The media (and MPS) talks of people struggling with higher energy bills, hardly anyone talks about how easy it is to reduce energy bills, simply by switching from old-fashioned (incandescent) light bulbs (which are a huge waste of money) to LED bulbs (more expensive to buy, but they last 20 times longer, and save the average household around £70 a year).
Lightbulbs work by heating a wire element, which grabs electricity from the national grid. Safer than candles and oil lamps (used before electricity), they are also better than halogen lights (not very energy-efficient) and flourescent lights (these are energy-efficient but contain toxic mercury, and tend to be prone to flickering, which can stress out people and pets).
All UK lightbulbs on sale meet energy efficient guidelines, and are measured in lumens (470, 800 and 520 compare to the older 40, 60 or 100 watts). Experts say to choose 80 to 90 CRI to be the closest to natural light, sold in screw or bayonet fittings, in bulbous or candle shapes.
Philips has been making lightbulbs since 1878, so know what they are doing. Their LED Filament GLS bulbs are gold-standard. Or 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 and ceiling, table and strip lights.
To reduce bills further, turn lights off when not in use. Use lampshades in lighter shades, paint walls in lighter colours and move bulky furniture away from (clean) windows to bring in more natural light. Outdoors, use sensors for external lights (go off, when not in use).
At end of use, recycle non-toxic LED lights through your council. Flourescent bulbs contain mercury, so should also be recycled. Old-fashioned lightbulbs (and halogen bulbs) should be binned (wrap in boxes, to avoid cutting people and wildlife at landfills).
light bulb safety tips
- Keep all bulbs and lamps away from flammables (paper, fabrics etc). Throw out dodgy Christmas tree lights, while you’re at it. Those who make paper lampshades say they can be safe with a low wattage and keeping away from naked flames, but it all sounds rather risky?
- Before changing lightbulbs, ensure they are cool (and lights are turned off). Use the correct light for the fitting, and only use outdoor bulbs for outdoor lights (with an RCD-protected socket).
- Check lights and lamps for broken bulbs and fuses, and don’t overload sockets (switch lights off before sleep). Know where your fuse box is, so you can quickly turn off power if need be.
- If you have flickering lights, you may just need to change the bulb or use the correct fitting. But it could be due to faulty dimmer switches that don’t work with LED bulbs (or an overloaded circuit or faulty wiring). So get things checked by a qualified electrician.
- Buy electricals from quality stores (even ARGOs or a supermarket). 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.
why you should use an RCD
An RCD (residual current device) is designed to prevent electric shocks and electrical fires (your dad likely had one in the garage, when using electrical tools or mowers). Government-approved electricians can fit one to switch off power if there is a fault. If you touched a live wire, a faulty appliance appliance overheats or you cut through a cable – you would not get electrocuted.
Some homes have fixed RCDS (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, call an electrician).
