I've that if a light bulb is turned off and on, it would be cost
beneficial to have left the light on instead of switching it on/off. 
If that's true, how long does the bulb have to be off to the equal
savings?  Thank you.

Hello birkett7-ga,

When I read this question, I knew this was a job for The Straight
Dope, a column that has answered such interesting questions for 30
years.  (When it's a question that a lot of people might have, I turn
first to The Straight Dope.)

And indeed, here is the answer to the questions "Isn't it harder on
the generator to shut off a light for five minutes and then turn it
back than just leaving it on?  Also, isn't it true that it takes more
electricity to turn the lights on and off frequently than just to
leave them on?"  The short answer is that it saves money to turn off
incandescent bulbs when not in use, and to turn off fluorescent bulbs
if they will not be in use for 15 minutes.

"To save energy, should you turn lights off or leave them on?",
answered by Cecil Adams
The Straight Dope
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_249.html

Here is a shorter answer from GE that comes to the same conclusion.

"FAQs: Environment/Energy/Safety: Is it more energy efficient to leave
a lamp on or to turn it off?"
GE Lighting North America
http://www.gelighting.com/na/faq/faq_eneffic.html

I hope that this information is helpful.

- justaskscott-ga


Search strategy:

Searched on The Straight Dope for:

"light bulb"

Searched on Google for:

"light bulb" energy on off