The media is regularly focused on the high cost of energy bills. But using old-fashioned (incandescent) light bulbs is a huge waste of money, as newer LED bulbs (although more expensive to buy) last 20 times longer, and could save the average household around £70 a year. Bulbs work by heating a wire element to use electricity from the national grid, and are safer than candles and oil lamps (the light of choice in yesteryear). LED bulbs should light up a room immediately (halogen lights are not really energy-efficient and fluorescent lights last 10 times longer but contain mercury, so not good for the planet).
In the UK, all new bulbs meet energy efficient guidelines, typically sold in screw or bayonet fittings, in bulbous or candle shapes. New bulbs are measured in lumens (so 470, 800 or 1520 compared to 40, 60 or 100 watt). Choose 80-90 CRI to be closest to natural light, for household tasks.
Most shops sell LED lightbulbs. Philips is good as are LED Filament GLS bulbs (from a company making lightbulbs since 1878). If you’re a bit techy, WiZ lights are controlled by an app on your phone or voice, using preset modes. The company also offers adjustable spotlights, ceiling lights, table lamps and strip lights (for under cabinets or behind furniture).
To reduce your lighting bills further, turn lights off when not in use. Use (regularly cleaned) lamps in lighter shades, move bulky furniture away from (clean) windows and paint walls in lighter colours. Outdoors, use sensors for external lights (go off, when not in use).
You can recycle non-toxic LED lights (ask your council). Old-style (and halogen) bulbs should be binned (in boxes, to avoid causing cuts to people and wildlife at landfill). Flourescent bulbs contain mercury, so should be recycled at your local plant.
Light Bulb Safety Tips
- Keep lights, lightbulbs and lamps away from fabrics (curtains etc). Throw out dodgy Christmas tree lights and don’t let new ones touch flammable items like paper or fabric.
- Ensure lightbulbs are cool (and lights turned off) before changing. Ensure the correct lights for the fitting. Only use outdoor bulbs for outdoor lights, with a RCD-protected socket.
- Regularly check lights and lamps for broken bulbs and fuses, and don’t overload sockets (switch lights off before sleep). Know where your fuse box, so you can quickly turn off electricity, if needed.
- Flickering lights can simply be needing to change a bulk or use a correct fitting. But it can be due to dimmer switches not working with LED bulbs or an overloaded overloaded circuit or faulty wiring (get things checked by a qualified electrician, just to be safe).
Fire brigades recommend using an RCD (residual current device) which prevents electric shocks, in case you touched a live wire, and can help protect from electrical fires. Government-approved electrician can fit one, that will automatically switch off electricity if there is a fault (if you touched a live wire, a faulty appliance overheats or you cut through a cable, you would not get electrocuted).
Some homes have fixed RCDS (a T/Test button in your fuse box). Or buy portable sockets/plugs to use with appliances. Cleveland Fire Brigade say they are around 97% reliable if tested regularly (use common sense and check wiring every 10 years). They say to test fixed/socket RCDs every 3 months, and portable RCDs each use (hold test button for a long time – if it does not switch off the supply, call an electrician).
The rise of online stores means 4 million people have bought electricals (often with fake reviews) that contain faulty parts that could overheat, catch fire or deliver an electric shock. Buy direct from a local shop (or even a reputable supermarket or Argos) to ensure you know it’s safe.
