Club Benefits
Your lighting might be costing you a fortune — but this one simple change can cut your electric bill significantly
Given the rising costs of energy prices, saving money on electricity has become a top priority for many of us. And simple habits like turning off lights in unused rooms have become the norm in money-savvy households.
But while this is all well and good, did you know the type of lighting you have could be costing you a fortune? In fact, making this one simple change to your setup could slash your electricity bill. I asked some energy experts for their input, and here's what they had to say.
Why you should switch to LEDs today
If you use traditional halogen or incandescent bulbs in your home, these will literally burn a hole in your pocket. According to experts, simply switching to LED lighting can reduce costs by as much as 60%.
“Incandescent bulbs work by heating a filament, which means most of the energy they use is released as heat rather than light,” states Joe Haycock, Vice President at Fresh Air Concepts and Electricity at LLC. “As a result, they use far more electricity than LED bulbs to give off the same amount of light in a room”.
“LED bulbs also produce far less heat than incandescent bulbs. In an average household, switching to LED lighting can reduce lighting costs by approximately 50-60%, depending on how often lights are used throughout the home.”
When switching to LEDs, one factor to look out for is their lumens (rather than wattage). Essentially, lumens are the brightness and the metric you should really focus on. And the most energy-efficient LEDs will produce more lumens while consuming fewer watts.
“For most homes, bulbs around 800 to 1100 lumens are a good choice, with a color temperature of around 3000-4000K and a CRI of 80 or higher,” adds Haycock.
LED lights have a longer lifespan
Additionally, switching to LED not only gives you returns on your energy bills but also a longer lifespan for your light fittings and their accessories, including lampshades.
“LED products produce very little heat compared to traditional incandescent lamps, which means they no longer burn the lamp holders they sit in and do not burn anything that may cover them, such as shades,” states Alina Enache, architect and co-founder of Lamp Genius.
“Deciding to move to LED also opens up more powerful light outputs since you are no longer restricted by a single light bulb's wattage. It also offers different shapes and styles of light fittings due to strips, which can be used to produce light fittings. Always use good-quality LED lamps from reputable manufacturers. Look for a minimum guarantee of between 3 and 5 years.”
Alternatively, you can opt for one of the best smart light bulbs that are cheaper to run, and you can set schedules, dimming features, and more at just the touch of a button. Better still, you can also consider combining your smart lighting with the best smart home devices so you'll never have to lift a finger!
“Replacing old appliances and bulbs with energy-efficient models makes a real difference,” agrees Haycock. “These appliances use less electricity, last longer, and immediately reduce utility bills. With support from federal programs and rebates from utility companies, the investment often pays off faster than expected.”
For more money-saving tips, check out these 12 essential tips for saving on your energy bill.
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