Anyone use the mini fluorescent lights?

[AllegroRondo]

I'm considering switching from the standard bulbs to compact fluorescents after watching an episode of Mythbusters, of all things. They were testing the myth that you save money by leaving a light on continually because it lasts longer (busted).

The data they collected showed that a compact fluorescent bulb uses about 9 times less electricity than a standard filament bulb. That really made me consider switching. But, pricing them around here they cost about $3-5 each, vs. 50cents (or less) for the standard ones.

Do the fluorescents last considerably longer?
Is the energy savings enough to overcome the initial cost of the bulbs?
Where could I buy bulbs more cheaply? (Costco?)

[NMDemDist2]

1. i have switched all my lights to CFLs and love them

Costco had them at a great price in partnership with my local power company last summer

don't go the super cheap ones as the light is harsh and too 'blue' but 'soft white' lights are great!

since we just moved into this house I can't speak of energy savings since we made the switch but I like them alot

the only drawback is they do not work on dimmers, so buy your wattage accordingly. I use a lower watt bulb in the dining room where I want a dimmer light and it works great

[AllegroRondo]

2. No dimmers in my house!

so that shouldnt be a problem.

Im just trying to figure out if I can expect any noticeable drop in electric bills.

do you know if they will work with 3-way lamps? the kind where you can get a bulb that does 50-100-150 watts?

[NMDemDist2]

3. they do have those IIRC

it's actually two filiments, a low one and a medium one and at the strongest setting both filiments light

you should see some savings but even if you don't it's much much more planet friendly and the bulbs last for years and years

but if you change out all of your lights (esp the ones that you have on all the time) you will see a savings drop.

for a huge drop, add power strips to all your electronics (TVs, computers etc) and turn those off at the switch. Most new electronics only go into 'standby' and still pull power even when off.

if you do those two things, add a blanket to your hot water heater (and a timer if your lifestyle allows) you should see a considerable savings! the outlay for bulbs and the blanket/timer should pay themselves back within a year in most cases, if not much sooner

[amerikat]

4. I got a six pack for about $10 at Lowes.

I have used them for years. They last much longer and save $$$$$ on electricity.

[hermetic]

5. Absolutely!

Start with maybe 2, for the lights you leave on the longest. Keep an eye out for sales then at your local handyman or othere stores.

You don't want to put them somewhere you would only turn on for a minute or so, like in a closet. Use a flashlight there instead. Also they're not supposed to be used in enclosed, recessed fixtures. And they don't like COLD weather.

The container should spell out the savings cost for you. Mine says that replacing a 40 W with a 10 W, at the price of 8 cents per kWh, results in a savings of $19.40 over the life of the bulb, which is 8000 hours. And that's just for one bulb.

Several people I know have switched over after seeing mine and getting the facts.



:thumbsup:

Edit to add: there is a slight delay when you turn them on, do not be alarmed. And they get brighter after a few minutes.

[AllegroRondo]

6. Updates - bought a bunch of them

thanks for all the advice!

Cosco had 60 watt equivalents 8 for $11, so I bought a ton and replaced most of the lights we use all the time. Also a 4 pack of 100 watt equivalents for $6.

some notes:

the 100 watt bulbs are larger than a standard light bulb, and dont fit in some table lamps.

bulbs seem dimmer at first, but warm up after a few minutes to the point where you dont notice them.

Dont put a fluorescent bulb in a light circuit that has illuminated switches. Local building code here requires switches that light up for stairway lights, which turns your light switch into a mini-night light. The constant low power over the circuit causes a fluorescent bulb to flash every couple seconds, turning your stairway into a strobe light.

and fluorescent bulbs dont seem to like being in outdoor sockets in the cold. one stopped working after an hour in 22 degrees, it was off and would not turn on.

[NMDemDist2]

7. as for the one in the cold, I have all my outside lights as CFLs

in well below freezing temps

bring it inside and see if it works, it may be just a case of infant mortality

I haven't had any trouble with cold temps :shrug:

[AllegroRondo]

8. thanks, I'll give it another shot.

I had a 100 watt in the back porch light, it worked fine at first. but an hour later I flipped the switch and got nothing, so I just assumed it was the cold.

[many a good man]

9. What brand do you recommend?

I bought some and my wife hated the quality of light they emitted so I went back to incandescent. She thought they were too dim and we couldn't see very well. I would really like buy some that work well, but don't want to waste more money experimenting.

I put a couple out on my front porch. They aren't very bright, but they last WAY WAY longer than the old incandescents. Those always blew out in a matter of weeks or months. The compact flourescents outside are going on three years.

[NMDemDist2]

10. the old style ones had some harsh light, look for a brand that says

"soft white" and you should be fine

since they use so much less power than normal bulbs, you can up the equivilent for higher wattage if you think they aren't bright enough.

they've come a long way in the last couple years

[ima_sinnic]

12. good tip -- I have a couple that are a very harsh, cold, gray

but another one that I absolutely love in my most-used lamp that I read and sew by, the light is quite "normal" for a lightbulb. The harsh ones I bought a couple of years ago at a dollar store; the good one I bought at Lowes more expensively. I will try again for "soft white."

I use one of the harsh ones as an outdoor light and it seems fine for that.

Someone upthread mentions power strips for electronics (computer, TV) and I definitely second that. Even when a TV or computer monitor is "off" it is still really "on." When I turn on the power strip for my TV, I hear a very subtle noise in the TV, meaning something comes "on" in it before I really turn it on.

[Dervill Crow]

14. Good to hear!

I had one in my bedroom lamp that I bought when they were first available, leaving it on all night most nights, but the light was dim to the point that it was difficult to read by. I ended up swapping it out for a regular lightbulb even though it still works. I'll try the newer ones.

[Delphinus]

13. Well,

all of mine, which I switched over to about two years ago, are the ones that simulate sunlight. I really need the light (I have Ott lamps for reading and my office) and I love them. Others may think they're too bright - they're definitely brighter than the soft white.

[many a good man]

15. Can you tell me what brand, type and wattage?

I would love to have natural light and really want to go CFL. I bought this huge round one from Ikea and it's kind of yellowish, but decent enough.

[KitchenWitch]

11. As my incandescents burn out I am converting to the CFLs

I had them in the old house in Minnesota and they do save a lot on the electric bill.

[NMMNG]

16. I use them

They do last much longer and save a good amount of electricity over incandescent bulbs. Costco sells a package of 7 for $11-$12.

[Digit]

17. Yes, I switched out almost all of them

I even replaced my flood lights outside. I was always having to replace the old ones.

[roody]

18. I have a light bulb next to my bed

that is 12 years old. I bought it when they were really expensive, $15 or so. Don't remember.

[progressoid]

19. Heck of a deal

we have old recessed ceiling lights that would overheat and burn out regularly. Now they are all CF and we love it.

[gollygee]

20. We switched almost all our lights

Not the basement ones because we don't use those lights very often and we aren't going to just throw away a bunch of lights, so we're holding onto the old lights and we'll use them as the ones in the basement wear out.

But all the other lights in our house now are compact flourescent. We got them from a locally owned hardware shop so I can't promise we got the best price. But our electricity bill has gone down since.

[lumberjack_jeff]

21. "9 times less" what does that mean?

I think people usually mean "one-ninth" but it literally means -8.

In this context it would mean that installing a CF bulb causes the power company to pay you the equivalent of the energy cost of 8 incandescents.

In my area, the CF floods sold by costco are accompanied by a rebate certificate for $4 off each bulb. The rebate makes the CF floods much cheaper than normal ones.

I find the color takes some getting used to, and they're unsuitable for use with a dimmer. I've never burned out a cf bulb, so like the owl and 'how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop', I have no idea.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

22. Squirrely fluorescents are great!

Put out more light, use less juice, and put out less heat too, which saves money on your A/C taking that heat out!!

Saves twice!