CFL bulbs - why should I use them?

[Macaela25]

Are the savings really worth the cost?

I know the pros and cons with the environment and "going green" per se. I need it broken down for me in dollars and cents, though, 'cause that's my primary learning modality! I've seen the claims that they save you hundreds of $$ in electricity over the course of a year, but I'm a tough sell since we've got a large box of new light bulbs that I got for next to nothing. I can always sell those in a yard sale, though.

So, my bottom line...is the initial investment of close to $100 going to really save me all that much money in the short term (next year or two)? Has anyone really seen a significant drop in their electric bill after switching?

[katncaed]

Unless you have a ton of lights, it shouldn't cost you $100 to replace all your bulbs. The CFL will save you quite a bit of money. We dropped our electricity bill by about 30% after changing all the bulbs. You can buy them at hardware stores in contractor packs for about $1.00 a piece. I did it over time. There is no need to waste perfectly good light bulbs. They also last a very long time.

Here is the math. A typical 40 watt light bulb uses the same amount of electricity as an average refrigerator. So, if you have 10 light bulbs burning in your house right now, it's like having 10 refrigerators plugged it. That is why California passed a law to make incondecent bulbs illegal in a few years. If you had the same 10 CFL bulb's that were rated at the same lumens as a 40 watt incondecent bulb, you'd be burning the same as (1) 60 watt light bulb, or a refridgerator and a half.

Hope that helps. It really is worth the extra upfront cost, plus a CFL bulb will usually last around 2-3 years. Some will last longer. The killer for the CFL bulb is turning the off and on. We have CFL's in our bathroom, which has an automatic motion sensor that really doesn't work that well. The bulbs in there only last about a year and a half. On the other hand, the bulbs that are in the kitchen I have yet to replace. It's been about 4 years already.

And just in case you are wondering, I think going "green" is a waste of good brain cells. Saving money? Now that's a different story.

[summermay]

I have one of these bulbs over my kitchen sink. It's been there since April 2007. This lights burns all night everynight. I don't know what my actual saving is but I do know I use to have to change that bulb all the time. I know they cost more at first but seems to me to be worth it.

[MrsPinecone]

I'd say it's worth it. Our bill dropped by about $10 a month (it was only about $35 to start with) and they last FOREVER. We are not living in our own house most of the time, so we leave a light on. We've had the ones in the LR burning 24 hours a day for about a year and not replaced them yet.

It shouldn't cost too much to replace them all... look for sales and coupons. I know Home Depot does sales on the multipacks.

[mary1222]

I haven't noticed a change in cost. Then again, electricity has been climbing for years. I have 3 ceiling fans, one chandelier, bar lights in bathroom, and light fixtures that takes 2 bulbs a piece. I have bought these at Sam's and 8 bulbs cost about $15. Yes, it saves money in the long run by supposedly saving electricity (like I said I haven't seen the savings) and not buying so many bulbs.

I do my part by going "green". I hope to see the savings when everyone goes green.

[billig]

Just start by changing the bulbs that are on the most.

Remember, don't throw out CFL bulbs...they MUST be recycled.
They contain mercury....so much for being green!

[sbp]

They do need to be recycled which makes them an inconvenience when they do go out, but I noticed last week that our closest hardware store (Aubuchon) will recycle them for us, so that's a help. maybe other hardware chains will as well.

[hometeacher7]

I asked my husband if I should start buying them and he told me not to until I absolutely had to. He went on to say that because of the mercury in them, if they are broken in the house the Hazardous Materials Team should actually come out to clean up the air. There is that much mercury in them!! With 7 kids and a husband that loves to rough house with them, I will stick with the old kind. It's all about the government wanting more money from us.:frown:

[choka162]

I love mine! I've seen a definite improvement in my bill and still haven't replaced any yet. The only downside I've seen is that they don't work with dimmer switches and they take a minute to get warmed up. That bugged me at first, but I don't even notice it now.

Actually Duke Energy sends us coupons for them-we just haven't needed to buy any yet ^_^

[Kristen.C]

I asked my husband if I should start buying them and he told me not to until I absolutely had to. He went on to say that because of the mercury in them, if they are broken in the house the Hazardous Materials Team should actually come out to clean up the air. There is that much mercury in them!! With 7 kids and a husband that loves to rough house with them, I will stick with the old kind. It's all about the government wanting more money from us.:frown:

That's not entirely true. While they do contain mercury and should be handled with care, you do not need to dispatch a haz-mat team to the home should one happen to break. The EPA website has detailed instructions for you to follow should you have an accident.