27 Nov
Are nightlights energy drainers?
We have a light sensor-type nightlight, but they’re plugged into areas in the house where it’s not very bright (windows are too far for enough light). So, the sensors keep the nightlights on most of the time. My husband keeps unplugging the things because he thinks it’s using up too much energy. And so in the middle of the night, because it wasn’t plugged back in, I’m stubbing a toe on the way to the bathroom. Is it REALLY that ‘un-green’ to use a nightlight!??!
Posted by iviatticus on 27.11.09 at 2:42 pm
I can’t imagine your nightlights could use up that much energy to make a dent on your pocketbook.
If he’s that worried, you could get LED nightlights. they cost about 10 cents a year to operate.
For example:
http://www.smarthome.com/903205.html
The best thing you could do, is replace all you standard incandescent bulbs with CFL’s.
They’re getting cheaper by the day and Walmart has packs of them for under $10. That would be my recommendation.
The lights we use the most ofter are CFL’s. I still have some floodlights and my outside lights are still incandescent, but my electric bill averages $30/mo even with the rate hike in Illinois. We don’t use our A/C which sucks a lot, but at least we have spare cash at the end of the month.
Check with your utility, I know mine has a website you can goto for discount CFL’s and other items.
If your electric bill is getting out of hand, clean your fridge. Inside and out, vacuum the coils, and then close a dollar bill in the top of the door, if it comes out easily it means your seals are bad or dirty. Clean the seals good.
There’s so many other things to worry about besides a night light, do a search theres a ton of tips on the internet that I never even thought of.
Posted by = ^_^ = on 27.11.09 at 2:42 pm
I doubt they really use much energy. But if you’re worried about it you can get these things called a tap light that sticks to the wall, you just tap it and comes on. They’re battery powered and the batteries last a loooonnnnggg time (I have one in my closet). You could also get one of those flashlights that you shake (no batteries required) and keep it by your bed.
Posted by grizzbr1 on 27.11.09 at 2:42 pm
Yes they are energy drainers, but if you need light in dark places they are pretty much the only way to go. When you are shopping for articles like nightlights, just look for the one that uses the least electricity. There may be more efficient nightlights than you are using.
If hubby is so obsessed, tell him to go to the hardware store and buy a solar powered camping light. Of course the 50 cents you save each year is going to take a long time to pay for it.
Posted by peacepusher on 27.11.09 at 2:42 pm
My husband uses those darn things everywhere, too. I think I know my house well enough to find my way around in the dark. Have you heard about this new research finding that breast cancer is caused by not getting enough total hours of darkness per day? They say that a breast cancer fighting chemical is released while we are in the dark. As soon as we are exposed to light, that chemical turns off, and won’t work again for the rest of the night. I think TVs, night lights and bathroom lights will turn off that chemical that fights breast cancer. I’ll try to link the link. Gotta go, get some dark.
Posted by savide2000 on 27.11.09 at 2:42 pm
u can check with some energy saving tips at http://www.power-saver.blogspot.com
Posted by sage.moons on 27.11.09 at 2:42 pm
I believe they must drain some energy - but not enough for hubby to have a cow over (unless you have like 50 of them burning around the home!)
I like my nightlights, - and at one time, had 7 in the home (one in each room) In order to be more ‘energy conscious’, I have donated all but two…one in the bathroom, one in the kitchen. I have learned to deal with it.
When I am spending the night somewhere else, I take along a solar flash light. That helps.