The majority of us have likely been in the situation of leaving a light on for 24 hours at least once in our lives. Whether it’s because of forgetfulness, curiosity, or just plain laziness, how much does it cost to leave a light on for 24 hours?
The answer depends on how you choose to light your home. Whether you use incandescent bulbs, light emitting diodes (LEDs), or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) all have different costs associated with how much electricity they use.
If you have incandescent bulbs, for instance, the cost of having just one light bulb on for 24 hours is fairly low. It could cost you anywhere from around two to five cents per hour, depending on how much wattage the bulb uses and how much electricity costs in your area.
On the other hand, if you use energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or CFLs, the cost of leaving one light bulb on for 24 hours is likely to be a bit higher than with incandescent bulbs. LEDs use about 75% less energy than their traditional counterparts and often cost more.
Read on as this article covers how much it costs to leave a normal light, night light, and at least one LED bulb on for 24 hours.
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Factors That Affect the Cost of Leaving a Light On for 24 Hours
The energy bill for leaving a light on all day is affected by several factors;
1. The Type of Light Bulb: Incandescent, CFL, LED
An incandescent bulb uses more electricity than CFLs and LEDs, so it’s no surprise that it will cost more to leave one light on all day with this type of bulb. On average, it will cost around two to five cents per hour for a household with an incandescent bulb.
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. CFLs use about 75% less energy, while LEDs use around 85% less. Therefore, it will cost more to leave one light bulb on all day with these types of bulbs than incandescent bulbs; anywhere from three to six cents per hour.
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2. The Wattage of the Bulb
The wattage is how much electricity a light bulb uses. The higher the wattage, the more it will cost to keep it on for 24 hours. A regular 60-watt incandescent bulb typically costs about two cents per hour to leave on; a higher-wattage bulb such as a 100-watt incandescent bulb will cost around three cents per hour.
Below is a breakdown of the many light bulb types that have a brightness equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb to give you a better sense of how much your light bulbs may be costing you:
- Incandescent Bulb: 60 watts; 2 cents/hour
- CFL Bulb: 13-15 watts; 3 cents/hour
- LED Bulb: 8-10 watts; 4 cents/hour
3. How Much Electricity Costs in Your Area
The cost of electricity varies from country to country and even state to state. For example, an average household in the United States pays 10 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh).
Taking this into account, a 60-watt incandescent bulb would cost around two cents per hour, while a 13-watt CFL bulb costs about three cents per hour.
Tips to Save Money on Your Energy Bill
There are several ways to save money on your energy bill when leaving lights on for 24 hours.
- Turn off lights in rooms that are not being used or install motion sensors so they only turn on when someone is in the room.
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs such as CFLs and LEDs, as they use less electricity and last longer.
- Unplug appliances when not in use to avoid energy drain.
- When leaving lights on for 24 hours, opt for a night light instead of using the regular light – this will reduce how much electricity is used.
- Go green. A lot of people are also embracing green energy sources such as solar and wind power to reduce their energy bills.
When to Shut Off the Lights to Get the Most Savings
This might sound counterintuitive, but turning off your lights may be a more cost-effective way to save money on your electricity bill. That’s because the average household will spend around $10 on electricity by leaving one light bulb on for 24 hours. Over time, this can add up quickly. So if you have several lights in your home, it might be worth turning them off when not in use.
The department of energy recommendations suggest:
For Incandescent and halogen: Shut off lights when not in use for more than 15 minutes.
For CFLs and LEDs: Shut off lights when not in use for more than 30 minutes.
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The Verdict: How Much Does It Cost to Leave a Light on for 24 Hours?
Ultimately, how much it will cost to leave a light on for 24 hours really depends on how you choose to light your home, as well as how much electricity costs in your area. Incandescent bulbs are the least expensive option, while LED bulbs are the most energy-efficient yet typically cost more.
In general, leaving one light on all day can cost anywhere from two to six cents per hour, depending on how much wattage the bulb uses and how much electricity costs in your area. Turning off lights when not in use for 15 minutes or longer can help save money over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to leave a light on for a week?
It depends on how you choose to light your home. Incandescent bulbs are the least expensive option; one bulb will cost around 14-20 cents per hour for a week, while LEDs and CFLs can cost up to 42-60 cents per hour.
How much does it cost to leave a light on for a year?
Again, the cost depends on how you choose to light your home. An incandescent bulb could cost around $52-75 for a year, while an LED or CFL will be more expensive at around $184-300.
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