How to Save Money on Your Energy Bills

In the average American home, lighting makes up about 15 percent of the energy bill! Lighting is a great place to think about making some smart, easy changes that can put a dent in how much you pay the electric company. Here are 5 ways to save money on your energy bill.

Compact fluorescent bulbs

It's understandable why people might steer clear of fluorescent lights. Many commercial fluorescent lights, especially older models, flicker and cast a harsh light, so people tend to associate the word fluorescent with that. But don't worry: the light quality has come a long way and there are fluorescent lights for residential use that are nearly identical to incandescent light. These are often called compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Since compact fluorescents screw into place just like a regular light bulb, you can easily replace a few light bulbs in your home for lighting energy savings.

A compact fluorescent bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a standard bulb and can give you $40 in lighting energy savings throughout its lifetime. In fact, Energy Star has a neat calculator that shows you just how much you can save by making the switch.

You can use CFLs anywhere you like, but it might be a good idea to use them in areas that are hard to reach or not used very often. Since these bulbs last longer, you won't need to haul out the ladder and replace them frequently.

LED bulbs

While LED bulbs are, as of now, more expensive than compact fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, they have a much longer lifespan, their lighting energy savings are more dramatic and designers are constantly crafting innovative ways to use them in lighting fixtures. LED bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last much longer (up to 25 times longer, depending on usage) than incandescent bulbs. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the widespread use of LEDs over the next 20 years would save a total of about $265 billion in energy costs! Look for LED lights to become even more commonly used--and even more affordable--in the near future.

Like CFLs, you could try using LED lights in hard-to-reach places--for the exact same reason! However, LED is a smart addition to the lighting in any room.

Halogen bulbs

Still not a fan of fluorescent or LED? Halogen light bulbs are incandescent sources, but they are more efficient than regular incandescent bulbs, lasting a little more than twice as long. Plus, they don't fade with age. This is because halogen bulbs include a special gas inside that helps clean the bulb. While halogen bulbs may not give you the lighting energy savings of fluorescent or LED, they are certainly more efficient and can save you the trouble of changing your bulbs as frequently.

New incandescent bulbs

New incandescent bulbs. Even the humble incandescent bulbs you can still buy at the grocery store have undergone a transformation to become more energy-efficient. Bulbs now use fewer watts of energy to make the same level of light, so you see the savings on your energy bill! Read more about the changes in incandescent illumination, and how to understand the new Lighting Facts labels, here.

Dimmer switches

If you're not keen on swapping out your existing bulbs or fixtures, installing a dimmer switch can also drastically increase the life of your bulbs and bump up your savings. Simply dimming your light 25 percent can increase your energy savings by 20 percent. Dim those lights even more and you'll enjoy further lighting energy savings!

Need more advice? Contact us on social media or give our trained lighting specialists a call at 1-866-688-3562.

Emma Harger-Young - Lights Online