Do you go around turning off lights after everyone? Check if it actually saves electricity

When it comes to lighting in the house, people generally fall into two camps. Some believe you should turn off the lights every time you leave a room, while others think this is actually a waste of money. So who's right? And how can you save on lighting costs? Here's when it's best to turn off the lights.

Monthly bills take up a good portion of our budget, so we’re always looking for ways to reduce them and use electricity efficiently. From a young age, our parents taught us to turn off the lights whenever we left a room. Back then, it made a lot of sense, especially since energy-saving bulbs didn’t exist. Today, people believe it might be better to leave the light on if you're only stepping out of a room for a moment. Is that really true?

Do you go around turning off lights after everyone? Check if it actually saves electricityfot. unsplash.com

When to turn off the light? The answer may surprise you

In one episode of MythBusters, experts looked into which habits are actually more energy-efficient. They analyzed various types of bulbs and their electricity usage when switched on and off. It turns out that when using traditional 90 W bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps, or halogens, you’ll save by turning them off each time, as restarting them doesn’t cause a power surge. However, with fluorescent lights, it’s best to leave the light on if you’re only leaving the room briefly. Remember, each on-and-off cycle can also shorten a bulb’s lifespan, which may lead to earlier replacement.

Read also: They Don’t Plan to Have Children, They Are Pet Parents. "Dogs Won't Fight Over Our House with a Garden". 

How to save on electricity? Here are some steps you can take

For many people, life without electrical devices is unimaginable. We use them daily for cooking, cleaning, and entertainment. They consume a significant amount of energy, which unfortunately leads to higher electricity bills. Below are four steps to help you save on electricity.

1. Make the most of daylight as long as possible. If you work from home, position your desk by the window where the light is strongest. Avoid covering windows with heavy curtains or blinds in this area.
2. If you’re cooking on an induction stove, use pot lids. Covered pots heat up faster, so your meal will cook more quickly, and the stove will use less electricity.
3. Never run a half-full washing machine or dishwasher. Waiting until they’re full saves you from doing two cycles when one will do, helping you save energy.
4. Unplug chargers. Once your phone or computer is fully charged, unplug the charger. Even if your device’s battery is full, the charger continues to work and draw energy.

The author of the article is Kinga Adamczak, journalist of Gazeta.pl.