We use the energy saving lights in our home in all of the lamps. We do have a few under the counter lights in the kitchen. We try to teach the children to turn off the lights as they leave a room but it takes alot of reminding.
I like to use night lites at night so that we can walk around without breaking our toes on the furniture.
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65
What light bulbs are you usng at home?
Started by Hayden, Sep 16 2011 08:40 AM
energy saving light bulbs CFL Light Bulb
129 replies to this topic
#82
Posted 21 April 2012 - 11:39 AM
What we have to remember too is that cfl's last a long time-less consumption of product.
Led's last even longer (although the upfront cost is higher), so you may only have to buy them once
every 30-40 years.
Now that's reducing consumption.
Led's last even longer (although the upfront cost is higher), so you may only have to buy them once
every 30-40 years.
Now that's reducing consumption.
#83
Posted 21 April 2012 - 05:41 PM
Pat, on 18 April 2012 - 12:48 PM, said:
We use the energy saving lights in our home in all of the lamps. We do have a few under the counter lights in the kitchen. We try to teach the children to turn off the lights as they leave a room but it takes alot of reminding.
I like to use night lites at night so that we can walk around without breaking our toes on the furniture.
I like to use night lites at night so that we can walk around without breaking our toes on the furniture.
Kids definitely need the constant reminding of the lights! Many times I go into the kitchen and see the bathroom light on with nobody in there. We don't need nightlights tho, we have enough light from the street lights to light the house enough to walk around in the dark.
#84
Posted 05 June 2012 - 12:29 PM
We have CFL in some fixtures in our home, but not all. Cost is an issue, and I will only buy them when I can get a multi-pack for a reasonable price. Our local community charges more for a single bulb than the larger centers do for a package, so I wait until I can buy a package. I am saving on packaging materials as well, as I'm not buying individual bulbs.
#86
Posted 12 June 2012 - 03:33 AM
Well now that regular bulbs are no longer being produced (maybe folks can find some leftovers on shelves for
a time) the only choice will be cfl's or led's. Full ban on incandescents is supposed to go into effect this year,
around October.
a time) the only choice will be cfl's or led's. Full ban on incandescents is supposed to go into effect this year,
around October.
#89
Posted 29 July 2012 - 08:58 AM
I've replaced all of the incandescent bulbs in my house with CFL's, including the floods. Also have one LED bulb for a lamp in the bedroom. Over the last three years I've only had to replace two bulbs. Replacing incandescents was such chore to me, especially the ceiling mounted bulbs, so the switch to CFLs was a wonderful choice
#90
Posted 29 July 2012 - 09:51 AM
Although I've always preferred CFLs, I had a hard time persuading my mom to replace all incandescent bulbs with CFLs, because she said the light they emit is "unnatural" (personally, I disagree, but I know many other people who share this concern). She was also concerned about the cost, but I offered to pay for all the new lightbulbs. I even bought a few spare lightbulbs for when she needed to replace them. And then, when I saw my mom three months later (I live in another country), she'd fitted in ALL the lightbulbs, saying that because each individual lightbulb used less electricity, she could afford to set up more lightbulbs! So the net savings was zero. Needless to say, that was an epic facepalm for me...
#91
Posted 31 July 2012 - 05:57 PM
Well, I do agree that you have to get used to light with CFLs as they don't seem as bright as incandescent ligh bulbs, but my mother let me switch the bulk of her light bulbs out in her apartment. What I should've done was gone over the wattage in some locations as it wouldn't be as dim in those areas, but I have to wait until they finally burn out or either find someone that I can give them to.
There are still a couple of lamps that have the old bulbs because the level of light in those areas are non-negotiable.
There are still a couple of lamps that have the old bulbs because the level of light in those areas are non-negotiable.
#92
Posted 02 August 2012 - 04:07 AM
Sugarhill, on 31 July 2012 - 05:57 PM, said:
Well, I do agree that you have to get used to light with CFLs as they don't seem as bright as incandescent ligh bulbs, but my mother let me switch the bulk of her light bulbs out in her apartment. What I should've done was gone over the wattage in some locations as it wouldn't be as dim in those areas, but I have to wait until they finally burn out or either find someone that I can give them to.
There are still a couple of lamps that have the old bulbs because the level of light in those areas are non-negotiable.
There are still a couple of lamps that have the old bulbs because the level of light in those areas are non-negotiable.
vs. grab and go helps.
#93
Posted 02 August 2012 - 10:01 AM
A while ago I read about CFLs actually emitting more natural light than typical, old-fashioned lightbulbs. If I remember correctly, you can grow plants with certain types of CFLs (because their spectrum is very similar to the wavelengths of sunlight), but you cannot do the same thing with regular lightbulbs. I think people dislike the change from one type of lightbulb to the other just because they've been used to halogens their entire lives, and as we all know, people show a strong reluctance to change in most aspects of life. I daresay that if we were now switching from CFLs to halogens instead, people would be complaining about the excessive brightness of halogens. It's just human nature.
#94
Posted 03 August 2012 - 04:04 AM
Mustaxina, on 02 August 2012 - 10:01 AM, said:
A while ago I read about CFLs actually emitting more natural light than typical, old-fashioned lightbulbs. If I remember correctly, you can grow plants with certain types of CFLs (because their spectrum is very similar to the wavelengths of sunlight), but you cannot do the same thing with regular lightbulbs. I think people dislike the change from one type of lightbulb to the other just because they've been used to halogens their entire lives, and as we all know, people show a strong reluctance to change in most aspects of life. I daresay that if we were now switching from CFLs to halogens instead, people would be complaining about the excessive brightness of halogens. It's just human nature.
market, on an almost daily basis, and they're the first in line to buy them. And while I don't agree with the consumerism
aspect of that, I use that as an example. New - different is cool.
It's the older folks that don't embrace change-"set in their ways" became a well know phrase for a reason.
#95
Posted 03 August 2012 - 04:20 AM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 03 August 2012 - 04:04 AM, said:
I think that it's age in most cases. Young people embrace change. Look at how many new e-gadgets hit the
market, on an almost daily basis, and they're the first in line to buy them. And while I don't agree with the consumerism
aspect of that, I use that as an example. New - different is cool.
It's the older folks that don't embrace change-"set in their ways" became a well know phrase for a reason.
market, on an almost daily basis, and they're the first in line to buy them. And while I don't agree with the consumerism
aspect of that, I use that as an example. New - different is cool.
It's the older folks that don't embrace change-"set in their ways" became a well know phrase for a reason.
#96
Posted 03 August 2012 - 04:24 AM
Mustaxina, on 03 August 2012 - 04:20 AM, said:
A long time, some famous person whose name I don't remember right now said something along the lines of "New scientific theories do not become the standard because the proponents are able to convince the opponents, but because the latter gradually die out and give way to a new generation that has grown up with the new scientific theory". I think this also holds true with regard to political views, social norms and, of course, new technology. I have promised myself that when I get older (I'm only 24 right now) and grumpy, I will not resist change just for the sake of resisting, and will embrace new technologies if they have the capability to make life better.
I'm ancient and still embrace change, so there's that.
#97
Posted 03 August 2012 - 04:29 AM
Shortpoet-GTD, on 03 August 2012 - 04:24 AM, said:
I'm ancient and still embrace change, so there's that.
#98
Posted 04 August 2012 - 05:04 PM
Mustaxina, on 03 August 2012 - 04:29 AM, said:
Great! You're living proof it's possible, then. I think there's another reason why certain young people resist change. I'm referring to those who think that global warming, CFLs and all the other "green nonsense" is just a scam used by the government to raise more taxes, or, even worse, a conspiracy to enslave mankind under the pretence of saving the planet. I know it sounds ridiculous, but a non-negligeable minority of people actually do believe this things. I don't know if I have enough posts already to be allowed to post links, but the other day I read in the Guardian an article that explored the links between belief in conspiracy theories and climate change denialism. Very interesting.
In all honesty, years ago when I switched over to cfl's (and they were pricey back then; $9-12 each)
but with the fact that they last forever, I knew I'd replace them less often.
With 2-3 to start out with, and nothing else changing at the time in electrical use, I saw about a $12-15
reduction in my bill, so one was paid for in the first month. (Not to mention all that damn heat those old ones
used to throw off-ouch.)
Soon after, I installed power strips to everything, gave my electric clocks away (I use windups) or just
unplugged unused appliances, I saved an additional $25-28 a month from my bill. (And burned less coal to boot.)
A few years after that, I was one of the lucky homeowners to qualify for energy efficiency improvements
via Obama's energy stimulus bill, and my home was upgraded with 35 bales of recycled newspapers blown into the
walls and attic; 11 new energy efficient windows, 2 new doors, an energy saver frig, 3 new roof vents to dissipate
the heat, and various other "filling the gaps" projects.
Between gas for heat and water, and electric for the rest, I'm saving about $300-650 a year.
That's why I'm such a strong advocate for insulation. It's makes a world of difference.
Winter gas bills used to run me $120-150 a month. Now they're about $22. Summer-minimum charge just
"for the privilege" of having gas to the house-$8; which ticks me off but still way cheaper.
Electric stays in the $30 range (if I can stay with the swamp cooler in the summer. We had 107 here the
other day, so I had to turn on the a/c), so it will be higher from using that. They're just un-efficient window units
but I don't run them much.
Sorry for the long post.
Posting links takes about 40 or so posts, I'm not sure.
(But hey, it's worth the wait. We've got a lot of great members here, and feel free to read any older posts too.)
Tons of good info here.
#99
Posted 04 August 2012 - 11:37 PM
Your post is long but very interesting, partly because I am able to relate to it. The main reason I'm into living green is because I love nature (especially mammals!) but the second big reason is that I'm an efficiency junkie. Why use 7 kW a day when you can do the same things with just 5 kW? Why pay $80 a month in gas when you can pay $40? After all, money and electricity saved today are money and electricity that will be available for other things tomorrow.
One of the problems with spreading the "green attitude" is that people compensate for the energy savings. For example, people with more efficient cars will drive more often, therefore cancelling out the benefits. My mother is a textbook example. Despite her reluctance to switch from halogens to CFLs, I offered to pay for all new CFLs out of my own pocket. She still didn't want to, so I just went to the shop, bought all the CFLs and presented her with a fait accompli. But then, she put 3 CFLs for each halogen, because she said that "If each individual lightbulb uses less energy, that means I can put more lightbulbs!". So all the savings were cancelled out, not to mention the blinding light!
My mother often has trouble making ends meet, but she's too proud to accept money from me or her other sons. So I thought of offering to pay for a new boiler that would slash her gas bills by 30%. But after the lightbulb experience, I'm not sure I want to do it, because I have the feeling that she'd just set the heating higher in winter, thereby cancelling out any savings!
One of the problems with spreading the "green attitude" is that people compensate for the energy savings. For example, people with more efficient cars will drive more often, therefore cancelling out the benefits. My mother is a textbook example. Despite her reluctance to switch from halogens to CFLs, I offered to pay for all new CFLs out of my own pocket. She still didn't want to, so I just went to the shop, bought all the CFLs and presented her with a fait accompli. But then, she put 3 CFLs for each halogen, because she said that "If each individual lightbulb uses less energy, that means I can put more lightbulbs!". So all the savings were cancelled out, not to mention the blinding light!
My mother often has trouble making ends meet, but she's too proud to accept money from me or her other sons. So I thought of offering to pay for a new boiler that would slash her gas bills by 30%. But after the lightbulb experience, I'm not sure I want to do it, because I have the feeling that she'd just set the heating higher in winter, thereby cancelling out any savings!
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