Switch to CFLs and Save
Thursday June 21, 2007
Compact Fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)--those crazy, spiral-shaped bulbs--are touted as being the energy saver of all energy savers, but just how much energy can a light bulb save? By way of an answer, consider these statistics from onemillionbulbs.com:
- A CFL bulb uses 65-75% less energy than an incandescent bulb.
- An incandescent bulb last 1,000 hours; a CFL bulb lasts 10,000 hours
- Switching out one bulb amounts to a savings of more than $88 over the life of the bulb
Bring Home the Savings
Statistics are impressive; but admittedly, they're not unique to you and your situation. For more personalized data, try out the bulb savings calculator designed by Environmental Defense. Just answer a few simple questions, and it'll tell you how much you can expect to save.
but what about the mercury in the CFL? most people are not going to recycle them in a safe manner, they’re just going to throw them out with the trash
The mercury scare is perpetuated by the same ostriches who say we will starve if biofuel is put into wide distribution. Use your heads, people. Why are corn growers subsidized by the fed gov’t now? They turn around & stockpile it to await better prices! Why is high fructose corn syrup put into foods that have no reason to be sweetened if corn is so scarce? As far as the CFLs, how often will they be thrown out? I have one that has been burning 24/7 in my basement for 8 years!
I heard of a woman who broke one in her daughter’s bedroom. It cost her $2,000 to have the mercury cleaned up.
This story of the $2000 clean-up is not accurate. Please check this site for the facts:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp
Whenever my Mom puts those bulbs in her house they end up bursting within a month.
how do I use a fluorescent bulb if I need a dimmable light source?
Whoa, have never heard about them breaking. That’s sure news to me. I have one in nearly every room, and I like the darn things, they put off no heat and do save money. Heads up, I found some at my local Aldi’s last week for $2.49 each, which is a lot better than the original $5.99 I paid for one a few years ago. They’re supposed to last forever, so we’ll see. My oldest one is 3 years old now.
If you put the bulb in an older house with older wiring, expect them to fizzle faster. For us it wasn’t a matter of the cost of the bulbs (and we buy from Ikea who recycle them for us and they are very cheap there) but the fact that at every apartment I’ve lived in, replacing the bulbs with these little wonders dropped $100+ off my electric bill. Every. Single. Time.
Worth it in my opion!
Sandy