Flipping off (lights)?

Question

This is a long standing arguement between my wife and me.She says leave they lights on,I say shut them off when not in use.Her reason is that she says that turning the lights on uses more power than leaving them on.I say that leaving lights on uses power is using power,regardless.Mythbusters proved my side right,but I can't find the episode.She says the power company taught her in a class she is right.Who has the right answer?

Answer 1

Clearly your wife didn't catch on in class THEY ARE OUT FOR THE MONEY!. Hello of course they are going to tell you something silly like that to burn a whole in your pocket! So you are the right one

Answer 2

you know I'm no expert but i would have to go with turn off the lights and you will save more power if you thank about it if you leave your lights on all night you will use a lot of power and if thy are off all night you aren't using any power and the small amount of power used to turn on your lights will not even be close to the power you saved all night by having you lights off.

Answer 3

It was on Mythbusters and they tested all forms of electric lights.  They all showed a different spike in power use when being turned on, but leveled out in less than a few fractions of a second.  Turning them off is far better way to save electricity.

Of course the power company will tell you to leave the lights on... how do you think they pay their shareholders?  

Oil companies tell you to drive everywhere in big SUV's because using massive amounts of gas will keep the price down because of discounts in volume sales....  UH, not!

Reality is that you aren't going to win that one, no matter how much information you give her, it will just "P**S" her off and she will just attend more power company classes to prove you wrong.  So say "She wins" and just keep turning the lights off when she isn't looking and you will be much happier in the long run.  

Good luck!

Answer 4

You are right however turning fluoresced lights on and off shortens their life greatly.

Like in a motion activated light fixture.

Answer 5

You tube it. You are right.

Answer 6

Leaving the lights on, would use more power!

Answer 7

You are correct.  Have a look at the source I have listed below.