How to Save on Electrical Costs by Reducing Unnecessary Lighting

Why Reduce Lighting?

Reducing unnecessary lighting is one of the easiest ways to lower your electrical costs. I pay close attention to my lighting usage because it offers a simple way to make a real impact on my monthly budget. Here's why cutting down on excess lighting is so effective:

• Lighting can account for around 10-20% of an average home's electricity bill. By reducing waste, I can make a noticeable dent in my overall energy spending.
• Technologies like LED bulbs use a fraction of the energy of incandescents. Upgrading lights slashes their energy consumption.
• It's easy to leave lights on absentmindedly. Being mindful of my lighting habits allows me to eliminate waste passively.
• Lighting costs add up over time. Small daily reductions lead to significant long-term savings.

In short, lighting is a prime target for reducing electrical costs. With simple habitual changes, I can save money passively while also doing my part for the environment.

How I Audit My Lighting Usage

Here are some ways I conduct lighting audits to identify waste:

• I walk through each room and make note of any unnecessary lights that are on. Oftentimes lights get left on in unoccupied rooms.

• I check outdoor lighting and security lights during daylight hours to see if they are still on. Outdoor lights should only operate at night.

• I examine which rooms have an abundance of lighting. Spaces like the kitchen may need overhead lighting, but not secondary lamps and pendants.

• For rooms I occupy frequently, I consider whether there are ways to provide sufficient light using fewer light sources. For example, I could use task lighting at my desk instead of illuminating the whole room.

• I take inventory of all light bulbs and look for opportunities to swap inefficient incandescent bulbs for LEDs. This reduces the energy demand.

Regular lighting audits like these help me identify easy fixes for reducing wasted electricity. I make adjustments as needed based on the findings.

Habits That Help Reduce Lighting Waste

In addition to auditing my lighting, I've adopted some helpful daily habits for cutting waste:

• I take advantage of natural daylight and reduce reliance on lights during sunlit hours. Opening blinds fully helps daylight permeate rooms.

• I turn off lights when leaving a room, no matter how short the time. It takes just a second but makes a difference.

• I use motion sensor lights in low traffic areas like closets and basements. This eliminates lights being left on accidentally.

• At night, I use dimmers, night lights, and task lighting as needed instead of brightly illuminating everything.

• I unplug battery chargers and other "phantom" devices when not in use to eliminate standby energy drain.

Forming new lighting habits takes time but eventually becomes second nature. The effort leads to considerable electric bill savings.

Considering an Energy Audit

For a more thorough assessment of home lighting usage, I recommend getting a professional energy audit. During an energy audit, inspectors will:

• Conduct a room-by-room analysis of light fixtures and bulbs.

• Identify appropriate lighting levels for each space.

• Note when and where natural light can replace artificial lighting.

• Look for and seal any light leaks along doors and windows.

• Suggest new lighting technologies like automation controls or daylight harvesting skylights.

Although hiring an auditor costs money up front, their expertise often uncovers ways to maximize savings that I would miss on my own. The expense usually pays for itself over time through lower electric bills.

Lighting Changes Lead to Major Savings

With a few simple habit adjustments and purposeful audits, I've significantly reduced wasted lighting in my home. Here are some of the measurable savings I've achieved:

• I've cut lighting costs by $35 per month, adding up to over $400 per year.

• By replacing all incandescent bulbs, I've reduced lighting energy usage by 75%.

• Installing motion sensors outdoors and in little-used rooms has eliminated 5-10 hours of needless light usage per day.

Even in a modestly sized home, the savings from cutting lighting waste quickly add up. It's some of the easiest money I've saved on my electrical costs. Try conducting your own lighting audit and see what a difference it makes!