I just switched all my bulbs over to CFLs

[Brent]

I replaced every light bulb in my apartment today with CFLs. In the long term it should save me money, I use lights a lot since I work at home, and its a big part of my electricity usage, plus I have to replace the incandescent bulbs frequently. I just decided to go ahead and switch everything over to CFLs. It cost a pretty penny up front, but I guess it will pay off down the road. Less energy, longer lasting bulbs, and better color temperature options, so I'm happy.

I did my research to make sure i got the color temp I wanted in each room. For all my ceiling lights I chose 60W equivalent CFLs with a color temp of 3500K. For lamps I chose to use CFLs with a color temp of 2700K for a warmer mood and tone. So at night or when watching a movie or TV I can use my lamps and set a warmer relaxed mood, but if I need bright white light during the day or night to keep me active 3500K works great.

I really wanted to get my hands on some Philips Twister CFLs, they have a 4100K and 5000K CFL I wanted to take a look at, but I couldn't find any at Walmart or Lowes up here, so I had to settle with what I could find locally, and that was either 2700K, 3500K or 6500K. I did try 6500K CFLs, but just too blue for me in a room.

Interestingly I told my step brother all this, he lives in New Zealand, and he said normal bulbs are outlawed there, you can only by the fluorescent ones! He said NZ is very "green" country. Anyway, I think it is a good idea personally, I mean why not, less energy, same lighting, it is logical.

I really wanted to switch over to LED lighting, but the price is too high still. Once LEDs come down in price to the level of CFLs then maybe I'll make the switch to LEDs!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

There are too many recessed lighting fixtures in my house (mostly in my basement) and CFLs are not suitable for that kind of thing. Something about heat generation, I think. So I am sticking with incandescents for the moment. I've got enough stocked up so that by the time I use them all, one of two things will have happened: 1) CFL technology will have advanced far enough that I can trust it, or 2) We'll all be using LEDs.

 

[Hoser]

We switched a few years ago. It's amazing how much money you save just from that.

 

[John Picard]

I run a majority of my house lights on CFLs and my average monthly electric consumption has been under 200kW. Granted, I don't run the HVAC a lot, but I believe the lighting has played a role. Once I move to a new house, I'm going to go even more efficient and use LEDs. Their power consumption is almost negligent and if I accidentally drop one there's no issue with mercury vapor. I don't care how minimal the amount is, the damned CFLs have a laundry list of what to do in the even of breakage, and IMHO they're a hazzard.

 

[Sledder]

There are too many recessed lighting fixtures in my house (mostly in my basement) and CFLs are not suitable for that kind of thing. Something about heat generation, I think. So I am sticking with incandescents for the moment. I've got enough stocked up so that by the time I use them all, one of two things will have happened: 1) CFL technology will have advanced far enough that I can trust it, or 2) We'll all be using LEDs.

CFL's generate almost no heat, hence the energy savings so that can't be the reason you aren't able to use them.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

When I moved into my current house just over 2 years ago, the first thing I did was change every possible bayonet-end lightbulb with the fluorescent bulbs. They're still there and still working. The lights in the dining room, however, still use the filament bulbs as they're connected to a dimmer switch (which goes against the on-off nature of the fluorescent bulbs) presumably for the, um, "moodier" evenings but I hope to get rid of the dimmer eventually.

 

[Guartho]

I've just been replacing them as they fail.

My favorite part is that I can put much brighter bulbs in the lower-rated fixtures. We put a shower in the bathroom and thus lost a window. It's a fairly dark bathroom when lit with a single 60-watt bulb. I replaced it with a 100 "watt" CFL and the difference is very noticeable.

 

[John Picard]

When I moved into my current house just over 2 years ago, the first thing I did was change every possible bayonet-end lightbulb with the fluorescent bulbs. They're still there and still working. The lights in the dining room, however, still use the filament bulbs as they're connected to a dimmer switch (which goes against the on-off nature of the fluorescent bulbs) presumably for the, um, "moodier" evenings but I hope to get rid of the dimmer eventually.

If I understand right, there are CFLs that can be dimmed now. IMHO, just another reason for LEDs, which can be dimmed as well as come in a variety of colors and sizes. LEDs are also stated to last up to 20 - 30 years.

 

[Guartho]

I blew out a CFL at our old apartment because it was on a dimmer switch. We always tried to have the dimmer all the way up, but it would get bumped sometimes and it was an up-down switch that sort of drifted down over time. That CFL quit after only about a month and we went back to incandescent for that fixture.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

For those who think CFSs are a bit dodgy, Phillips is mass marketing an LED bulb now, they haven't been released locally yet (this summer I think) so I don't know the cost but it's supposed to be competive with CFLs.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

There are too many recessed lighting fixtures in my house (mostly in my basement) and CFLs are not suitable for that kind of thing. Something about heat generation, I think. So I am sticking with incandescents for the moment. I've got enough stocked up so that by the time I use them all, one of two things will have happened: 1) CFL technology will have advanced far enough that I can trust it, or 2) We'll all be using LEDs.

CFL's generate almost no heat, hence the energy savings so that can't be the reason you aren't able to use them.

I did some checking...it's ventilation. Or, rather, the lack thereof.

 

[Brent]

For those who think CFSs are a bit dodgy, Phillips is mass marketing an LED bulb now, they haven't been released locally yet (this summer I think) so I don't know the cost but it's supposed to be competive with CFLs.

That's about a 40W equivalent though, and I wonder how expensive it will be.

There is a 60W equivalent out there, but darn the price

http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-light-bulbs/geobulb/

http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-light-bulbs/geobulb-led-light-bulb.aspx

 

[Sledder]

There are too many recessed lighting fixtures in my house (mostly in my basement) and CFLs are not suitable for that kind of thing. Something about heat generation, I think. So I am sticking with incandescents for the moment. I've got enough stocked up so that by the time I use them all, one of two things will have happened: 1) CFL technology will have advanced far enough that I can trust it, or 2) We'll all be using LEDs.

CFL's generate almost no heat, hence the energy savings so that can't be the reason you aren't able to use them.

I did some checking...it's ventilation. Or, rather, the lack thereof.

Still not sure how that would impact a CFL more than an incandescent bulb...

 

[Brent]

Just wanted to report an update, now over a months use of using all CFLs vs. Incandescent in my apartment.

Just got my electricity bill for April.

My bill in March (using all Incandescent bulbs) was $141.42 and my bill in April (with CFLs) is $124.39. My kWh's are less as well. So almost a $20 savings, yearly that's $240, and of course I won't have to replace them for a long time.

My bill for May should be even lower since I had to use the heat a few times in March as well.

With this kind of savings I'll have the price I paid for all the CFLs paid off in 4 months, and then I'll start benefiting from the savings, looks like maybe ~$20 a month savings for me.

I'll see what the bill looks like for May, should be even lower.

So overall, less energy usage, and lower monthly bill, I'm happy.

 

[John Picard]

^^Yep, but imagine the savings if you went with LEDs. That's my goal, because it's long term savings.

 

[Brent]

^^Yep, but imagine the savings if you went with LEDs. That's my goal, because it's long term savings.

Definitely, problem is they are so darn expensive right now

This looks awesome but look at the price

http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-light-bulbs/geobulb-led-light-bulb.aspx

 

[Jadzia]

I'd much rather use LEDs but I was given a load of CFL's a while ago, so that's what I'm currently using.

CFL was never about helping the environment. The energy cost in manufacturing a CFL lightbulb is a lot higher than incandescent, which is why they cost a lot more to buy. And the government helping to reduce the cost to the consumer does indeed camouflage the size of that energy cost of manufacturing the things. Plus they contain many more toxic chemicals than incandescent. Don't be fooled into thinking they're a green technology.

 

[John Picard]

I'd much rather use LEDs but I was given a load of CFL's a while ago, so that's what I'm currently using.

CFL was never about helping the environment. The energy cost in manufacturing a CFL lightbulb is a lot higher than incandescent, which is why they cost a lot more to buy. And the government helping to reduce the cost to the consumer does indeed camouflage the size of that energy cost of manufacturing the things. Plus they contain many more toxic chemicals than incandescent. Don't be fooled into thinking they're a green technology.

Oh man, now you've done it. The pro-CFL Nazis are going to come out of the woodwork, spouting off how they're "green" because there's less electrical consumption, and that the amount of mercury in them is "nothing of concern". These same people bitch and scream, though, at the thought of mercury used as a preservative in immunizations Not to mention, they ignore the one side of the picture you pointed out, with that being the hazardous chemicals as well as the government subsidies (which means the market isn't being allowed to work).

 

[bigdaddy]

Make sure your lights can handle them. I bought some energy saving bulbs, stuck it in an enclosed dome. After several months it exploded and smoked! Read the box that you aren't supposed to put them in enclosed lighting fixtures.

 

[Mr. B]

...just don't break any.