandescent lasts about 1,000 hours, compared to the 25,000 hour lifespan of a LED. 25 incandescent bulbs will cost more than one LED. Plus, LEDs can consume up to 80% less energy, so you can go ahead and factor in the added savings associated with energy usage.
Small Changes Make a Big Difference
It’s only a matter of time before LEDs become the default light source, so it's best to stay ahead of the curve and make the transition now to reap the energy-saving benefits. This, along with implementing simple habits like turning off unused lights and making good use of the light provided by Mother Nature, will prevent your utility bill from soaring.
By making simple changes in the household, not only do you save money but you also contribute to a global movement dedicated to conservation and environment protection.