At Home with Lisa: Save time, energy, and money with LEDs

I am not one that enjoys the long hours of darkness that come with winter. I am very happy that the seasons are changing, and we are seeing more daylight as we move into summer.

It makes sense that during winter months, when it’s darker longer, that we use more electricity to keep the lights on. The more we use a bulb, the quicker it will burn out. I am finding that I need to swap out burned out bulbs after our dark winter, so I’m going to make the switch to LEDs.

LEDs are a smarter option. LEDs, or light-emitting diode bulbs, can use up to 90% less energy to produce the same amount of light than traditional incandescent bulbs.

LED lightbulbs aren’t new, but they are starting to look more like the lightbulbs we’re used to than they have in the past. The average monthly cost of a 12-watt LED is about 11 cents a month, rather than a 75-watt incandescent bulb which can run about 68 cents a month, according to Avista’s Energy Guide. 

The guide also says that light-colored ceilings reflect the light better than dark ceilings. This can make it appear brighter in a room, so I am lucky that my ceilings are painted white. I can also check that my bulbs are clean, as dust can cut the light output by 25%.

This spring, if you find yourself swapping out those incandescent bulbs you’ve been using all winter, consider the switch to LEDs.

Lisa, an Avista customer, bought her 1910 house because she loved the old-world character, some of which doesn’t make her house very energy efficient. Lisa is sharing her experience on taking some simple do-it-yourself improvements to inspire others to do the same. You’ll find her stories right here every Tuesday morning.