Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs-Worth The $$

tomtom · 02-22-2008, 05:12 AM

I have slowly started to change the lightbulbs in my house over to CFL's. When I first started doing this, I started with the main bathroom which had 6 - 60 incandescents for the 2 fixtures and was on a good amount of time with 4 people in the house getting ready for school/work every morning. I believe that I have already started to see some decrease in the electrical usage on my monthly bill. Has anyone else changed over to these and seen similar results? I don't know how long it will take to recoup the initial cost, but if they last 10 years, I'm sure that they will more than do that.

purplefdu · 02-22-2008, 07:34 AM

There is a coupon in All You magazine this month for CFCs and one from Smartsource I printed out (well one of the printable sites). We had CFCs in our apartment when we moved in and upgraded them to the newer ones as they were about 5-8yrs old. When the landlords son moved in downstairs he didn't like them and replaced them with regular filament bulbs. You can bet I have seen my electric bill go back up...

alex · 02-22-2008, 03:42 PM

If you don't have a problem with shopping at Wal-Mart, you can get CFLs for less than a dollar. And if anyone hasn't switched yet, here's a good read: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/...ightbulbs.html

I saved money after switching. It's a good thing to switch, regardless of cost-savings.

changed4life · 02-22-2008, 05:30 PM

Do CFLs give off a different kind of light?

alex · 02-23-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by changed4life

Do CFLs give off a different kind of light?

You may find them to be bluer than incandescent bulbs, but if you get a "daylight" CFL, you'll be fine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp

dapooh1 · 02-24-2008, 09:09 AM

Buy a good brand. I purchased some cheap CFL's and discovered that two out of the eight were dead on arrival. I called the 800 number to report the bad bulbs, and they sent me three new ones. Then two weeks later I discovered that two more of the bulbs that had initially worked had stopped working.

GE sometimes has coupons for their CFL bulbs on their coupon page.

http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_li...oupons_offers/

Also, keep in mind that CFL's contain small amounts of mercury so if you break one, be very careful and thorough cleaning up, and you need to take the old/dead bulbs to a toxic waste recycler (like you do with batteries) that can deal with the mercury.

MSMomsmoney · 02-24-2008, 09:50 AM

I got some great coupons from my electric company...wound up costing me 19 cents each CFL bulb.

Might want to call your electric company and ask.

My bill went down $13 per month.

Win win.

Solinvicta · 02-27-2008, 02:50 PM

I second the idea of getting good CFL's...they still aren't usually that expensive if you buy them at the right time. It seems like they go on sale, or they'll have special offers through the electrical company.

I bought a few from a dollar store once - that was a mistake! They gave off a strange, yellow light, and the bulbs themselves were longer than regular bulbs, and so, so of the light covers that I had wouldn't fit.

02-22-2008, 05:12 AM	#1
tomtom Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (11)	Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs-Worth The $$ I have slowly started to change the lightbulbs in my house over to CFL's. When I first started doing this, I started with the main bathroom which had 6 - 60 incandescents for the 2 fixtures and was on a good amount of time with 4 people in the house getting ready for school/work every morning. I believe that I have already started to see some decrease in the electrical usage on my monthly bill. Has anyone else changed over to these and seen similar results? I don't know how long it will take to recoup the initial cost, but if they last 10 years, I'm sure that they will more than do that.

02-22-2008, 07:34 AM	#2
purplefdu Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: York Beach, ME Posts: 627 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (29)	There is a coupon in All You magazine this month for CFCs and one from Smartsource I printed out (well one of the printable sites). We had CFCs in our apartment when we moved in and upgraded them to the newer ones as they were about 5-8yrs old. When the landlords son moved in downstairs he didn't like them and replaced them with regular filament bulbs. You can bet I have seen my electric bill go back up... __________________ Homeward Bound Puppy Blog&Personal Blog best general coupon site & organic grocery coupon help

02-24-2008, 09:50 AM	#7
MSMomsmoney Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pacific NorthWest Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (13)	I got some great coupons from my electric company...wound up costing me 19 cents each CFL bulb. Might want to call your electric company and ask. My bill went down $13 per month. Win win. __________________ It's not about having what you want, It's about wanting what you have.

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02-22-2008, 03:42 PM	#3
alex Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wilson's basement Posts: 97 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (60)	If you don't have a problem with shopping at Wal-Mart, you can get CFLs for less than a dollar. And if anyone hasn't switched yet, here's a good read: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/...ightbulbs.html I saved money after switching. It's a good thing to switch, regardless of cost-savings.

02-22-2008, 05:30 PM	#4
changed4life Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Do CFLs give off a different kind of light?

02-24-2008, 09:09 AM	#6
dapooh1 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (12)	Buy a good brand. I purchased some cheap CFL's and discovered that two out of the eight were dead on arrival. I called the 800 number to report the bad bulbs, and they sent me three new ones. Then two weeks later I discovered that two more of the bulbs that had initially worked had stopped working. GE sometimes has coupons for their CFL bulbs on their coupon page. http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_li...oupons_offers/ Also, keep in mind that CFL's contain small amounts of mercury so if you break one, be very careful and thorough cleaning up, and you need to take the old/dead bulbs to a toxic waste recycler (like you do with batteries) that can deal with the mercury.

02-27-2008, 02:50 PM	#8
Solinvicta Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 79 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (12)	I second the idea of getting good CFL's...they still aren't usually that expensive if you buy them at the right time. It seems like they go on sale, or they'll have special offers through the electrical company. I bought a few from a dollar store once - that was a mistake! They gave off a strange, yellow light, and the bulbs themselves were longer than regular bulbs, and so, so of the light covers that I had wouldn't fit.