Posted on 10/14/2006 3:37:44 PM PDT by soccer_maniac
If every household in America changed just one traditional light bulb to a energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb at home, combined efforts would save 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year or $526 million a year in electric expenses. This would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.
CFL light bulbs use 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs and last up to ten times longer. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent with a 13-watt CFL can save consumers at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. CFLs last longer and come in different sizes and shapes to fit almost any fixture. Additionally, CFLs produce about 70% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs, so they are safer to operate.
(Excerpt) Read more at doe.gov ...
Take the "Change a Light" Pledge
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=cal.showPledge
157,055 people like you have taken this important step. Collectively, they have pledged to change 320,965 bulbs. That means we will avoid using 90,512,130 kWh of energy and prevent 142,829,425 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions.
We are already about 50-50 in our home.
We use 'em, but they don't seem to last much longer than regular bulbs.
Please provide the stock symbols for the companies that manufacture these CFL devices. I want to catch this wave of altruistic opportunity ;)
Exactly. Fluoresents are overrated. They claim 30,000 or more hours and don't last anywhere near that long. They also take longer to come on. If the built-in ballast fails it can't be replaced. At the extra cost you don't save enough in energy to justify them.
I bought the n:vision brand from Home Depot and haven't had any problems yet.
I've only been buying compact flourescent bulbs for some time for my fixtures where they'll fit and replacing the old bulbs as they burn out. There are only a few conventional bulbs left in my home. I'm now starting to look for the LED bulbs which are supposed to be even better.
I do keep a couple of conventional lamps for specific purposes where they actually do a better job illuminating things (I've got eye surgery coming up again this year... some of these issues matter to me). I also have halogen for a couple of applications. It's about using the right tools for the intended use.
ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs:
* Use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer.
* Save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb's lifetime
* Generate 70 percent less heat, so they're safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
* In addition to other quality requirements, must turn on instantly, produce no sound, and fall within a warm color range or be otherwise labeled as providing cooler color tones.
* Are available in different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture, for indoors and outdoors.
I gave up watching CNN. Have not notice much of a savings though.
I'm still using the ones I bought years ago...
What? Are you hitting them with a hammer or what? Take them back and demand a refund. My most heavily used regular bulbs lasted about 3 months. Fluorescents I bought over over 2 years ago are still kicking in the same fixtures. None have burned out yet. I have lower electric bills. I can't give an exact amount since I have been phasing them in for a couple years.
I bought a bunch of these, but they do not fit into the tangs of my lamp shades. Plus, they do not have the wattage that we need for reading lamps.
Where's the wick?
There's a downside. If you want IMMEDIATE light, don't get them. They take a significant time to warm up, meanwhile you're fumbling around in the dark. It takes less time to prime and trim an old-fashioned kerosene lamp (but then on the other hand I've never seen a fluorescent bulb explode.)
I got a bunch of the "Commercial Electric" brand from Home Depot when they were new and on special. The lighting is bright and not yellowish and they come on without delay. A couple of them have died prematurely but most are doing fine. A good buy, IMO.
They come on right away but they take about 20 seconds to reach full brightness when cool. I can live with that for the savings.
At the extra cost you don't save enough in energy to justify them.
Buy them in large packages at Home Depot and do the math. I save or I wouldn't buy them. I have about 20 of them in my house.
Uh, huh. Then, after we've saved gazillions in energy expenditures, do anyone think we'll actually reduce our energy consumption or achieve independence from foreign sources?
Nope.
Economic survey says: people will consume more if they realize savings in what they already consume.
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