I recently started putting compact fluorescent light bulbs in the high usages areas of the house. I really need to cut my electric bill back down to size. It went up $100/month after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, then only went down $50/month over the last two years since the storms. It would help my finances to get that $50/month off my electric bill, or as much of it as possible.
Using less electricity is also good for the environment in lower power plant emissions (greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide) and fossil fuel consumption (oil, gas, and coal).
As the regular bulbs burn out, I will be replacing them with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Compact fluorescent bulbs are much better than they used to be and often pay for themselves multiple times in much longer life and much lower energy use. They are now available for special fixtures such as ceiling fans, bathroom vanities and standard exterior fixtures.
The fixture over my kitchen sink is a standard fixture, and the one outside my front door is a standard fixture. I put compact fluorescent bulbs in them last month. The outdoor bulb is made to be used outside even though that fixture is well under a large porch and protected from the weather.
I have been using regular fluorescent lighting for years outside on my carport and in some areas of my house, in the garage and main kitchen fixtures. I also have small fluorescent fixtures outside the back door and on the side of the house next to the driveway.
About Electricity and Brightness
Electricity usage is measured in kilowatt-hours. The kilowatt-hour is a measure of the power used (electricity) x time of usage (hours). In SI units, 1 watt is equal to 1 Joule/second.
The watt is named after James Watt, who made major improvements in steam engines which pointed the way towards the far more efficient engines we have today.
A lumen is the standard measure of the brightness of a light bulb. When you choose different types of bulbs (incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen) compare the number of lumens each type of bulb puts out compared to the type of bulb you’re currently using in an area that provides the desired amount of brightness.
Comparison of Electricity Usage and Cost
In my area, 1 kilowatt-hour costs 4.1 cents. We also have a fuel charge added to that for the cost of the fuel to generate the electricity of 5.4 cents/kilowatt-hour. So our total cost per kilowatt-hour is 9.5 cents or $0.095.
A 14-watt compact fluorescent bulb puts out the same number of lumens that a 60-watt incandescent bulb does and lasts for about 2 years (used 12 hours per day, 365 days per year). An incandescent bulb usually lasts 3-5 months (at least in my house).
A 60-watt bulb left on for 12 hours in my kitchen uses 720 watts of electricity (12 x 0.06 = 0.72 kilowatt-hours) and costs 6.8 cents. A 14-watt bulb uses only 168 watts of electricity in 12 hours (0.168 kWh) and costs 1.6 cents. Over a 30 day period the cost of using the incandescent bulb is $2.04 while the cost of using the compact fluorescent bulb is only $0.48.
My bathroom vanity fixture has seven 40-watt bulbs. If the bathroom light is left on for one hour, the electricity usage is 280 watts. If it’s left on for 4 hours, the electricity usage goes up to 1,120 watts or 1.12 kilowatts and costs 10.6 cents. Compact fluorescent bulbs of 9 watts have the same light output of 40-watt incandescent bulbs.
If I replace those 7 bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, electricity usage will go down to 63 watts if left on one hour or 252 watts if left on for 4 hours at a cost of 2.4 cents. I can keep the bathroom light on for 4 hours with compact fluorescent bulbs and use less electricity than leaving the light on for one hour using incandescent bulbs. Over a 30-day period, the incandescent bulbs cost $3.18 while the compact fluorescent bulbs cost only $0.72.
If I continue to use compact fluorescent bulbs in my kitchen and bathroom for 1 year, assuming the same amount of time used 365 days, the cost will be $5.84 in the kitchen and $8.76 in the bathroom. The incandescent bulbs cost me $24.82 in the kitchen and $38.69 in the bathroom. That’s $63.51 for incandescent bulbs vs. $14.60 for compact fluorescent bulbs. The cost savings for compact fluorescents? $48.91/year. And that’s just for 8 light sockets. The savings will increase as the incandescent bulbs in other areas are replaced with compact fluorescent bulbs.
I hope you’ll shop around, find the compact fluorescent bulbs that will work for you, and start saving money on your electric bill. You’ll be helping the environment as well as your wallet.
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December 26th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Do you use compact fluorescent and fluorescent lighting around you house? Please leave a comment and start the discussion!