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Sustainability August 12, 2016
Flip off those switches and unplug your trendy lava lamp because we are about to start saving some energy and money!
Did you know that you shouldn’t turn off your lights if you’re only leaving a room for 15 minutes or less? According to the Department of Energy, it actually extends the lifetime of your bulb for longer if you switch it on and off less frequently. We didn’t know that, either.
As simple as it may seem to stop flickering your lights, conserving energy can get more complicated than that. Getting into the business of saving the environment also depends on what type of light bulb you have to make the best decision.
So, let us give you the low-down on the best way to save some energy and your wallet with a little help from the Department of Energy.
It turns out that incandescent bulbs are the least efficient types of lighting. Make sure to turn these off whenever they are not needed. Only about 10 percent of the energy used for this bulb gives off light – the rest is heat.
Although more efficient than incandescent light bulbs, halogen lights should definitely be turned off whenever they are not needed. Halogen and incandescent are less efficient then CFLs and LEDs.
Efficient, but complicated. The Department of Energy states:
The amount of times you switch on and off a CLF bulb also determines its life span.
Perfect for the young ones who just absolutely love to flip the switch, LED lights can be turned on and off as many times as you want. The operating life isn’t necessarily affected by how many times it is switched on and off.
Want to save more energy? Unplug all appliances that aren’t in use – they still use energy when they are plugged in.
Unless it’s as grey as the Seattle sky, there really is no need for the lights to be on during the day. So, let’s save some energy. Turn off your lights when they should be off and open some windows. Turn lights off at the right times so you save some money on your electric bill and light bulb purchases, conserving energy in the process.