Does anyone use the new CFL lightbulbs and what savings on your energy bill have you experienced?

Question

I would consider switching to the CFL lightbulbs but I want to be sure I can notice a savings on energy cost before I make the investment of buying these new lightbulbs. Also, are you getting the same amount of hours usage as regular bulbs, do they last as long as tradition lightbulbs. Thanks all.

Answer 1

I use them exclusively, and my electric bill has gone down around $10 per month. They also last a lot longer than incandescent bulbs.

Answer 2

When I moved 4 years back I first off change all the ceiling lights. Figured why climb up and change them all the time..I have not changed any but one and I think I stole it from a lamp so not a true test but all the other are still going and its actually been 4.4 yrs now. I noticed a 5 dollar drop the month I added the most bulbs. And tried hard to live the same during the 2 months too. So I could check the savings. I also noticed a huge help on using a timer and sun sensitive lamps and out side motion detector.. but don’t go by the dollar amount unless you live in the same state. I talked with others across the us a few years ago and we started talking electric bills and I had to walk away feeling very lucky. Not always greener on the other side no…. no pun intended….sorry…I have seen it matters where you buy them. I have seen good deals at the strangest place once at the grocery store a 3 pc that worked out to 90c a pc. Another thing I have noticed is some volts are different say it’s a 60wt that should =12 some times its 11 or even14 so reed, reed , reed . The best is like the 3way or the fancy ones like for the vanity or special down spot lights. Better ? what to do with all the one’s we replace????I have a box full??? Let me know about that.. LOL good luck take the plunge if they are cheep buy them…

Answer 3

They last about 5 times as long as regular bulbs. I have made an effort to change out the bulbs that stay on the most - like the front porch and kitchen lights that are turned on automatically for convenience, safety and security. I have bill averaging for the whole year so bills creep downward, which they are doing.
There are slight changes in habit because when the bulbs first come on they are about 70% of the brightness and slightly more yellow and come to full brightness over a minute or two.
When buying the bulbs, take a look at the lumens printed on the packaging for your current bulbs and for the CFL. If you have been buying Long Life bulbs, these use even more current (watts) per lumen than common bulbs so if you buy a "60 watt" CFL (that uses about 11 watts as I recall) it may be much brighter than the 60 watt long life bulb you took out.

Answer 4

I switched to all CFL bulbs appx 4 years ago and have seen an average of appx $30 a month reduction in electric bills.

Note that I also switched to an LCD computer monitor instead of a CRT, which might make a bigger impact on my electric use than the bulbs...

But overall... the cost of the bulbs AND the monitor has paid off, and then some.

Answer 5

It varies depending on the bulb you replace/use and your local cost of electricity. Here's an online calculator for you to put in your information, and get your savings.

http://www.efficiencymaine.com/residential_programs_esrl_savingscalculator.htm

It also talks about how long they last. Note that their sample bulb cost seems a bit high to me, but you can change it.

One very important thing. They come in different qualities of light. Most people like "warm white" rather than "cool white" or "natural". It's well worth a little extra money to buy a sample bulb or two to check out how the quality of the light suits you. Because they last a long time.

Answer 6

I have switched all the bulbs in both my houses and have noticed about a $15 a month drop in each bill. Also my electric co-op gave me $25 for switching to CFL's. All I had to do was contact them, get the form, and send it in with the receipt.

Answer 7

We've been using CFL bulbs for awhile & they definately last substantially longer. I honestly don't know how the electricity bills have changed as my SO pays them.

Answer 8

You guys in the states are so far behind. There are unquestionable savings (both monetary & energy) with these bulbs.

Indeed, in the UK & Europe there is talk of the ordinary (incandescent) bulb being outlawed in the near future.

Answer 9

9 W lamp is equivalent to 100 W incandescent lamp

Answer 10

i go with the energy saving bulbs. it not save you much but the environment yes