My Favorite Lightbulbs

So, let's chat about lighting. Lighting takes up to 11% of the average family's energy bill. The average American family spends $1,900/year on energy costs. Over a year, this is not chump change - it is $209. So want to cut out 75% of that 11% and only pay $52.50/year for lighting? How you say? Switch light bulbs! Incandescents (the old, rather inefficient, hot kind) are on their way out. Australia has banned them by 2009, Canada by 2012 and there is a bill proposed in CA to eliminate all incandescent bulbs by 2012. So folks we all might as well start switching now to Compact Florescent Bulbs and saving our money and energy now.

An incandescent takes usually some where between 60W and 100W to run. It lasts for somewhere between 750 and 1000 hours of burn time. CFB's on the other hand - depending upon the type use about 11W - 25W and last between 6,000 and 15,000 hours of burn time.

So what is the hold up? They cost too much up front? I have heard that one before. Well, yes indeed a $10 bulb may freak you out up front compared to the 60 cent one. However, the 60 cent one will cost you about $88 a year to run (24/7) and a CFB will cost you $22 over a year holding kWh cost equal. Even if you had to buy the light bulb, you would still see a $56.60 savings at $32.00 per year for the CFB and compared to 88.60 for the incandescent bulb. Now these numbers are assuming you ran your light bulbs all day every day. So the best way to think about it is, it will save approx two thirds or three quarters of my current lighting costs if I switch over to CFBs.

The second issue - they are ugly. Well, I agree some of those lovely spiral thingies did not really make it to the catwalk in France did they? I have found one bulb that I really like. Tad bit more pricey than the ones you find at Home Depot, but a bit more attractive on your exposed fixture. I think it has a better shape and light than a lot of CFBs. I use the 25W bulbs in the warm glow. This is what we are used to in our houses and we have decorated under the assumption of yellow lighting. Switch to natural daylight or full spectrum and you will be a little surprised at the colors you now see in your decor. I use the 20W in the smaller lamps around the home. You can get lesser wattage. My advise is to convert your lightbulbs and go one step up. http://www.realgoods.com/product/home-outdoor/lighting/bulbs/evolution+compact+fluorescent+light+bulbs.do?search=basic&keyword=11-0245&sortby=bestSellers&page=1

For recessed cans indoors I like http://www.energyfederation.org/consumer/default.php/cPath/25_44_2107_2108

and for smaller cans http://www.energyfederation.org/consumer/default.php/cPath/25_44_171_2388

For outdoors I like the Philips 20w PAR38 Reflector EL/A PAR38 20W - just not finding a link right now.

Now, I put the less expensive spiral CFB's in our garage, as I don't really care what they look like out there. :)

Realize that these are my suggestions and please measure your own lightbulbs you are replacing prior to ordering something that won't work.

Last issue is the mercury. Yes, CFB do have a small amount of mercury, and this has gotten media attention. Indeed, there are about 1.0 - 4.0 mg per bulb. Because of this you should handle these bulbs carefully and put them immediately in a sealed glass jar if it breaks as the mercury is in the vapor. Additionally, you will need to recycle them when they burn out. Usually, you can recycle CFBs at your local True Value or other hardware store. If not Energy Federation sells a box where you can ship the used CFBS. Now, don't get scared off - you aren't going to be changing CFBs that often. Additionally, even with the mercury in the bulbs using CFB saves on overall mercury pollution. About half of our electricity comes from coal powered plants, which release mercury when burning coal. Use less electricity, use less coal, and thus less mercury pollution overall. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp for more information under mercury emissions.

A few notes - CFBs will expire faster if they are in areas with varing temps and are flipped on and off constantly- aka back hall. It is up to you whether you leave them on for 15 min then to reduce this impact or you just replace them if they have a shorter lifespan.

Additionally, I have seen an environmental house here that had LED lighting in various rooms. If you are doing a rehab/build it project this may be something to consider - it was great lighting and next to no wattage.

Got a lot of light bulbs? Do a few at a time :) Wait for coupons and smile at your savings :)