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How can using the right light bulbs in your home save you money on your energy bills?

When it comes to energy efficiency, many homeowners fail to take into account their home lighting. Oftentimes the light bulbs used in lighting fixtures can have an impact on your energy bills. So, which are the best for energy savings? Which may end up costing you more?

At Gulf Coast Electric, we encourage Destin energy efficiency so all homeowners in the area can enjoy lower electric bills. That’s why we’ve come up with a helpful guide to help you choose the best light bulbs for your home. 

Can Certain Light Bulbs Really Save You Money?

Something as simple as changing the light bulbs in your home’s lighting fixtures can help save you money on your energy bills. 15 percent of your average electricity use each month is devoted solely to lighting. 

This may not seem like much, but it adds up in the long run. Energy-efficient options are typically one of the best ways to lower your energy bill. In addition, turning off lights when not in use is another great way to save money. 

Energy-Saving Light Bulbs

Did you know you could save about $225 on your yearly energy bills just by switching to LED bulbs? Think about how many lighting fixtures you have in your home. That’s a lot of electricity in use daily. Now, think of how much you could save if all of these fixtures used energy-efficient light bulbs. 

LED bulbs labeled with the ENERGY STAR seal of approval have earned the right to be called energy-efficient. These safe and high-quality light bulbs can be found at your local hardware or department store. They use up to 90 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs and even last 25 percent longer.

Best of all, they don’t cost much more than a traditional light bulb. They even come in a variety of colors for mood lighting. With 40W, 60W, 75W, and 100W options, LED bulbs are a great way to cut down on your energy bill.

Light Bulbs to Avoid

If a light bulb doesn’t have the ENERGY STAR logo, it probably isn’t worth your money. Not only will this bulb eat away at your electricity, but it’ll die much sooner than an LED bulb. These are typically cheap, low-quality light bulbs that may not even produce much light. 

Incandescent and halogen light bulbs are the least energy-efficient choices on the market. Their high wattage may produce a bright light, but it’ll cost you much more on your energy bill. Additionally, because these bulbs fade quicker, you’ll be spending more to replace them. 

LED bulbs have such a good lifespan that they’re preferred for areas such as garages and basements, as they can be left unmaintained for years to come with proper use. You won’t get that kind of quality or longevity with bulbs not approved by ENERGY STAR. 

Trust in the Home Energy Professionals

When it comes to electricity, the electricians at Gulf Coast Electric know how to safely and effectively get the job done. Whether you’re looking for increased energy efficiency or system maintenance, we’re the ones to rely on. Contact us today!

5 Tips For Saving on Your Electricity Bill

Saving money is normally on most people’s to-do list. Lowering your electric bill is a great way to save money. Decreasing your energy bill doesn’t mean you have to sit in the dark or read books by candlelight; there are little changes you can make in your home to save some money. Here are five tips for saving on your electricity bill. 

Cold Water

Did you know washing your clothes in cold water gets them as clean as washing them in hot water? Not only is cold water just as effective as hot water, but hot water can also be damaging to some fabrics and shorten the life of your clothes and linens.  It can also put a small dent in your electric bill. According to the Consumer Energy Center, up to 90 percent of the cost of washing clothes is from heating up the water.

Air Dry

If you use a dishwasher a good way to save energy is to let the dishes air dry instead of using the heated dry function. Depending on the age of your dishwasher it may be even better to just avoid the dishwasher in general, and handwash your dishes.  Similar to your washing machine the majority of the energy a dishwasher uses is from the power required to heat water.  

Clean Air Vents

When air vents are dirty, they require more work from the air conditioning system to properly heat or cool your home, which uses more electricity. Operating a dirty air duct, air vent or filter means operating an inefficient system.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends having your air ducts cleaned every three to five years. Filters should be changed or cleaned, if reusable, every three months. Vents should be cleaned as needed and checked regularly for dust and debris. Also not only will this allow your air conditioning systems to work more efficiently it helps keep your air clean because built up dust and allergens aren’t being blown around the home.

Unplug

We constantly have things using power in our homes. Whether you recognize it or not almost anything you have plugged in is using energy, even if you aren’t using them or they aren’t powered on. While a single appliance may not use a large amount of energy, collectively a number of appliances that constantly use power may make a difference on your electricity bill. When leaving your home, going to bed at night, or anytime you aren’t using an appliance or electronic unplug anything you can instead of just turning it off, to save electricity.  

Seal It Up

One of the trickiest ways we spend more on our electricity bill is by letting it slip right out the door. If your doors or windows aren’t properly sealed, then you might be letting money float right out the house. Openings between windows and doors allow the air from outside to get inside and vice versa. If it’s a cold winter day and your heater is cranked up to warm your house, but you have windows with gaps or openings the cold air is following in and your heater is having to work harder and longer to warm the house and therefore costing you more money. Make sure that not only are windows and doors closed when you are running cooling or heating systems but check for gaps or openings. Depending on the severity of the opening you may be able to repair it yourself.

Making sure that you check that you are doing these things on a regular basis can make your wallet a little heavier in 2017. What are some ways you save on your electricity bill?

Looking for an electrician? Contact the professionals at Gulf Coast Electric.