[PrairieMule]

Hello,

I just made the switch yesterday to compact flourescent light bulbs. I replaced a dozen 60wa lightbulbs in hightraffic areas with 14w bulbs(bright as a 75w bulb). The bulbs come with a document that helps you calculate the savings. I figured out by reducing 12 60w lightbulbs with 14w Ill be using 168w vs.720w thus saving 552w based on a 4hrs of use . Anyways it comes to about $20-$25 a month. Has anyone else made the switch yet?

[NonToxic]

About 2 years ago. The wife did not like them at first now since she is used to them it's no problem.

[emersonbiggins]

Hello,

I just made the switch yesterday to compact flourescent light bulbs. I replaced a dozen 60wa lightbulbs in hightraffic areas with 14w bulbs(bright as a 75w bulb). The bulbs come with a document that helps you calculate the savings. I figured out by reducing 12 60w lightbulbs with 14w Ill be using 168w vs.720w thus saving 552w based on a 4hrs of use . Anyways it comes to about $20-$25 a month. Has anyone else made the switch yet?

Good idea. I'm renting a 1100sf duplex right now, and CFs are everywhere in that house. My electric bill has been running in the $130-$170/mo. range, which still seems high, but I suspect it's the 3/8" sheathing on the roof that's causing the wastage problem.
From what I hear, there are new CFs on the market that give off a warmer hue, which solves the major gripe that most people have with old school 'institutionally inspired' CFs.

[strider3700]

I'm all CF's except in my shop where it's the 4 ft tubes. I have two types. One is only used over the stove and it give off an ultra white harsh light. The rest have a nice warm look to them.

[PrairieMule]

About 2 years ago. The wife did not like them at first now since she is used to them it's no problem.

A squiggly coil vs a traditional bulb definately takes some getting use to. They say with the lower wattage comes less heat which keeps the house cooler. I decided to change the bulbs after reading a article in Natl' Gographic showing just 1 light bulb will save 300lbs of coal.

[aahala]

Barring two closet lights that are almost never on, all my lights are CFL or
the long F types.

I had been using two in other closets for years and had completely forgotten the idea of CFL until about a 18 months ago, and changed the
rest over a few months.

You're saving $20? Wow. I doubt my lighting costs were ever $10. Some of
these CFLs are on so little, if they last as long as they are supposed to,
my yet born grandchildren will still be using them.

[PrairieMule]

Barring two closet lights that are almost never on, all my lights are CFL or
the long F types.

I had been using two in other closets for years and had completely forgotten the idea of CFL until about a 18 months ago, and changed the
rest over a few months.

You're saving $20? Wow. I doubt my lighting costs were ever $10. Some of
these CFLs are on so little, if they last as long as they are supposed to,
my yet born grandchildren will still be using them.

Haven't saved anything yet, but according to wattage saved over a 4hr a day usage times the current rate of the kw it comes to $20 a month. I will replace my outdoor, garage, and hall lights next (those are $5-7 each!!) Do they make a efficent for the 3ft long tube type? I have 8 of those in my kitchen.

[PhilBiker]

I've got a zillion of them in my house. Costoco sells megapacks for cheap. Also my outdoor lights are CF 3/4-watts = 25watt incandescent. They take a while to warm up (are not bright when cold) but I don't care. I have a few incandescents left like in the stove and fridge and over the oven and in the bathroom fixtures.

[aahala]

Whoops, I slipped a digit mentally. Our lighting bill probably was in the 20s at one time.

I have six replacements and I will probably never have to buy another
bulb, except for two 3-ways we use a lot.

[Caoimhan]

I switched a little over a year ago. There are great bargains to be had on the little curly bulbs that will fit anywhere a regular lightbulb would.

My favorite, though, is my indoor/outdoor CF in my front porch light. If I remember right, it's a 50W CF, with the brightness of a 200-250W incandescent. Great for security!

[PrairieMule]

I switched a little over a year ago. There are great bargains to be had on the little curly bulbs that will fit anywhere a regular lightbulb would.

My favorite, though, is my indoor/outdoor CF in my front porch light. If I remember right, it's a 50W CF, with the brightness of a 200-250W incandescent. Great for security!

200-250watts? Yikes!! Mules have no need for outdoor tanning beds, but I guess it has possibilities as a non-lethal alternative to shooting a burglar. Easy to pick out the suspect with a lobster red sunburn..

[SHiFTY]

I had some early ones that took a second to turn on, but all the new ones now seem to be instant, so theres no real difference beteen them and regular ones.

I have lights that I like to leave on all night, these are all CF now.

Also I got a whole lot for free from the electricity company.

[dunewalker]

Yes, when I moved out here to the desert off-grid homestead 3 1/2 years ago all lighting became CF---all 5 lights. The main room 15 watt CF triples as the kitchen light and the porch light since it's next to the big front window by the door. They are amazingly bright!

[SolarDave]

About 2 years ago. The wife did not like them at first now since she is used to them it's no problem.

Wives seem to be universally against them. Why?

[ab0di]

I converted everything but the closets several years ago. My wife objected because she likes 3-way bulbs so I bought a couple of 3-way CF's--expensive but worth it.

[Caoimhan]

You know... they even have dimmable CFs now.

[dbuckley]

Of course, Big Clive has taken this to the extreme with the Luminosity Monstrosity

We're pretty much CFL or flurorescent here too, our over-stairs light when we bought the house was 3 x 75W incandescent, which is now 3 x 26W CFL and looks much better!

[Keith_McClary]

You know... they even have dimmable CFs now.

I haven't seen those.

I've had a mixed experience. Some were instant-on and had a nice colour. Others had an annoying delay to light up and the blueish fluorescent colour.

Also be aware that fluorescents can fade your watercolour paintings etc.

And it's a bit tricky getting the $15 30 watt bulb out of the plastic shell package without breaking it.

(EDIT) Does anyone want a couple of dozen incandescent bulbs, mostly brand new?

[Doly]

You know... they even have dimmable CFs now.

Haven't seen them either. And they would come handy in my home, it's mostly dimmer switches.

[Caoimhan]

This Link is for Dimmable Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

I really like that site, by the way. You can get CFs in a lot of different varieties.