Lighting can be a major contributor to your energy bill during the winter. While you may have to make concessions about how much you’re spending to heat your house, lighting is something that you have a bit more control over. If you’re worried about how much you’re spending to keep your house well-lit, use these tips during the winter to reduce your overall energy bill.
Make the Switch to Energy-Efficient Lighting
Is your house filled with older lights that use up a ton of electricity? If so, it’s never too late to make the change. Look for ENERGY STAR-certified bulbs that consume much less energy than their traditional counterparts while still keeping your house well-lit. If you’re only able to replace so many of your lights over time, try making the switch in areas where you spend the most time. This way, you’re saving energy in high-traffic areas. You probably won’t be using much in low-traffic ones.
Take Advantage of Natural Light Where Possible
Some winter days may see lots of clouds that don’t offer much sunlight. But during days when the sun is out, try to take advantage of it. Open all the blinds and let the sunshine in. Chances are that you’ll be able to get through most of the morning and afternoon without having to turn on many lights. Then, once it starts to get dark out, you can close the blinds and use your lights instead. Natural light is your friend when you want to pay less for electricity.
Only Use Light Where Needed
Are you the type to turn on all the lights in your home and leave them on? If so, this is a habit that you’ll want to kick this winter. Try to keep the lights on only in the areas where they’re needed. Once you leave that room, make sure to turn the lights off. There may be exceptions to this rule. For example, you may need to keep the lights on outside so that someone approaching your door can see where they’re going. Still, you can use automatic lighting to only use energy when there’s movement outside.
Use Smart Home Tools to Monitor Light Usage
You don’t have to let lights run all the time these days. There are many automation and smart tools that give you the ability to control light usage all throughout your home. This can include smart plugs, light timers and smart home apps. See what’s at your disposal to help you save money over the winter season.
You have more control over lighting usage than you think. The various strategies above, like installing smart devices and being more conscious of lighting, can help you cut down on energy use. Get in touch with Assurance Power Systems in Delray Beach, FL if you need lighting services to set yourself up for success.
