Q: Is it better, or cheaper, to turn the lights and TV off or leave them on when leaving the room for a few minutes? Isn’t it more costly, at some point, to get things fired up again?
— George Csepegi
Lake Township
A: The re-energization required to turn on lights and other electrical devices is so insignificant that it adds almost nothing to the energy draw, said Tom Reddoch, executive director of energy utilization for the Electric Power Research Institute. You’ll always save energy by turning them off, even for short periods, he said.
However, Reddoch noted that in the case of compact fluorescent lights, the money you save in energy use could be offset by a shorter bulb life. Research shows that the more a CFL is turned off and on, the shorter its life becomes.
The U.S. Energy Star program recommends leaving a CFL on for at least 15 minutes at a time to prevent shortening its lifespan significantly.
Have a question about home maintenance, decorating or gardening? Akron Beacon Journal home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge will find answers for the queries that are chosen to appear in the paper. To submit a question, call her at 330-996-3756, or send email to mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com. Be sure to include your full name, your town and your phone number or email address.
