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Caroline Vencil

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Does Turning Off the Light Really Matter?

December 6 by Caroline 3 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

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Table of Contents

  • Does Turning Off the Light Really Matter?
    • So, does turning off the light really matter?
    • Why is turning off the light important?
    • Do you save money by turning your lights off?
    • Does it really cost more to turn lights on and off?
    • Does leaving a light on use a lot of electricity?
    • How much does it cost to run a light bulb for 24 hours?
    • What are the best energy-saving light bulbs for home?
    • Check for “vampire electronics.”
    • Here are some things that you should check to unplug when you’re not using them:
    • Just doing a sweep of these electronics every night before bed can really add up.
    • Have you ever put your lights on timers? Has it helped you stay on top of your energy use?

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Does Turning Off the Light Really Matter?

The answer that you’ve always wanted to know – will it save you money if you turn off the lights when you aren’t in the room? Does turning off the lights really matter to your budget?

We’ve always been told to turn off the light when we leave the room. Ever since childhood, we’ve been told that turning off the light in a room that we aren’t in can save electricity.

As an adult who now has to pay the electric bill, I understand the idea a lot more than I did then. But it still always made me wonder… what impact does a light have? Does turning off the light really matter?

I’m a giant wimp, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Horror movies aren’t allowed in my house because my husband and I watched Paranormal Activity and slept with every light on in the house for months. You think I’m kidding, but I’m not.

We keep lights on at night as a precaution because we live in the city (jk, it’s because we’re scardey cats). The hall light, kitchen light, and the light in the bathroom are all on 24/7.

It’s been years since we started keeping lights on because of that stupid movie (if you’re the one who came up with the idea for that movie, I hate you). Now, they’re on out of habit. And it’s an expensive habit, too.

And it’s not just us. We’ve spoken with so many people who keep at least 1 or more lights on all day and night. And when it comes to conserving electricity, it’s not just the light in your hall or bathroom that stays on all night. It’s the overhead fan in the living room, the light above the stove, or even your wireless router.

These little things that stay on all day and night can really impact your electric bill each month. In a big way.

So, does turning off the light really matter?

Yes! When it comes to saving money and conserving electricity, every single cent counts. Every light that gets left on when no one is in the room. The air conditioner that was on when the door was closed. If every penny counts, every little thing that gets left on when it doesn’t need to matters, too.

But it’s not just the light that you leave on in the bathroom that you should be turning off to conserve electricity. There are a lot of other sneaky electronics that just slowly but surely eat away at your electric bill. And they make a big difference at the end of the month.

Why is turning off the light important?

Turning off the light might sound like an inconvenience, but it is actually a very important habit that helps us save energy and money! There are several reasons why turning off the lights when leaving a room should be practiced.

First and foremost, turning off the lights reduces electricity consumption. This means we can lower our utility bills and also help conserve natural resources! Turning off the lights also prevents electrical hazards such as fires or other potential accidents. Not to mention, this small action can have a huge impact on reducing air pollution as well! 

It’s easy to remember to turn off the lights; just think of it like playing hide-and-seek with your light switch. Besides, leaving no trace behind is always fun! So start making this easy switch today and watch your energy bill shrink in no time!

Do you save money by turning your lights off?

Saving money is on everyone’s minds, but what about saving energy? Are you a fan of turning your lights off when you don’t need them or leaving them on all the time? Most people agree that it’s cost-effective to switch off the lights when not in use, but do you know exactly how much money and energy can be saved by doing so? 

The truth is, it depends. If you have LED bulbs or energy-efficient CFL lighting, then leaving those on isn’t going to make too much of an impact. But if your house is full of old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, then flipping the switch will definitely pay off in terms of cost and carbon footprint! 

Usie natural sunlight whenever possible instead of relying on electric light bulbs. Simply opening your curtains and blinds during the daytime hours helps let natural light in while saving you money. Additionally, you can use LED bulbs that use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs – they come in a variety of colors too that will make your home look stylish and vibrant! 

Does it really cost more to turn lights on and off?

People want to know if turning lights off and on really costs more money. The answer is “it depends”. Whether or not it costs more to turn lights on frequently depends on the type of bulb you’re using and how many watts they consume. 

Incandescent bulbs are generally the most cost-effective when it comes to lightbulbs, but they also use up much more energy than other types of bulbs. So if you’re using incandescent lights, then yes – turning them on and off often will result in higher energy bills each month. However, LED bulbs only take a fraction of the energy that incandescent do, so flipping them off and on again won’t cost much extra at all!

To help save even more money you may want to look at adding dimmers to your home. A dimmer is a switch that helps reduce the amount of energy used by turning down the full brightness level of light. This means that instead of always having your lights set at full brightness, you can adjust them for different times during the day or night. With dimmers, you can adjust your lighting levels depending on how much light is needed in any particular area – from completely dimmed out for nighttime to slightly brighter during daytime hours. 

Does leaving a light on use a lot of electricity?

Have you ever wondered how much energy a single lightbulb uses? It’s an important question to ask, especially as sustainability movements grow in popularity. So, does leaving a light on use a lot of electricity? The answer is not simple and depends on several factors. 

The watt rating of the bulb is one key factor – a higher wattage bulb will require more energy than one with a lower watt rating. For example, the average 60-watt incandescent lightbulb can consume up to 480 watts of energy per hour if left on continuously! However, LED bulbs have come down in price significantly and their energy consumption is substantially lower – only 10 watts of energy used per hour for the same amount of light output.

How much does it cost to run a light bulb for 24 hours?

To calculate the cost, you’ll need to know your kilowatt-hour rate and refer to your most recent electric bill. 

The great news is that this task can be done without breaking the bank! Depending on the type of light bulb and wattage used, a single lightbulb will typically consume around 1 kWh per day. If your kilowatt-hour rate is 10 cents per hour (a common rate in many areas), then running one light bulb for 24 hours will cost approximately $2.40. That’s less than a cup of coffee from your favorite cafe! 

What are the best energy-saving light bulbs for home?

From fluorescent lights to halogen lighting to cfl lighting, and LED lights, these bulbs come in all shapes and sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the best energy-saving light bulbs for your home. 

For starters, LED lights offer maximum efficiency with minimal wattage needed. These bulbs last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, so you’ll be able to save big on replacement costs down the road. Plus they generate very little heat compared to other types of lighting, which can help reduce heat bills during warmer months! 

Fluorescent lights may seem like a thing of the past but they’re still wildly popular when it comes to saving energy.

Check for “vampire electronics.”

These are the silent leeches of your electric bill. The light that you leave on in the hallway 24 hours a day. Maybe it’s the downstairs window unit air conditioner that you leave on when you’re out of the house. It’s definitely your wireless router that is connected to your wifi that’s connected to your Smart TV that is on 24/7.

In one month in my house in the dead of summer, we decided to check out the impact that “vampire electronics” had in our house. We shut off everything at night. Our air conditioner stayed the same temperature, the outside temperature was even hotter in August from July, but we shut everything off when we weren’t using it.

Our air conditioner stayed the same temperature, the outside temperature was even hotter in August from July, but we shut everything off when we weren’t using it.

In that one month, we lowered our electric bill by $102! That’s a full 35% decrease in our bill. It was absolutely shocking.

That’s the power of turning off your lights and wireless router! If you don’t think that you could remember to turn everything back on, you could invest in a timer for your electric outlets. It’s a great and inexpensive way to make sure that your lights are always off when you don’t need them and are always on when you want them.

Here are some things that you should check to unplug when you’re not using them:

  • Laptop charger
  • Phone charger
  • Video game systems
  • Cable box
  • Smart TV
  • Wifi
  • Wireless router
  • Lights
  • Fans
  • Window AC units
  • Coffeemaker
  • Microwave
  • Toaster
  • Anything with a display screen

Just doing a sweep of these electronics every night before bed can really add up.

Because every house is different and every electric company is different, it’s tough to compare my situation to yours. But if you compare your own electric rate month to month, you can see how these electronics impact your own bill.

I’d be willing to bet that you’ll be surprised by how much you save by turning off unused lights. Give it a try in your own home. Track how much your utility charges are in one month and then compare it to the next money when you made sure to turn everything off when you left the room or the house.

Remember: every little bit adds up over time. It might not seem like it’s doing much for your bill, but in a year you’d be shocked at the amount that you have saved just by being aware of your energy consumption.

Have you ever put your lights on timers? Has it helped you stay on top of your energy use?

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Filed Under: Crunchy Momma, Frugal Living, Saving Money, Uncategorized

Comments

  1. meredith lee says

    October 27 at 1:13 PM

    Great tips! Here’s another one.

    Instead of leaving your computer on when you don’t want to lose your place or close out any of your documents, put it into Hibernate mode.

    Hibernate will save an image of where you’re at and then shut down the computer. When you start backup, you’ll go right back to where you were and you will have saved electricity by turning the computer off.
    meredith lee recently posted…Is the Gaggia MDF Grinder a Good Value? Let’s Find OutMy Profile

    Reply
  2. L. says

    March 13 at 8:02 AM

    I unplug everything……. The refrigerator and my phone are the only left plugged when I’m not home. Everything is only plugged as I need it. I plug everything in a surge protector and hit the off switch.

    Reply
    • Caroline says

      March 14 at 3:01 PM

      That’s such a great idea!

      Reply

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