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Shedding Light on Your Electrical Bill

posted by TrueNorth Risk Management on Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Incandescent bulbs are becoming a thing of the past as energy-saving bulbs and fixtures become more popular. By switching the light bulbs and fixtures you use, as well as changing certain lighting habits, you can help conserve energy and save some money. 

Buy a Better Bulb

A traditional incandescent light bulb only turns 10 percent of the energy it uses into light and releases the rest as heat. But several types of energy-saving bulbs are available, designed to help you use less energy and save money.

Halogen incandescent bulbs are 25 percent more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, although they produce the same amount of heat. These bulbs also last three times longer than older bulbs, which means changing your light bulbs less often. 

Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs use a quarter of the energy required to produce the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs, and they release less heat. CFLs also last 10 times as long - just make sure you properly dispose of your CFL when it fails - CFLs contain a small amount of mercury. To see where you can safely recycle your bulbs, visit www.lamprecycle.org.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have been around for decades, but only recently have begun to be designed to light your home. LEDs last up to 25 times as long as incandescent bulbs and use the same amount of energy as CFLs. LEDs are designed to have a low heat output with a high light output. Because this is still a developing technology, LEDs are more expensive - but prices will drop as they become more available in the market. 

Many bulbs are certified by Energy Star as being energy efficient. In fact, if every United States home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star bulb, the country would save enough energy to prevent the release of greenhouse gases that are equivalent to the emissions from 800,000 cars. 

Eco-friendly Fixtures

Saving energy does not end with light bulbs - you can also purchase or build fixtures made from a variety of recycled materials. Some lamps are made of recycled wood, metals and/or glass; others can be made from reused materials that would otherwise be thrown out - like wine bottles. 

Change Your Habits 

To help reduce your energy usage, open the blinds and window shades and take advantage of natural sunlight to heat and light your home during the day. Also, turn off lights when you aren't using them and install motion sensors on outside lighting. 

Let TrueNorth be Your Guide

Adding to your home is exciting, but poses a number of financial risks.  When undertaking a remodeling project, make sure you review your insurance needs - that way any addition to your home is protected and properly insured. For more information, visit iTrueNorth.com or contact TrueNorth Personal Insurance directly for a quote at (319) 364-1706.