In this article, I will detail why candles are not necessarily cheaper than lights and why you would want to avoid using them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow Many Candles Can Light a Room?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scented candles are a great way to freshen the home. Unscented<\/a> or scented candles can generate heat and add a warm glow to any room. But how many candles would you have to light in order for that glow to be as effective as a light bulb?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 800 lumens is the average amount of light produced by a standard 60 watt light bulb. One candle produces under 20 lumens of light energy. So it would take at least 40 candles to produce that same amount of light as one 60 watt light bulb.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more: How Many Lumens is a Candle<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because it\u2019s possible to light a room using candles, does that mean that we should? Lighting and maintaining 40 candles would not only be tiring but also unsafe and frustrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some disadvantages of using candles as a light source:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Candles can only be lit for up to four hours at a time. You would either have to rotate candle usage by lighting a certain number at a time, extinguishing them after four hours, and then lighting another set of candles. Or you would have to do without a light source after the four hour period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s more difficult to see what\u2019s in front of you. Candles give off some light but not enough to help you as you\u2019re working, studying or eating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The amount of light generated by candles is as low as the quality of light generated. For instance, if you\u2019re trying to read a book, you might want a cool light that energizes you and helps you stay awake as you read. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Candlelight is a warm yellow and might cause you to feel sleepy and doze off as you read. Not only does this interfere with productivity. It would be unsafe for you to fall asleep, even for a little while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It would also be annoying and expensive to have to light forty candles in order to read or carry out other necessary activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, the average electricity rate in the United States is 15 cents per kilowatt hour nationwide. By region, the Northeast is the highest at 19 cents per kilowatt. The lowest rate is in the South, averaging about 13 cents per kilowatt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Energy efficient LED light bulbs<\/a>, giving off 800 lumens can cost under $20 for a pack of 12 bulbs. These 9 watt bulbs are equivalent to a standard 60 watt bulb. Each bulb can last close to 14 years if used three hours per day. It\u2019s estimated that you would pay a little over $1 USD per year using one light bulb for over 1,000 hours.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course using more light bulbs and for extended periods of time will definitely increase the cost. But using the entire pack of bulbs for three hours a day would add less than $15 to an electric bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Candles, on the other hand, are more expensive. <\/strong>While there are some outliers, the average cost of a large scented candle<\/a> is $20 USD. Depending on how it’s made, it might burn about 90 hours. Forty of them would cost at least $800 USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get a set of 12 unscented medium-sized pillar candles<\/a> for about $3 USD each, or about $36 USD total. Each candle burns for about 33 hours for a total of 396 hours. But keep in mind that you\u2019d need about 40 of them in order to be able to see well. You total then soars to over $100 for the minimal number of candles needed to be able to function normally.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In either case, you\u2019ll be paying much more for candles than you would light bulbs. Granted, it\u2019s true that when using a light bulb, you must also have a light fixture and those prices vary widely. Even so, you can select a fixture that\u2019s still more economical than the cost of repeatedly purchasing candles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of these prices will vary by region, country, and so forth. But even so, you it\u2019s less economical to light your home with candles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we use electricity as a light source, we\u2019re able to turn lights off and on as we need them. Candles are less versatile. They have to stay lit for a minimum amount of time, depending on their width. If not, you can significantly reduce its total burn time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you rely on candles for light, you can\u2019t enter a room, light a candle for ten minutes, and then blow out the flame. <\/strong>That candle will begin tunneling in no time. All of the wax will build up on the sides of the container or if it’s a molded pillar candle, it will become a hollow pillar candle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Short burn intervals might work with tapered candles. But they still may not burn neatly over time if they\u2019re consistently lit and blown out. They can also begin dripping or slouching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can\u2019t really \u201cturn on\u201d a candle when you need it. There are too many other factors involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another inconvenience is that you can\u2019t light a candle, leave it lit, and then walk out of the room to tend to other things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Candles must be monitored at all times. You may leave the room, and then forget that you have the candle lit. This can lead to all kinds of problems.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wax may melt and begin dripping off of the shelf that it\u2019s sitting on. There might be something hanging over the flame that catches fire. This may sound dramatic, but actually is the cause of 60% of house fires<\/a> due to candles.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A pet might accidentally knock the candle over, causing a fire. A child might stumble upon the candle and get burned or mistakenly knock it off the table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your candle is in a cheap container that overheats, it can shatter and create a mess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are so many potentially hazardous situations that can arise from using candles as a light source that it\u2019s not even worth the risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the National Fire Prevention Association<\/a>, 2% of reported candle home fires were caused by candles. <\/strong>And 3% of home fire deaths are due to candles. They cause 6% of injuries and 4% of the property damage from house fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You would need to light multiple candles in order for them to provide a sufficient amount of light. And candles generate heat<\/a>. It may not be as much heat as the heating system in your home, but it\u2019s warmth nonetheless. If you live in a warmer climate or if it\u2019s a warm season where you live, relying on forty or more candles for light might cause the room to get too hot. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Warm nights can get sticky and uncomfortable during the summer months. Lighting lots of candles might only add to the misery. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDisadvantages of Using Candles as a Light Source?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Limited Operating Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Harder to See<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Less Economical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s Inconvenient<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s Hazardous<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It May Be Too Hot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Increased Use Leads to Higher Potential for Error<\/h3>\n\n\n\n