CFLs Be Bright See the Light! Save Money and the Environment

The old fashioned 60 watt light bulb has bestowed light upon billions of people for more than a century. They are reliable, inexpensive, and familiar, and when they first came on the market, they were a godsend, replacing candles and dangerous kerosene lamps. But as time has moved on, these once fossil fuel-efficient bulbs have become the hare whereas Compact Flourescent Lights (CFLs) have become the tortoise of illumination. CFLs cost more up front, but the savings over time makes them a very worthwhile investment for any home owner or renter.

When evaluating the upfront cost of CFLs versus old fashioned incandescent bulbs, the older technology wins. CFLs cost $37 for a pack of six at Staples, which is $26 more than a six pack of incandescent bulbs, but over time the new technology will save you hundreds of dollars, which is why you should not wait until the old bulbs burn out to replace them as replacing them all right away will lead to more savings faster.

To calculate the savings that will be gained by using CFL bulbs, all you have to do is count the number of light bulbs in your house. If your house has 24, then the upfront loss of buying CFLs will be approximately $100 compared to opting for the cheaper product alternative. But each bulb will save about $30, creating a net benefit of roughly $620 for using them.

The numbers work like this:

Cost of 24 cheaper 60 watt incandescent bulbs: $44
Cost of 24 more expensive 13 watt CFL bulbs: $148
Cost difference between the two: $104

Savings per bulb using CFL technology: $30
Savings for using 24 light bulbs: $720
Energy savings minus cost of product difference: $616

The reason the energy cost savings is so great is because CFL bulbs emit the same amount of light using about 25% of the energy. Part of the reason for this is because incandescent bulbs burn up a lot of energy merely creating heat, which is why older bulbs get so hot and newer ones do not. With all of the heat coming off of incandescent bulbs, they also create problems for those living in hotter climates as they unintentionally compete with the air conditioner unit that is attempting to regulate the temperature in the home.

When making the choice of which light bulbs to buy it might seem expensive at the register when you are buying enough bulbs to light your entire house, but where it is expensive up front, it is much cheaper for years to come. And the money saved using newer CFL light bulbs can be applied to paying off debt (not more loans) going out on dates, making donations, or anything at all. When you use CFL bulbs, you win.

 

Firespin Jay is commineted to saving money the Eco way from simple life changes to rapid life chages check out his other stories so you can learn the green saving way. Catch up with the conversation on Twitter  @FirespinJay

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