In the UK we use a massive 105,065,000,000.00 kWh of electricity in our households every year.
Lighting accounts for around 15% of household electricity usage in the UK, and many of us see our energy bills skyrocket when the weather gets colder. Homeowners spend more on lighting during the shorter days. The average annual energy consumption for a flat or one-bedroom home is about £2300, a three-bedroom house is £3500 and a five-bedroom house is £5000.
Saving money on these costs is easier than you think, with some small ways to save on your lighting bills while ensuring your home is bright this winter. So it’s worth asking: ‘what can I do to bring costs down?’
How often are you leaving the lights on in the hallway? Or in the bedroom when everyone is sitting in the lounge? We were shocked to discover that 10% (or a whopping 6.5 million) of us regularly leave our lights on when leaving a room at home. Based on industry averages, this equates to an estimated 26 million pounds of wasted energy per day across the UK.
Savings with Solar Lighting
If you replaced all your halogen lighting with solar lighting alternatives, your savings would be 100% after the initial purchase cost, and you’d repay the purchase costs very quickly. Realistically, to charge all lamps would take a considerable amount of effort. So, as an example, if you replaced the lighting in one room with two Indoor and outdoor ShapeLights:
Are solar lights worth it?
Our research shows that while it costs around £25 to run an old 60-watt incandescent light bulb for 10 hours a day for a year, the cost for a solar light is about the same to buy as a one-off purchase. You can see that by replacing all the energy-guzzling bubs in the home, you could save hundreds of pounds annually. And you go on saving money year after year.
Solar lighting is also more efficient and far more aesthetic than drab compact fluorescent lighting bulbs with zero electricity costs and the ability to light a room as effectively.
Environmental Impact
There are wider environmental concerns with where we are sourcing our electricity. Energy prices soared throughout 2021 due to a combination of factors. It is an international issue rather than something solely affecting the UK.
Last year countries in Asia and Europe used significant amounts of gas stocks during a long winter, and the increased demand helped drive up prices. At the same time, the reopening of economies following the Covid-19 pandemic also led to higher energy usage.
More recently, the conflict in Ukraine has led to the cost of Russian gas soaring even further, which has in turn pushed bills higher.
In the UK, very little gas is sourced from Russia, but this has not shielded suppliers from the pricing impact across the rest of Europe, which typically purchased around 40 per cent of natural gas from Russia.
Conclusion
We are living in a time of uncertainty, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t take responsible steps toward renewable energy. Lighting your child’s room with a solar mood lamp, or making sure your Christmas decoration comes with a solar panel ensures you do not have to sacrifice anything to enjoy everything!
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