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By: Sommer | September 28, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if every household in the United States replaced just ONE regular incandescent light bulb with an Energy Star approved compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) we’d save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.  Now that’s all well and good, but come on, let’s be realistic here. How does that really apply to you and me?

I used the Energy Department’s lighting cost calculator* to see how much money my family might save if we replaced all our light bulbs with CFL’s. I tried to do a rough count in my head and I think we have around 25 light bulbs in our townhouse. So, after the cost of new light bulbs (estimated at $3.50 each) we’d save about $134 in the first year.

Now, I have to be honest that I was a little disappointed by that small dollar amount. Especially since we live in a housing co-op and split our utility bills with the other 159 homes in the neighborhood. Our family won’t directly see any of the benefit so what’s the use, right? There has to be a way we could save some money from this, though, so next I calculated the cost difference if all 160 homes in our community replaced their estimated 25 incandescent bulbs with new CFL’s, too. If everyone changes their bulbs we’re bound to see a difference, right? Right! After the first year, our co-op would save more than $35,000 just in electric bills!!! Now that seems like a bargain! Even if the co-op coughed up the money and purchased all 4,000 CFL’s for the homes to make sure everyone switched them out we’d still save around $21,000 the first year. Even better, over the estimated 6,000 hour lifetime of the 4,000 CFL’s we’d save $158,000! And that’s just in our little corner of Falls Church, VA. Imagine the impact we’d have if all 100 million households in the U.S. chipped in and did their part. The results would be astounding – maybe even $600 million dollars!

*The calculator is a Microsoft Excel document so if you don’t have Excel you won’t be able to open the link.

| Comments [16] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: conservation   energy   home   money   sommer  

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I'd like some help with the controversial aspect of the mercury in these lightbulbs. Proper disposal could certainly mitigate that but how do you get users of these bulbs to also do proper disposal?

Posted by librarian on September 28, 2007 at 10:41 AM EDT #

I was motivated by _An Inconvenient Truth_ to start investing in fluorescent bulbs but quickly hit a practical snag -- most fluorescent bulbs available for sale by the big chain stores are too big! Not that the screw-in end is the wrong size, but that the bulb is too long to fit under the glass covers on my ceiling light fixtures. Any ideas why fluorescent bulbs would have to be made larger than incandescent bulbs?

Posted by Scott Casper on September 28, 2007 at 02:27 PM EDT #

Thanks for bringing this up Librarian. You’re right; CFL’s do contain a small amount of mercury – about 5 milligrams in each bulb (enough to cover the tip of a ball point pen). Although mercury is an essential component in these bulbs, manufacturers are currently taking steps to reduce the amount.

Some communities have laws banning disposal of CFL’s in the regular trash and therefore require recycling or disposal with hazardous waste. In communities that don’t ban CFL’s in the regular trash, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends wrapping the used bulb in two plastic grocery sacks and then disposing them with your other household waste.

I found a couple additional resources with information about bulb disposal.
1. The Environmental Protection Agency offers a site that lists local recyclers of mercury-containing bulbs [http://www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling/].
2. Energy Star also offers a fact sheet with proper disposal and tips on clean up in case of a break [http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/
change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf].

I hope this additional information is helpful.

- Sommer

Posted by Sommer on September 28, 2007 at 02:41 PM EDT #

Mr. Casper,
I've not experienced the bulbs being too large for my fixtures. The bulbs come in various shapes and sizes -- even ones that look exactly like incandescent bulbs. Good luck on finding ones that work for you!
- Sommer

Posted by Sommer on September 28, 2007 at 02:58 PM EDT #

I hate those bulbs. Can't use them in a ceiling fan (they instantly burn out, we found), and although they are advertised as lasting longer than old-fashioned bulbs, in our house, at least, they always seem to die quicker.

Posted by christine on September 28, 2007 at 05:25 PM EDT #

So you want the people to do the heavy lifting eh?

By changing light bulbs? Why not walk for treats?

Instead of driving to buy ice cream, walk.

How about industry, those lit up office towers, decorative lighting, swimming pools, and my least favorite of all, those arrogant garish Christmas decorations everywhere. Now that's a pure waste!

Not just the houses but each and every one anywhere, should have a one hundred percent Carbon tax.

So if you buy any incandescent lighting for say $10.00 you pay $10.00 carbon tax on top of any other taxes.

Look at this;
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_coa_con-energy-coal-consumption

United States — Population: 301,139,947 (July 2007 est.)

World = 6.7 Billion now !!! On track for estimate!

This means that about 5% of the worlds population is the second largest consumer of coal to make.

Why?

Things that make you think hmmm?

Sommer, why do you focus on money?

Focus on breathing, good luck.

Posted by Hmmmer on September 28, 2007 at 10:20 PM EDT #

While CFLs are definitely better than they were, the light from them still seems "not as bright." and I still have adjusting to the color difference. I also can't read by them (just cannot get enough wattage).

That said, I have replaced "just lighting" lamps with CFLs, so about 1/4 of the ones in the house. As they improve to be more functional as task lights, I will domore. But I will never fully replace incandescents/halogens as long as they are available until the quality of light in CLFs improves. Living in Calfornia, that means in several years annual trips to Oregon or Nevada to buy them, I know.

Posted by debra on September 29, 2007 at 10:52 AM EDT #

I also have had problems with the quality of light from CFLs, but you can buy CFLs with different wavelengths and intensities of light. There really is a difference between different bulbs. I'd suggest going to someplace like Menards that has a lit display of CFLs. You can compare the qualities of light and get some idea of what works for you. Take some examples home and put them in rooms where the lighting is not crucial - basements, bathrooms, etc., and live with them for a while. There are some that are supposedly full-spectrum/sunlight quality.

We started out with the cheaper 6 pack from a big-box store, and they were no good. I refuse to have them in the main areas of the house since the light quality (or lack thereof) gives me headaches. I can barely stand to do laundry to them. But I have hopes for some of the others we've bought.

It also helps, of course, to just turn off your lights when you're not using them. An incandescent bulb that's not on is not using any energy. Cooking dinner and leaving the kitchen for 5 minutes? Turn off the lights.

Bechamp.



Posted by bechamp on October 02, 2007 at 11:28 AM EDT #

Wow....CFL's are going to save the day? "Wrap the bulb in two plastic bags" is the recommendation on how to deal with the mercury? That makes as much logical long term sense as most other hairbrained liberal ideas.

I do agree that office buildings need to watch their power consumption. Its a waste and unwise to light those buildings for no other reason than to see them at night and marvel at their beauty. Pretty lame excuse. I do think they help in keeping airplane navigational (pilots use them as landmarks) but there are others that have no need to be used in that manner.

Back in the energy crunch of the 70's (when I was a wee lad of 10-14... yeah we had 2 "crisises") we turned down the thermostat and turned off lights when we left the room... Not only is it tough on the nation as it wastes energy and gives more power to the OPECS and Chavez' of the world, it hurts the wallet.... You'd think it'd be an obvious easy solution, but I continually have to hound (not reallly but u know what I mean) my kids and wife (she was raised at the same time but didn't get the message) to conserve power and turn the lights out of any room as they leave...."But we might go right back in there" the kids say...."ARRRGHHHH" is all I can do. LOL....
Anyways....We have CFLs in our house, I''m a conservative...I like the idea of having bulbs that freeking last..Then a yr later I find out about the mercury...."arrrgggghhhh"

Posted by Conservative Edge on October 03, 2007 at 09:02 AM EDT #

How about giving all Americans a government subsidy towards the purchase a home wind turbine to sit on top of the house? - these cost around $1000 at the moment - seach for wind power home. Or even solar panels? It would be like building an infrastructure, similar the road system. Now, if the subsidy was something like - "whatever you do not use for 2 or 3 years feed it back into the system... after that time, you are free to sell the unused electricity", then not only would it save us on electricity cost, but we would also need to burn a whole lot less fossil fuel...

Posted by David C on October 03, 2007 at 09:37 AM EDT #

I'm with Christine above. I hate those bulbs too. Not only do they burn out quickly but they have a delayed start time - about 5 seconds, then "Let there be Light". How about those Halogen light bulds - what's the deal with not touching them? How else are you suppose to insert?

Posted by The Butler on October 04, 2007 at 08:18 AM EDT #

I bought these bulbs/13 watt = 60 watt from Home Depot Sep 2006. To date, 3 have burned out. I was told to not use them with timers. I was told to not leave them burning night and day. Etc. If we can't use them the same as incandescent, why bother? As to brightness and reading, I did find some 23 watt = 100 watt and they work fine for me. Also, in metal bullet shaped shades like on desk lamps, they are vastly cooler. So when I'm on my PC, I don't have all that heat and can get the lamp closer to my head/eyes to read. So there are advantages and disadvantages just like anything else. Please do not refer to these bulbs as Liberal versus Conservative. I'm sick of politics and wish we'd all be a little more tolerant. As stated about cool vs hot, I use them for ME! Conserving energy is nice, and even may save money in the long run, but that's not why I do these things. I do them to benefit ME! Heat while working on a PC is not a comfortable thing to have.

Posted by PennsyNut on October 07, 2007 at 12:59 PM EDT #

Hi im very interested on these argument...so, i'd like to quote this post on my blog (from italy): http://luxemozione.blogspot.com
can I?
thanks in advance
bye bye

Posted by Giacomo on October 18, 2007 at 04:50 AM EDT #

Giacomo,
Sorry for the delay in posting your comment! Thanks for sharing the information with your Italian friends!!
Sommer

Posted by Sommer on October 19, 2007 at 04:50 PM EDT #

Repeat after me. L. E. D. !! Stop pushing Big Chem's lighting "solution". Oh, that's right, I forgot. It can't *possibly* be good for bidness unless it's expensive AND needs periodic replacement.

(In the short term, however, we *could* simply harness the spinning motion of Thomas Edison's corpse to power the entire Eastern Seaboard.)

Posted by Dick C. Flatline on October 30, 2007 at 11:51 AM EDT #

I hate those bulbs. Can't use them in a ceiling fan (they instantly burn out, we found), and although they are advertised as lasting longer than old-fashioned bulbs, in our house, at least, they always seem to die quicker.



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Posted by ilker on July 17, 2008 at 06:24 PM EDT #

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