Simple light bulb swap can save UK households £105

As the days have become shorter and the nights longer, the use of lights in our households automatically increases during winter months. Plunged into darkness several hours earlier, people have to switch on their light sources and keep them on for much longer.

This invariably leads to a rise in energy bills during the chilly winter months coupled with the festive season, as extended light usage coupled with round the clock heating equals a sizable dent in the pocket.

So how can we decrease some of these costs as the UK finds itself firmly in the grips of yet another cost of living crisis? The simple answer lies in lighting.

Whilst it’s not feasible to switch our house lights off while it’s dark outside or while hosting people in your home during the holiday season, a simple swap in the type of light fixtures used in households can result in hefty savings.

A lighting expert has shared three easy ways through which energy costs can be reduced this winter, and the solutions couldn’t be simpler. 

Julia Barnes, buying director at ValueLights who has over a decade experience in the interiors industry, says her simple switch-outs are easy to do and could save up to £105.58 on energy bills annually.

Julia’s easy-to-follow energy efficient tips include a simple bulb swap, introducing some dimmers in your residence, and reading the finer print when it comes to your lighting.

Switch to LED lighting

Julia explains: “Lamps can be left on overnight if you’ve fallen asleep while reading, or if you want to make it seem like someone is at home, especially during Christmas and New Year when hosting family and friends. Leaving on a bedside lamp that isn’t an LED bulb for an extended period of time can drastically increase your energy bills though.

“A standard 60W bulb which is commonly used for table lamps can cost £65.75 a year if left on overnight, and a 100W bulb £111.17. In comparison, an LED bulb would cost just £5.59 if left on overnight, [giving you] a saving of £105.58. The savings are huge and a real no-brainer that switching to LED bulbs is key when managing energy costs – in fact they use up to 90% less energy while also shining brighter.”

Install dimmer switches

Julia’s next tip is an often overlooked one, as the expert shares: “One feature that can sometimes be overlooked when managing energy savings is installing dimmer switches for lighting around your home. When you dim an LED bulb, you’re reducing the amount of electricity flowing through it, which means lower consumption compared to running that same bulb at full brightness.

“This actually also increases the lifespan of a bulb, saving you money in the long run by not having to replace them as often. Switching to a dimmer is a practical tip that genuinely will save energy without compromising on quality or ambience.”

Pay attention to light bulb ratings

Julia says: “Often missed on the back of packaging, energy efficiency ratings are supplied with every bulb and ranked A to G, A being the best. The higher the light bulb’s energy efficiency is toward an A, the better the cost saving will be for your energy bills.”

The expert recommends: “Switching to better rated bulbs is really important in high traffic areas where lights are likely to be on for a large part of the day like the kitchen or living areas.”

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