For most people, paying monthly energy bills is an afterthought. You may notice small monthly changes and grumble as the total cost increases, but you probably accept these fluctuating costs as part of life and move on without thinking twice. In reality, this negligence can be a costly habit.
Simply put, energy bills add up quickly. There are a few parts of the home that are responsible for large percentages of your monthly bill, and lighting is among the biggest energy guzzlers. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 15% of an average home’s energy is spent keeping the lights on.2
You don’t need to live in the dark to cut their energy bills, and we don’t want you to. In fact, most people can cut their spending on lighting by more than 50% with very few changes! Some changes are simple and can be done yourself, while others are more complicated and may require calling in a professional to help. In this guide, we’ll explore some of your options, and explain how these changes help you save money and energy for years to come.
If you have any old incandescent bulbs still lighting up your rooms, it's time to replace them with one of the more efficient options on the market:
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL): CFL bulbs use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent ones and last 10 times longer, so you save big on energy bills and replacement costs. CFL bulbs contain about 4 milligrams of Mercury, which is not released unless the bulb is broken. Check out the EPA’s guide to safely dispose of CFL bulbs for more information on safe use and disposal of bulbs.Light-emitting Diode Bulbs (LED) – LED bulbs use the latest technology and manage to use 75-85% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional bulbs.4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYSYn-zbTrg
You’ll need to spend some money upfront to buy the new bulbs, but in most homes switching to energy efficient light bulbs will pay for itself within the first year! And because you won’t have to worry about buying replacements, you’ll continue to save for years to come.
If you’re not comfortable spending money to replace all of your bulbs right away, you can save a lot just by replacing the 4-5 that you use the most often. That alone could save up to $75 per year. 5
Bonus Tip: If you put up holiday lights each year, replace those with high-efficiency versions for huge savings. You can easily find LED holiday lights and some of the money you save can go toward extra gifts or holiday celebrations.You’re human. You probably forget to turn the lights off sometimes. 90% of people admit it happens in their home. 6 How many times have you spent money to light a room nobody was in? Motion sensor lights can tell when someone’s actually there, so the lights come on when they’re needed and turn off automatically when they’re not, helping eliminate human error.
Depending on your needs, both indoor and outdoor motion sensor lights may be a good option. Outdoor sensors are particularly convenient for getting into your home at night, and thwarting away criminals. Installing motion sensors is a bit more complicated than replacing your light bulbs, but it’s simple enough that most can handle it:
Instructions to install an outdoor motion sensor Instructions to install an indoor motion sensor lightUse DimmersA dimmer switch gives you the option to change how much energy you’re using based on what you actually need. During the day when the sun’s bright, you can turn your lighting down and save on costs. Dimmers are fairly simple to install as long as you have the right tools. You do want to be careful to check that the light bulbs you have will work with a dimmer. Some CFL bulbs aren’t compatible and if you try to use them with a dimmer, and you’ll blow out the bulb.
Many homes fail to take advantage of natural light, and skylights are a stylish way to let more of this completely free resource in. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just calling an installer and calling it a day. You actually have a lot of options that can provide different benefits and complexities.
To start, you should consider the energy performance ratings for different skylights. Since skylights and windows have a big influence on a home’s ventilation and insulation, the Department of Energy reviews and rates the available products in order to help consumers make the most informed choice from an energy conservation perspective.
For best results, you’ll also want to consider:
1. http://www.eia.gov/state/seds/data.cfm?incfile=/state/seds/sep_fuel/html/fuel_pr_es.html&sid=US
2. http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=99&t=3
3. http://energyblog.nationalgeographic.com/2013/12/31/u-s-phase-out-of-incandescent-light-bulbs-continues-in-2014-with-40-60-watt-varieties/
4. http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/how-energy-efficient-light-bulbs-compare-traditional-incandescents