Did you know that lighting represents about 20 percent of your household electric bill? If you haven’t already, fall is a great time to switch out the light bulbs in your house for CFL bulbs and save on electricity costs. CFL bulbs use about 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs. According to the stats below, your household can be responsible for taking 2 cars off the road for 1 year just by switching all the light bulbs in your house to CFL bulbs.
Image Courtesy Switch the Bulb
Where to Use a CFL : CFL bulbs may not be the best choice for every light fixture in your house. They are best used in locations where lights are left on for a period of time such as kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and outdoor lighting. For areas where the light is frequently turned on and off, such as a hallway or bathroom, a CFL bulb will not be as effective.
How to Choose : When CFL bulbs were new on the market, they got a bad reputation for producing bright, white UGLY light – and they did! The good news is that CFL bulbs have improved. You can find the kind of light that you want, with a little CFL education. A little trial and error wouldn’t hurt either. I tried several different brands before I found one that I LOVE! I can’t even tell that it’s a CFL bulb. It’s the Panasonic Gen IV collection. Check out the image below – this will help you find the right type of light that you desire for each room. I personally like the warm white lighting so I look for bulbs on the lower end of the spectrum.
Image Courtesy Energy Star
Cost: Yes, CFL bulbs can be more expensive than traditional incandescents but remember that they
last 10x longer so they pay for themselves in about 6 months – long before they wear out. For the best price on CFL bulbs in your local area,
Switch The Bulb has an online directory, listed by state, so you can search for a local retailer or utility.
Clean Up and Disposal: CFL bulbs do contain mercury and
CANNOT be thrown away. To properly dispose of them, make sure you take them to a CFL recycling facility – you can find a local one
here. If you break a CFL bulb, make sure you clean it up properly, according to the recommendations from the
EPA.
EDITED 11/2/09 – Panasonic no longer makes the Gen IV bulbs. These were recommended as a substitute but I haven’t tried them yet.
