Light up your house with LEDs, and other tips to slash your electric bill

Replacing your incandescent and florescent bulbs with LED lights can trim the amount of power your home consumes. A 60-watt equivalent LED light, for example, might only use 6.5 to 8.5 watts for comparable lumens — not to mention LEDs can last considerably longer, which saves you even more money. Sure, LED bulbs cost more, but consider this: without any sales or rebates, a 4-pack of Philips LED A19 bulbs costs about $8, or $2 per 8.5-watt bulb, which consumes 1/7th the electricity of a 60-watt bulb. Lifespan is more than 10 years, says Philips, while some of its other bulbs should last more than 20 years.