Now that we are moving through the fall season (and winter will soon be upon us), it seems as though the sun is setting earlier and earlier every day. I find myself turning on more lights and sooner in the day. It dawned on me that this is when I usually start to see a spike in my electric bill.

I never used to think much about the kinds of light bulbs I had in my fixtures, only that they worked when I flipped on the switch! Then I started reading more and more about energy saving bulbs and how they would help me save money. Trying to become frugal in all areas, I set out to research more.

There are new compact fluorescent lights, or CFLS,  that mimic the style and shape of traditional bulbs, so they’ll fit into almost any fixture and décor. Fluorescents will save you money, but how much money depends upon several factors, says Cynthia Myers from The Nest.

Wondering if changing a few light bulbs is REALLY going to save you money? “Fluorescent bulbs use about 25 percent less electricity to provide the same light as comparable incandescent bulbs. When you shop for fluorescent bulbs, look for bulbs that say they are equivalent to 40-, 60- or 100-watt incandescent bulbs. You can also compare lumens, or the amount of light the bulb emits. For example, an 18-watt fluorescent bulb, provides 1,100 lumens, or about the same amount of lumens as a 75-watt incandescent bulb. Bulb wattage refers to the amount of electricity needed to keep the bulb on for an hour. In this case, the fluorescent bulb uses 57 fewer watts per hour than the incandescent bulb. If you leave the bulb on for 100 hours a month, you’ll use 57 fewer kilowatts. Check your electric bill for the amount you pay per kilowatt and multiply this by 57 to learn how much you’ll save per month by replacing one light bulb. Do this for all the bulbs you replace to arrive at your potential savings.”

Read more about other lighting considerations here and check out Money Crashers on 11 Ways to Reduce and Save Money on Your Utility Bills.