Do Dimmer Switches Save Electricity? A Guide to Using Dimmers

Saving electricity almost always leads to saving money — and we all want to save money.

With a few simple changes around the house, you could be saving electricity while decreasing your bill. 

Sound like a win-win?

This guide will tell you everything you want to know about using dimmers in your home.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Dimmer Switch? 

• Do Light Dimmers Reduce Power Consumption? 

• How Much Electricity Could Dimmers Save?

• How Could Dimmers Save Money?

• What Types of Bulbs Can Be Used With Dimmers to Save Electricity? 

• Which Type of Dimmers Help Save the Most Electricity?

• Analog Dimmers vs. Digital Dimmers vs. Smart Dimmers: What’s the Difference?

• Which Type of Dimmers Help Save the Most Electricity?

• Where Are Dimmer Switches Most Valuable?

• Gexa Energy Offers Affordable Electricity Plans That Match Your Lifestyle and Budget  

What Is a Dimmer Switch?

A dimmer switch is used to dim or reduce the amount of brightness emitted from a light source. 

Dimmers are typically small devices attached to the light switch that you can turn like a knob or adjust by moving up and down. 

Dimmers work by reducing the amount of electric current used to power the light, thus lowering the brightness.

Do Light Dimmers Reduce Power Consumption? 

Dimmers have been around for a while.

When they first hit the market, dimmers would decrease the brightness by transforming excess energy into heat. 

Those dimmers did not reduce power consumption because they did not decrease the total amount of energy used; it was simply transformed. 

Dimmers today may help actually reduce the amount of energy needed to power the light — therefore reducing overall power consumption.

Today, dimmers are known to put lights under less stress and result in an extended life span of the light bulb.

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How Much Electricity Do Dimmers Save?

The amount of electricity saved depends on several factors. 

Some of them include:

• Frequency of light use
• Extent of dimming
• Type of bulb used

Traditional light bulbs would transform 90% of energy into heat. All of that heat was money wasted. 

Between new light bulbs and devices like dimmers, consumers are finding that they are using significantly less energy and spending less money on their electricity bills. 

How Do Dimmers Save Money?

As a consumer, you can make several lighting decisions that could save money. Using dimmer switches in your home is one of them. 

Dimmers could save money by:

• Decreasing energy usage

• Extending the life of bulbs

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Decreased Energy Usage

Dimmers are one of the simplest ways that could help reduce energy usage in your home. 

By decreasing the number of electrical currents going to power a light bulb, energy consumption is dramatically reduced. 

It is important to note that energy savings will generally depend on the type of light bulb used. 

For example, dimming LED lights are one of the most energy-efficient light sources on the market.

Extended Life of Lightbulbs 

There are more energy-efficient bulbs on the market now than there have ever been.

By using a dimmer switch, you can expect to significantly extend the life of your light bulbs.

Not every dimmer switch works the same way. The effect one dimmer switch has on a bulb’s life can differ from the effect of another switch. 

Generally, the effect on the bulb’s life comes down to:

• The electrical system you have at home

• The voltage 

While dimmers are known to extend a bulb’s life, other factors contribute to the lifespan of a light bulb. 

Some of them include: 

• Size of bulb

• Wattage

• Internal wiring

• Base type

• Heat levels

Light bulbs are given an ARL, or Average Rated Life, that takes all of these factors into account. The ARL decreases as a light bulb is turned on and off. 

The less you turn on and off a light, the better. 

What Types of Bulbs Can Be Used With Dimmers to Help Save Electricity? 

Different light bulbs can produce varying levels of electricity reduction. 

To maximize energy savings, you will want to consider the different kinds of light bulbs to use with dimmers. In terms of choices when it comes to lighting, there are several. 

The most common types of light bulbs are:

• Halogen bulbs 

• CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) bulbs; and 

• LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs 

All of these types of bulbs work with a dimmer switch. 

It is important to note, however, that some light bulbs do not work with dimmer switches.

Before purchasing light bulbs, be sure that they are one of these (Halogen, CFL, or LED) and that they are dimmable because using non-dimmable bulbs with a dimmer switch could be dangerous. 

Halogen Bulbs

Halogen bulbs are a type of incandescent lamp. They have a capsule inside that “holds a special halogen gas composition around the heated filament to increase the efficacy of the incandescence.”

As mentioned, most halogen bulbs work well with dimmers. You will find compatibility notated on the packaging of the bulb. 

CFL Bulbs

Compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, are bulbs you likely already have around your house. Fluorescent lights are often used in kitchens or garages to provide a large amount of light. 

In recent years, these lamps have become more compact and they only use roughly one-fourth of the energy of an incandescent bulb. 

Compared to a halogen incandescent bulb, CFLs use one-third the amount of energy and are more likely to save on electricity costs. 

LED Bulbs

LEDs have grown in popularity over the years – and for good reason. 

These bulbs are widely available and known for their energy-saving qualities. For example, LED bulbs compared to halogen incandescent bulbs:

• Use roughly one-third the amount of energy

• Last 8 to 25 times longer

LED bulbs are usually more expensive than other similar bulbs. However, most consumers find that they still save money with LEDs because of their long lifespan and low energy use.

Analog Dimmers vs. Digital Dimmers vs. Smart Dimmers: What’s the Difference?

Along with the different types of light bulbs to be mindful of, there are multiple types of dimmers to consider before buying. 

There are three major categories of dimmers:

1. Analog dimmers

2. Digital dimmers

3. Smart dimmers

While each type varies in obvious ways, the most important difference comes down to lifestyle compatibility. 

Many consumers are adopting smart dimmer technology. With smart dimmers, you can control the dimming from an app on your mobile device, making it easy to control the light output from anywhere in or outside of your home.

If you prefer to keep it simple, traditional analog dimmers are still just as effective and easy to use as they were when they first hit the market. 

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Which Type of Dimmers Can Help Save the Most Electricity?

As each house is different, so are the dimmers. It is difficult to say which dimmer on the market today is going to deliver the most savings on electricity and money. 

You can find a list of “The 7 Best Dimmer Switches of 2021” here and read about some of the dimmers available on the market today. 

The list covers:

• Best overall dimmers
• Best smart dimmers 
• Best for bedrooms
• Best for LED
• Best for CFL
• Best plug-in
• Best dimmers for a tight budget 

Where Are Dimmer Switches Most Valuable?

As we know, the Average Rated Life (ARL) of a light bulb decreases the more the light bulb is turned on and off. 

Therefore, to maximize energy savings, it makes the most sense to place dimmers in high traffic areas or areas where lights are turned on and off the most frequently. 

High-traffic parts of the house will vary depending on your lifestyle. 

Examples of high-traffic areas include:

• Dining room

• Living room

• Kitchen

• Hallways

For example, individuals working from home may find themselves spending more time in the dining room or living room or wherever their workspace is stationed. 

Areas that use the most light throughout the day are places where dimmer switches may be most beneficial. 

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