High energy bills are a pain. Fortunately, the rise in energy-efficient household appliances helps lower the risk of outrageous utility costs.
At Liam Services, we know all about the costs of energy in Hockessin. We also know there are ways to be energy efficient outside of new washers and dryers. This includes the light bulbs you use.
Here, we’ll talk in more detail about the benefit of choosing the right light bulb and how these choices impact energy savings.
Why Change Your Light Bulbs?
Lights are one of the electrical items we use most frequently in our homes. It’s not just one bulb, either. We have several bulbs in each room, and they operate at different levels of intensity.
A 100-watt bulb switched on for only two hours every day uses about 6 kWh of energy each month. That might not sound like a lot. How many bulbs do you have in your home? Suddenly, you’re in the triple digits. 25 bulbs add up to 150 kWh a month.
So, how do you positively impact light and energy use? Switch to energy-efficient bulbs. These are bulbs that are certified by Energy Star.
What is Energy Star?
Energy Star is partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to minimize our carbon footprint on the planet and conserve energy. They investigate products to ensure they meet modern standards for energy conservation.
When you see light bulbs certified by Energy Star, you can rest assured they are designed to be energy efficient. According to Energy Star, all bulbs certified by them must meet requirements for light output, color quality, and “peace of mind” in terms of home safety and longevity. They especially look for bulbs offering a minimum of 3 years of warranty coverage.
Switch to LED
LED aren’t the only bulbs that provide some energy efficiency, but they certainly provide the most. In fact, LED bulbs certified by Energy Star are about 90% more efficient than a standard incandescent light bulb and have a lifespan of roughly 15 times longer.
How is this possible? It all comes down to how much visible light a bulb produces with the energy it uses. Incandescent bulbs don’t pull their weight in this area. They only transform 10% of the power they suck out of your home into usable light.
A bigger problem is where the other 90% of that incandescent bulb energy goes. What doesn’t convert into light is converted into heat. That heat is counterproductive. It doesn’t provide any benefit to you or your home. Instead, it throws off your AC unit, making it work extra hard to cool your home in the summer.
How Much Can You Save?
Switching to energy-efficient bulbs is worthwhile for many reasons. It saves you money on your power bill, and it reduces energy waste and heat output in the environment.
The amount you’ll save on your utility bill depends on your regular energy usage. You can expect to save somewhere around $250 a year on average. You’ll save more if you begin using energy-efficient appliances everywhere.
Lighting is only about 15% of the energy you regularly use in your home for things like television, computers, washer and dryer, HVAC systems, refrigerators, dishwashers, and other household appliances. Switch over other devices to watch your energy bill dip lower.
Turn the Lights Off
It goes without saying that the best way to save on lighting is to turn them off when they’re not being used. A 100 kWh bulb is labeled as such because it uses 100 kWh of energy per hour to light. If your electricity is $0.10 per kWh, then turning off a single 100 kWh bulb for an hour saves you $1. Now, consider the number of bulbs in your home.
Turning off 25 bulbs throughout your home for one hour saves you $25. You can physically see the savings adding up over time.
The amount saved fluctuates based on bulb wattage and how long those lights are regularly used. Leaving off an obscure closet light, for example, won’t save you anything on your bill. Switching off bulbs you use frequently is where you begin saving money.
Contact Liam Services To Learn More
Here in Hockessin, nobody knows energy efficiency like our team at Liam Services. If you want to know more about making your home more energy efficient, we can help. Call us today to learn more.