We all like to pay less for our electrical bills if we can, so we have put together some helpful advice on choosing the more energy efficient light bulbs to help you do this.
Power bills do seem to increase most years, and as we install more and more appliances in our homes and offices, it can all get out of control. When an energy efficient light bulb is used, it can certainly offset some of the other appliance energy costs.
Light bulbs account for around 10% of a consumers electricity bill, so it’s well worth taking the time to make some simple and often inexpensive adjustments.
Making better use of natural sunlight
First of all, this can be the easiest and most environmentally option to not only save some dollars, but to help save emissions. It can be as simple as opening the curtains either in your home or office.
Replacing existing bulbs with energy-efficient lighting
It’s difficult to find an old school incandescent lightbulb any more. If you do have some still hanging around, ditch them.
There are a range of modern lighting options in use today, but not all are equal when it comes to energy efficiency.
- LED lighting is by far the most energy efficient, with the annual cost of operation per unit being about $1.30. Provides a massive lifespan of 24,000 hours.
- Next comes CFL, or compact fluorescent lamps. The annual cost per unit of a CFL works out to be roughly $1.80, and has a lifespan of 10,000 hours. They are recyclable, but they do contain some mercury.
- Finally, we have halogen lighting. These are quite common. In some states like Victoria, the state Government had a great scheme in place where they would convert all residential homes to LED at no charge to the consumer. Halogen lights costs over $5 a unit to operate annually, which is expensive. Their lifespan is low at only 1,000 hours.
Make use of motion sensor lighting
You have likely seen these in operation in commercial locations, such as bathrooms or hallways. A motion sensor triggers when someone is in the area and turns the lighting on. After a period of inactivity, the lights are timed to automatically turn off. Brilliant efficiency.
Use dimmers if feasible
Lighting dimmers allow for less power to be consumed. Less consumption, less power charges.
Do you need your lighting looked at by an electrician?
While you can make some of these changes yourself, others will require a suitably qualified electrician to do the job. Nixon Electrics are your local electricians who can help and have you saving money on your power bills.
Give us a call or get in touch via the contact form and we’ll be able to help you with your lighting requirements.
