One flick of a switch and you fill your home with light and add around 15% to your electricity bills. However, we cannot walk around in the dark so the best option is to invest in some energy efficient light bulbs.

These can be installed at any time and, although they are more expensive than traditional bulbs, they can save you up to ten times the cost of the lamp over its lifetime. You will get the most benefit from them if you put them in rooms where the bulb is left on for at least 4 hours - for example a child’s bedroom or a hall way.

a variety of low energy light bulbs

low energy bulb designed to resemble a normal one

These bulbs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, fittings and wattage, so you should be able to replace all your current bulbs with energy efficient models. Most big supermarkets, DIY stores and lighting specialists stock a good range. Also look out for promotions from your local utility company.