You husband was wrong saying these words to the son. But you....

You probably should not force your hu*****and to turn off the light in the basement, even if it wasts some electricity ( I guess it won't cost more than 10 c for a couple of hours).

Think of this: you are tired after working for a whole week, lazily lying in sofa watching TV, someone keeps complaining bebind you: go to the basement and turn off the light, now... 

What do you feel? he certainly can do it when he gets up and before he goes to bed. It is a very small thing.

That's why how a Huang Lian Po is developed :)