### Thrifty Thursday - Upgrade to LED Bulbs

Here’s a hack with a high percentage return.  If you pay your own electricity bill, chances are your use is metered and charged by the Kilowatt hour (kWh).  A Watt (W) is measure of power, or energy per second, so a Kilowatt hour is just using 1,000 Watts of power for one hour.

For example, a common household incandescent light bulb uses 60W of power.  If you left this light bulb on for 3 hours a day for a year, it would use 65.7 Kilowatt hours: $Total\ Energy = Power * Time$ $Total\ Energy = 60 W * {3\ h \over day} * {365\ days \over year}$ $Total\ Energy = {65,700\ Wh \over year} = {65.7 kWh \over year}$ Since Thomas Edison invented the incandescent bulb in 1879, however, there have been some improvements to the technology.  The latest is the bulb.  An LED bulb can create the same as an old incandescent light bulb using much less power.  For example, an LED replacement for a 60W incandescent bulb would typically use only 9W.  This creates a savings of 51W per bulb.

To find out exactly how much of a monetary savings this is, you first need to know how much you are paying for your electricity.  You will need to check your bill or electric company’s website, as this typically varies by area, with some of the South and Midwest having the lowest rates, higher on the coasts, and Hawaii topping the charts.  My electric company also charges me more in the summer, when everyone is using their air conditioners, and less in the winter.

For example, let’s look at an average rate of $0.10 per kWh. Again, let’s assume a bulb we use for 3 hours a day. Therefore, reducing the power of that bulb from 60W to 9W leads to a savings of: $Annual\ Savings = (Old\ Watts\ – New\ Watts) * {hours \over year} * {1\ kW \over 1,000\ W} * Energy\ cost$ $Annual\ Savings = (60W\ –\ 9W) * {3\ h \over day} * {365\ days \over year} * {1\ kW \over 1,000\ W} * {0.10 \over kWh}$ $Annual\ Savings = {5.10 \over year}$ In this example, if the new bulb costs less than$5.10, we’d make the money back in less than a year.  If your energy rate is higher, the payback will be quicker.  Bulbs in locations that are used more often are more obvious candidates for replacement.

### Thrifty Thursday

Introducing Thrifty Thursday. On Thursdays, I’ll post a quick article with a tip or life hack to help with Intentional Spending . These will fall into three basic categories: Freebies are life hacks to get something for nothing! Maybe there’s no free lunch, but there are plenty of things you have already paid for in one way or another and just need to take advantage of, or that are being offered in hope of future business. Cost Cutters are the things we all need, that you are probably already buying in some form, but cheaper! Worth It are things that might not look like savings up front, but could be worthwhile investments, eventually leading to more savings. They may also be actual splurges, but with a good value and totally worth it! Check out the articles so far: Freebies The Library Cost Cutters Hack your Housing Save Thousands on Your Phone Plan Worth It Upgrade to LE