How to Save Money on Electricity When Lighting Your Home

Electricity is getting more expensive by the day. Not only is it costing you more money, but it is also costing our environment, as 25% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are produced from our households.

So we have got a few top tips and tricks to help you save money on electricity when lighting your home.

Alternative Light Bulbs

There are different types of light bulbs, you do not need to opt for the traditional light bulbs, as this may be costing you more money. Below are a few different options.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are a fantastic way to save money. They are significantly more efficient than other lightbulbs as they do not need to use as much electricity.

Whilst the upfront cost might be slightly more, LED lights will save you money in the long run compared to traditional lights. LEDs use 90% less energy than other bulbs. Also, LEDs can last up to 25 times longer! So not only will opting for LEDs save you money per month on bills, this choice will save you money by not having to purchase new bulbs regularly.

You can purchase LED lights in the form of bulbs, light strips and lamps. Another great feature of LED lights is that you have many different colour options like RGB or various shades of white.

Another option is three-way light bulbs. This type of light bulb has three different wattages that it works at, so you can change how bright the light shines and alternate.

Or, if you want to stick with a traditional light bulb, you can buy low wattage bulbs which will reduce the amount of electricity the light uses.

 

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Natural Light

Letting in natural light is an easy way to save on electricity bills. During the day we suggest you rely on natural light as much as you can, which you can do by leaving blinds and curtains open. Additionally, natural light has other benefits for your health (absorbing more vitamin D) and positive mental health effects.

If you are committed to this cause, you could look into installing a skylight in one of your rooms in your house, this will let in a lot of sunlight to naturally light up your room.

Turning Off Lights

Although suggesting to only turn your lights on whilst in use and to turn them off as you are leaving the room may seem an obvious suggestion, it is a common mistake that we are all guilty of. This is one of the easiest ways to save money on electricity and extend the life of the light bulbs.

Solar Panels

You can create your own electricity in an environmentally friendly way by installing solar panels in your home. The solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. Read more about how they work here. You can save money on this as you are generating electricity for yourself, however, it may take a couple of years to see it paying off in terms of bills.

Nonetheless, it is an extremely efficient way to save money in the long run whilst helping reduce your carbon footprint. Read more about sustainable lighting ideas here. 

Timers and Sensors

Timers and sensors are a great way to reduce electricity usage. Timers will automatically turn the lights off at a certain time.

Timers are a great way to reduce electricity usage if you prefer to fall asleep with a light on. For example, if you decide to go to sleep at 10 pm every night, you could set a timer for the light to turn off at 11 pm. If you wake up at 7 am, this is saving 8 hours of electricity per night and over the course of a month, this is 56 hours! This will make a huge difference to your bills if deducted.

Sensors detect when someone is in the room. So if you are entering the room, the lights will turn on and when you leave the room the lights will turn off. This is a great way to save money, as many of us are guilty of forgetting to turn off the lights. Sensors are a fantastic option if you have children who may not be able to reach switches.

Dimmers

Dimming lights reduces the amount of electricity that you use, whilst still lighting up the room. Dimming a light can extend the life of the lightbulb too, so you won’t need to splash out for new bulbs regularly.

Also, dimmers are a great way to set the mood. So if you want to get cosy in the living room whilst watching a film, you could dim the lights to create this homely atmosphere rather than a bright fluorescent light ruining the mood.

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Task Lighting

Task lighting is an excellent way to light up your home and save money on electricity. Rather than lighting up the whole room, you can light up just a corner, where you will be completing a certain task.

For example, you could purchase a small light for tasks like reading, sewing, or writing. Not only will this save you money, but it will also create a focused aura for you to complete your task in.