Do you sit in the dark?

dunstonh

Most of the bulbs in our house are modern 2w and 4w bulbs.  (Phillips range at that level give out greater luminance than the cheap chinese stuff on amazon).   Yet we still turn off the lights in rooms not in use and we watch nightime TV in the dark.  The log fire gives off enough light along with the TV.

Cirrus1

A definite no to sitting in the dark watching tv, I’m too fond of my Hue bulbs! We just tell Alexa to execute a routine for tv lights and hey presto, light temperature and brightness are changed. We get a nice cosy level for tv.

70sbudgie

We have a dimmable light in the lounge and will dim the light level to be appropriate to what we're watching (it it is a dark film, the light sometimes goes completely off). But we also turn the lights off in the rooms we're not in and have thick curtains, so I imagine that it could look like we're sitting in the dark.

I have also started leaving the curtains closed in the day if it is a bit grey and miserable outside. I figure that the curtains keep in more warmth than we'd get from solar gain and use from the
LED lights. 

theoretica

Sometimes I do, on the computer.  I find it is much nicer since the streetlight outside my window died...

eliza2811

I have warm white fairy lights above my mantelpiece all year round. These are on when watching TV if its dark outside with curtains closed. Main light isn't on. It's always been like this, even before the price rises. 

I have a pure black cat who likes to sit/lay on the floor... Need I say more 🐈‍⬛  I won't be paying any bills if I trip over her, break a bone and can't work!! 

fatbelly

sevenhills said:

Perhaps I am different, but we used to have 100w bulbs.
I generally watch TV with two LED bulbs lighting the room, the kitchen light often on, with two adult children upstairs leaving on any lights they can.

You can get 100w equivalents of conventional LED bulbs - they draw 13W

But no ultra efficient versions yet

Boat_to_Bolivia

I've been out this evening. On returning home I briefly put the light on in the bathroom. I was going to go to bed, but a late coffee meant I fired up my laptop instead. No other lights though. 

FreeBear

Sea_Shell said:

Only when it gets dark around us as we're watching TV, and neither can be bothered to get up!! 😉

"Alexa - Turn on the lights"

Or if your phone is to hand, download an app, and have control at your fingertips (OK, you need smart bulbs/switches...).

Spoonie_Turtle

dealyboy said:

... what does it look like ? https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-low-energy-bulb-2d-28w-4pin-1pk/p/0434678 ?

💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡💡

Yep, that's the type.  The bathroom is probably the room with the most lighting use because of various health conditions, so running a 28W bulb in it whereas every other room with less lighting time using ~6-11W is a bit galling.

ariarnia said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

dealyboy said:

Let's be honest, we're all on our laptops posting away trying to knock the MSE servers over 

Yeah, but with or without a light on?

[Actually about half our bulbs are CFLs but we don't have many and they don't use vast amounts of power, and the payback period of buying new LEDs means it doesn't really make sense to replace before the end of their life.  The worst one though that I desperately want to replace is a 4-pin 28W bathroom light, but can't find an LED alternative ]

something like this? 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/luceco-gr10q-4-pin-2d-led-light-bulb-750lm-6-5w/3810X

Interesting, thank you!  The higher lumen option looked quite promising but alas the reviews are dreadful   it is heartening to see that some LED versions DO exist, though, so I shall resume my search with renewed motivation

Alnat1 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

[Actually about half our bulbs are CFLs but we don't have many and they don't use vast amounts of power, and the payback period of buying new LEDs means it doesn't really make sense to replace before the end of their life.  The worst one though that I desperately want to replace is a 4-pin 28W bathroom light, but can't find an LED alternative ]

Try www.tlc-direct.co.uk although I found several different styles available, so not quite sure what yours is.

Thanks, I will

wild666

sevenhills said:

When I am out walking my dog, during darkness, I notice that many houses are in darkness.
I assume that most people are at home, perhaps watching TV with very little lighting on.
I do turn lights off, when not in use, but I always watch the TV with the light on.

I use the PC for just about all my usage except for a bit of gaming twice per week on the TV and Xbox, I only use lights when I am cooking, if it's too dark, all other times there are no lights on. I find that watching shows on the PC produces enough light from the monitor to keep the lights off.