Is it possible to save money by switching off your lights?

It is believed by many that switching your lights off and then on again uses more electricity than simply leaving your lights on all evening.

Ebico, a not-for-profit energy group have responded to this urban myth by explaining what happens when lights are switched on and off to your electricity bill.

Old fashioned incandescent light bulbs, currently being phased out in favour of low-energy bulbs, do not use any more electricity when switching them off or on.  A household will always make electricity savings from switching off lights when they are not required. 

Compact Florescent Lamps, the new energy-saving light bulbs do use a small amount of energy when switching them on.  However this is only equivalent to 1 or 2 minutes of continuous use.  It is therefore still advisable for households to switch bulbs off that they do not need in order to save electricity.

The advantage CFL's have over incandescent light bulbs is that they tend to last much longer as wattage is lower for the same amount of light.  By swapping all your existing bulbs to CFL's you could save up to £55 per year on your energy bills.

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