As the weather warms up, our energy usage shifts. While you might see an overall dip in your monthly bill when you turn the heat off, it doesn't last long before heat waves arrive and your electricity bill jumps from running fans or the air conditioner to stay cool. With rising energy costs, keeping your home cool and comfortable can come with a hefty price tag. If you're looking for ways to save a few dollars and preserve your budget, you're not alone.
A recent CNET survey found 78% of Americans are stressed about high home energy bills. Once you add in increased rents, higher mortgage rates and pricier groceries, you might already be feeling a strain on your wallet. However, there are ways to extend your monthly budget.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to save some money and reduce your energy bill is by turning off your lights when you aren't using them. Keep reading to learn why it's important to turn off the lights and how much money this simple habit can save you.
For more, we also recommend investing in a smart plug or a smart thermostat, adjusting the temperature of your thermostat and weatherstripping to save extra cash.)
Why should you turn off the lights?
You've probably been told time and time again the importance of conserving energy, but you might be wondering why it's so important.
First, reducing your energy usage by turning off your lights is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint. Electricity generation is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. By turning off your lights when you aren't using them, you can do your part to reduce carbon emissions and therefore help the environment.
Second, reducing your home's energy usage doesn't just help the environment. It also helps your wallet. Turning off lights when you don't need them can help to reduce your electricity bills. You'll also extend the life of your light bulbs, which will save you money as well.
Buying a smart lightbulb can help you conserve energy by setting your lights to go on and off at certain times, so no more falling asleep with all the lights left on overnight. The Wiz tunable white LED smart bulb is CNET's pick for the best white-light smart bulb.
How much money can you save?
The amount you can save on your electricity bill by turning off your lights depends on the type of light bulb you use. You can figure your potential savings using the light bulb's wattage.
Let's say you have a light bulb that's 40 watts, meaning in one hour, the bulb will use 0.04 kWh. Then, you can use your electricity price — which you can find on your most recent utility bill — to figure out how much you'll save for that hour. In the case of the 40-watt bulb, if you pay an electricity rate of 10 cents per kWh, your savings by turning that bulb off for one hour would be 0.4 cents.
It's easy to see that number and think it's simply not worth it to turn off your lights more often. After all, what difference does 0.4 cents make? First, remember that estimate is for a 40-watt bulb. If you have higher-wattage light bulbs, the savings will be greater. Next, that estimate uses an energy price of 10 cents per kWh, but in many areas, the price of electricity may be higher than that.
Finally, our estimate looked at the savings of turning off one bulb for one hour. You likely have many light bulbs in your house, and there are far more than just one hour in a month. So when you calculate the savings of turning off all of your light bulbs for many more hours per month, your savings will increase significantly.
When should you turn off the lights?
You can save money by turning off your lights and fans whenever you don't need them. During the spring and summer, it's a good idea to check in on the peak and off-peak energy hours in your area. Many providers use a time-of-use electricity plan where energy costs rise during peak hours, or hours where the grid is facing higher demand, and lower during off-peak hours. These hours change depending on the seasons, so transitioning between seasons is a good time to check in on when you're paying the most for energy.
During peak hours, usually during the afternoons in the summer while in the early morning and in the evenings after sunset during winter, it's helpful to be especially diligent in turning off lights and other electronic appliances when you leave a room to cut down on your energy bill. Thankfully, during the spring and summer, Daylight Saving Time is in effect, which means more daylight and less need to have the lights on in your home.
A small change can yield big savings
Turning off the lights and other electric appliances when you aren't using them is one of the most basic steps you can take to reduce your energy usage and save money on your electricity bill. Just remember that even a small change can add up to big energy savings for you and also help reduce your carbon footprint.
More money-saving tips for you
- Energy Star Appliances: Can They Really Save You Money?
- Change Your Water Heater's Set Temperature and Save Money
- Can You Actually Save Money by Showering Instead of Bathing?
- How to Lower Your Air Conditioning Bill While You're on Vacation
- Your Fan Is Probably in the Wrong Place (and Room Temperatures Suffer)
- The Best Energy-Saving Smart Home Devices to Help You Save on Utility Bills
- Energy Vampires: What They Are and Why Unplugging Them Can Save You Money