Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

Want to cut your electric bill? Check into compact fluorescent bulbs! They can save a dramatic amount of energy in the long run. After procrastinating for years, I've bitten the bullet and installed compact fluorescent bulbs in almost every light fixture here at ranchero indebto. And I'm reaping the benefits in more ways than one. Not only are compact fluorescent bulbs more energy-efficient, they last for years. Thats' right ... years. We're talking five years or more, depending on the bulb. Think about not having to change a home full of burned out light bulbs ... especially in those pesky hard-to-reach places ...now that's brilliant!

Compact fluorescent bulbs put out considerably more light per watt when compared to conventional incandescent bulbs. This allows you to use a lower watt bulb, which requires less electricity. A 13 watt compact fluorescent bulb, for example, might put out a roughly equivalent amount of light as a 60 watt incandescent. This saving adds up pretty quickly. If you have a master bathroom that uses half a dozen 60 watt conventional bulbs, you'll end up saving some serious wattage ... at a 47 watt per bulb savings, it adds up to a whopping 285 watts. And not only are they more energy-efficient, they produce less heat, to boot.

But there are some places where you can't use compact fluorescent bulbs ...

While compact fluorescent bulbs fit into conventional sockets, their size can make for a difficult fit at times. I've had trouble fitting some larger wattage compact fluorescent bulbs into certain fixtures. I've solved this problem by going with a lower wattage bulb.

If you have a favorite lamp that uses a lampshade that clamps onto a conventional bulb, you won't be able to use a spiral fluorescent bulb. Now this may seem obvious, but think about it ... do you know how the lampshade is mounted on each and every lamp in your home? I know I didn't ...

Don't use a standard compact fluorescent bulb in a fixture that has a dimmer. I found this out the hard way. Standard compact fluorescent bulbs do not like dimmers ... the bulbs will quickly go bad and by the sound of my experiment, there may be other hazards involved, as well.

The only downside I can see to compact fluorescent bulbs is their initial expense. But I consider that expense to be a wise investment ... one that will reap years of energy and time savings.

In summary, with compact fluorescent bulbs you'll save electricity through greater energy-efficiency. You'll end up buying far fewer replacement bulbs and will literally go for years without changing a burned out bulb. In the long run, you'll save a considerable amount of money on your electricity bills and untold hours of mundane bulb changing. And in its own little way, you'll help make us just tiny bit less dependent on foreign oil.

Check out the U.S. Department of Energy for more info on Energy-Efficient bulbs.