My husband eyed me warily as I followed him around the house turning off the lights when he left the room. I could hear him muttering under his breath. I didn’t understand everything he said, which was probably a good thing for him, but I caught a few of the words: “mumble, mumble…sounds like my mother…”
I know I sounded like mine. I just didn’t understand why our house needed to be lit like a Christmas tree all year long! Turning off lights seemed like a simple step to take to lower our energy bill (and save the planet at the same time). However, it’s a habit that you have to develop. I prefer to think of it in a positive way, instead of thinking, “I have to break the habit of leaving the lights on.”
As I was considering our energy consumption, a light bulb went on in my brain. It looked a little bit like this one. I realized that as much as I resisted it, the time had arrived to switch to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs).
I confess I had not been fond of these squiggly little bulbs when I first encountered them. I thought they were ugly … and I didn’t like the light they produced. People, I have a houseful of “vintage” lamps, and I didn’t want to put an ugly bulb with them!
I went on-line to try to find a way to talk myself out of it, but the arguments for purchasing CFLs are compelling:
* Though they initially cost more to purchase, a CFL is said to last 9-10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.
* CFLs use from 50%-80% less energy to provide the same amount of light as a standard incandescent bulb. That can translate into a $30-$45 energy savings over the lifespan of one single bulb.
* Replacing one incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep 1/2 ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the lifespan of that bulb.
* CFLs generate about 70% less heat than an incandescent bulb (saving on cooling bills in the summer)
I didn’t see a way around it, so I made a trip to the local hardware store. I found that you can purchase the bulbs in several “color temperatures”: “soft light,” bright light” or “daylight.” I discovered that the CFL bulbs come in a variety of shapes (not just the twisty ones), so I could use round ones at my vanity table and candelabra shaped ones in my chandeliers. Best of all, I found that there are some CFLs that work with my three way lamps!
Slowly we began the switch. We haven’t replaced all of the bulbs at our house, because we can’t afford that outlay of cash all at once, but we are making headway. I’m feeling victorious, though, because I know that by reducing our energy consumption we help improve the environment. By lowering our use of electricity, I am not just being frugal … I am reducing our carbon footprint.
Am I liking the bulbs? I’m loving the bright light 3-way bulb in my reading lamp beside the bed and the daylight bulb in my pantry shows me all the nooks and crannies (now I know I need to dust the pantry). The bright light that I put in my closet is amazing! I didn’t know I had all those shoes!
Some people worry about the disposal of these bulbs, because they contain mercury. From everything I’ve read, I gather that the amount of mercury is minuscule. Though you cannot throw them in the household trash, most communities have recycling centers that will take them. Check out Earth911.com to find a recycling area in your zipcode for your Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (and any other materials that are hazardous to the environment).
If you decide to test CFL bulbs, GE warns that using a CFL in a lamp that is switched on and off frequently will considerably lower the lifespan of the bulb. They work best in applications where the light will be left on for fifteen minutes or longer.
But, Honey, if you are reading this please understand that this is no excuse for you not to turn out the lights! Turning out the lights when you no longer need them is a way to save money and the environment that is absolutely free. I promise that I’ll quit following you around the house.
So have you made the switch to CFL? Do you like them?
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We have finally switched over entirely. The arrangement isn’t perfect yet because fluorescents and my eyes do not get along, but I’m trying different bulb types until I get one that works at my desk rather than indirectly lighting from behind me.
Another thing to consider if someone is in remodel mode is sensors that turn on and turn off lights when people leave or enter a room.
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..Let Me Be Your Rider Now =-.
I’ve had to experiment a little, too. And, I have one lamp (a favorite, of course) that really doesn’t want to work with the fluorescent. Perhaps it needs re-wiring.
As for the sensors, I like them. My hairdresser has them, but I notice that if there is no movement in the room the lights will go off … and you might just be sitting and reading. It makes sense to get them for closets and rooms that aren’t used often, though.
I must have grown up with the idea of conserving energy. We just turned out the lights when we left the room. My Sweetie Pie does the same so it works out well….one of the few things in which we are alike.
I have avoided the squiggly lights too. I can’t stand fluorescent light. Who wants their home to look like the local government office building.
But now that I know they come in soft tones I will have to check them out.
.-= Sheila Atwood´s last blog ..Easter Giveaway Event – A Lesson In List Building =-.
I “grew up” with the idea, Sheila… but I lost it somewhere along the way
. The soft tones are almost too soft for me, but they work well if it’s in an area where I’m not reading.
No … we don’t want our houses looking like a government office building. I don’t think there is a chance of that around here. Gov’t offices don’t have nekkid mannequins
I started making the switch last year and I didn’t do it all at one time, either. When one of my regular bulbs went out, I replaced it with the CFL’s. At first, I didn’t like the light they gave off, but I got used to it and now all the bulbs in my house are CFLs. They do last longer, that’s for sure! I am rarely changing light bulbs anymore. I’m also still using my tote bags instead of taking plastic bags from the grocery stores! I’m thinking it’s time to take one more step.
.-= Jessica The Rock Chick´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.
So, what will your next step be? I’m curious … and you might get me trying something else, too
The other day, I changed a lightbulb that was a CFL … I thought it had burned out, but it turned out to be the lamp itself.
I figure that by the time I get switched completely, the new trend will be the LEDs. That’s just the way things work for me.
We’ve begun that transition here too. Would you believe though I didn’t realize these light bulbs were of the flourescent type until I read your blog post? But anyway, I didn’t really like the looks of them but daughter said they were supposed to be longer lasting than regular light bulbs and the way we were always blowing out/burning out light bulbs in our overhead lights in the living room and dining room (each of those overhead fixtures takes 4-5 bulbs) it was a never ending battle to keep ‘em all functioning. But anyway, we gradually have those two fixtures plus the one above the kitchen sink which stays on constantly fitted with these bulbs and yes, I have seen a large decrease in the how quickly bulbs burn out there! Don’t know if there’s any marked decrease in our electric bill though because too many people in this house tend to not know how to use the off side of the light switches here! One party seems to like to talk on the phone on the deck on the back of the house and seems to have to have the back light on but never remembers to shut it off and that could leave it burning for days if one doesn’t remember to look out the back door in the evenings now and again! But anyway, I’ve found I like these bulbs now, not just for not having to replace bulbs every other week or so but also because for me, they seem to provide a much stronger light when I am working on my needle crafts (which is every spare minute I have, ya know) so that’s a really big benefit to me as it seems to help save wear and tear on my old eyes that way!
.-= Jeni Hill Ertmer´s last blog ..Fright Night!!! =-.
Once they warm up, I really like them for working on the crafts, too!
Sounds like y’all need to invest in one of the sensors that Jamie mentioned for that back porch
We’ve been slowly switching out for months as well. I like them so far. I don’t like the squiggly look in my ceiling fan lights so I’ve been searching for regular looking ones but haven’t found any yet.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Pre-K Drama =-.
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH the electric company bill is like a nightmare. And I do use CFL and halogen lamps, but we are used to have a lot of electric gadgets, that´s part of” civilization”.
Hugs!
.-= Lola´s last blog ..Blanco y azul =-.
I know what you mean about the electric bill! It’s crazy, isn’t it? I wish I could afford the solar panels. Do you have many of those in Spain?
We have yet to completely make the switch. I have the same problem with my husband. Goodness, he’s so sweet but I guess he doesn’t like the cat to be in the dark. When I turn right onto our dark street I can see our house from the corner and every single window is lit up. A stream of water is running in the bathroom because the cat cannot drink out of the water dish–it has to be the faucet. The closet light is on, the bedroom etc. And in each room, there are a dozen lights in the ceiling. I take a deep breath. I call when I get to work in the evening to make sure all lights are off. There’s hope. The electric bill was $20 less last month.
I so relate to this. Mine doesn’t leave a stream of water running for the cat, but do you know how long it takes for him to shave? With the water running the whole time????
Oh, dear. You and your readers exhibit such an inspiring degree of environmental responsibility, I’m sorry to rain on your parade. New products & technologies meant to deal with a specific environmental issue sometimes trade one problem for another.
Mercury used in CFLs is a hazardous neurotoxin that accumulates in the brain. Working fluorescents have long been a trigger for migraine headaches, seizures and light sensitivities. Breaking a CFL releases toxic vapor in the bedroom or kitchen, posing worrisome health and clean-up problems.
Not all areas have established disposal regulations or recycling sites for CFLs, and even where they have, people often toss them into the trash. The mercury ends up in the landfill, releases toxins into the air, soil and groundwater, and contaminates waterways, killing fish and wildlife, eventually penetrating our food chain.
The EPA website acknowledges the mercury toxicity of a broken CFL. Their clean-up advice: don’t use bare hands, vacuum cleaner or broom that further disperses mercury; put the debris in a jar and place in curbside trash. What’s wrong with this picture?
If you buy CFLs, use in areas where they aren’t constantly switched on and off as this reduces their life span. Purchase from environmentally responsible retailers who have recycling for proper (intact) disposal. Your link to Earth911.com is brilliant in revealing retailers who take back toxic materials. Keep away from children and the clumsy. Recycle.
The argument is this: do toxic disadvantages of CFLs outweigh energy-saving benefits? Many countries have banned incandescents. Germans concerned for their health, and museums securing future quality of light, have already stockpiled huge quantities of the traditional lighting. New Zealand just lifted its ban on incandescents due to the serious health concerns of CFLs.
As a consumer, know the pros and cons. Look for resources on the subject with both sides of the issue. Use dimmers and sensors. Turn off lighting in empty rooms. Put appliances and electronics on power strips and unplug over night. Candlelight at dinnertime might be nice, with collateral benefits.
Sorry for going on. Few environmental issues are as easy as they may first seem.
.-= Joy´s last blog ..SPRING LAMB =-.
We switched over quite a long time ago… never noticed a difference in the light bill, but we don’t use many lights. I have a lot of night lights and have an open floor plan, so we can see in the kitchen without turning on a light. With an older house… the lights blow out because of weird wiring, I think, not just because it’s worn out.
Debbie
No, Joy, environmental issues are never easy. You’ve given the other viewpoint, and I appreciate it. I’m still going for the CFLs, though
Debbie, I wish we had a more open floor plan so a few lights would do. Weird wiring in older houses can be a hazard! You have had someone check them out, I hope. If they are blowing out bulbs on a regular basis it could be a warning sign.
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