Challenge 2: Give your bulbs a break

Once you're decked out with your new bulbs:

1/ Get in the habit of switching off when you leave the room. If you're a sticker kind of person, try printing some of these (pdf) on some of this. Or for something a bit different, go for the 3D look.

2/ If you're feeling adventurous, take a look at motion-activated or timer switches for hallways and bathrooms.

Exceptions

It's almost always better to turn lights off when you're not in a room, but there are just a couple of exceptions:

• Because switching bulbs on and off shortens their lifespan, it might best to leave the switch alone if you're only popping to the kitchen for another gin and tonic a nice cup of tea.

• If you're out going out for the evening, it's recommended that you leave a lamp (with a low energy bulb, naturally) on in a street-facing room to deter burglars. Put it on a timer to switch off at bedtime.