Fluorescent Bulbs Lower Electric Costs

What are fluorescent bulbs?

By now everyone should have seen the weird spiral shaped bulbs. These bulbs are direct replacements for the old fashioned, burn yourself badly, incandescent bulbs invented a century ago. They now come in a variety of shapes to replace just about every hot runner bulb that's out there.

Qualified fluorescent bulbs use about 75 percent less energy (electricity) than standard incandescent light bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.   Athough they can cost a little more up front, they provide a quick return on your investment.

They produce about 75% less heat, so they’re safer to operate. Since they don't waste so much enegy on producing heat, they can help cut your home cooling costs.

Advantage of using fluorescent bulbs

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified fluorescent bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year. That's more than $600,000,000 (million) in annual energy cost savings across America. Switching just one bulb can also prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

The average home uses about 20 regular 60 watt incandescent light bulbs. Think what could happen if they were all replaced across the whole country. Wow! That is a tremendous energy savings and a huge cut in the greenhouse gases associated with lighting up our homes.

Do your part

First do an audit in your home and see which incandescent bulbs can be replaced with energy saving fluorescent bulbs. Count the incandescent bulbs you have in your lamps and light fixtures.  Note the wattage and type (bright 60 watt, etc.) of each of the old bulbs. You should replace these with spiral bulbs. Spirals perform best in open fixtures that allow airflow, such as table and floor lamps, wall sconces, pendants, and outdoor fixtures.

While you're at it, count the recessed bulbs. They look like triangles and usually end up flush with your fixture or ceiling once screwed in. These floodlights can be replaced with reflector fluorescent bulbs rather than the spiral type, since the design of the reflector evenly distributes the light down to your task area.

Also count any globe incandescent bulbs you may have. These are usually used in bathroom lighting fixtures. My bathroom fixture had four bulbs. I replaced them with globe fluorescent bulbs and you should do the same if you have them.

Now, you can even replace the candelabra style bulbs used in chandeliers and many modern ceiling fan light fixtures. So if you have those, count them up and add them to your list.

If a light fixture is connected to a dimmer or three-way socket fixture, you’ll need to use a special ENERGY STAR qualified florsecent bulb designed to work in these applications. Make sure to look for bulbs that specify they are for use with dimmers or three-way fixtures.

Once you have your list together, go shopping. Get as many of the new fluorescent bulbs as you can find that fit your needs and your budget.

You don't need to get them all at once. Start with a couple to replace the bulbs in the fixtures you use most. Which rooms are used the most by your family? Which light fixtures are lit most of the time? Start by replacing the bulbs in that room, or those fixtures. Over time, replace the rest of the incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs; highest use fixtures first, then the next and so on.

Here's a list of various styles of fluorescent bulbs that are available and the equivalent incandescent bulbs they would replace by watts. This is not a complete list. There are quite a few more out there.

Mini Fluorescent Spirals

1. 10w = 40w
2. 13w = 60w
3. 20w = 75w
4. 26w = 100w
5. 32w = 125w

Flood light (reflector):

1. 11w = 50w
2. 15w = 65w

Globes

1. 11w = 40w
2. 15w = 60w

Candelabra (Candle) bulbs (for fans, chandeliers)

1. 7w = 25w
2. 9w = 40w

3 way bulbs: 

12-23-29 = 50/100/150

Switching from traditional light bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps is an effective, simple change everyone in America can make right now.

Average savings: $10 - $50 per year (depending on how may bulbs you replace and the wattage of the old bulbs).

Tips:

 Buy good quality, Energy Star compliant fluorescent bulbs for maximum life and cost savings.

 To save bulb costs, buy multi-packs – they can save you some money compared to buying one bulb at a time. If you can find the multi-packs discounted or on sale, you can really save some cash.