The temperature has dipped below the freezing mark, and snow is on the ground. Winter is here. Winter means longer nights, which means that we have our lights on at our homes longer. Having our lights on longer means that our electric meter is spinning faster, and our electric bill is growing fatter. Well this winter doesn't have to be the same. Changing over your standard incandescent light bulbs to new compact fluorescent light bulbs can save you significant money.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFL's, can save you 75% over standard incandescent bulbs. Since lighting accounts for more than 20% of the average household's electric bill, this can provide a significant savings for you. Furthermore, CFL's last up to 10 times longer than standard bulbs. So your effort now doesn't have to be repeated for many years to come, but your savings will continue on. So while CFL's cost slightly more than standard light bulbs to purchase, they are far less expensive after factoring in both the energy savings and its expected life expectancy.
All right, so let's begin. While the switch is as easy as changing a light bulb (literally!), you'll make it even easier if you do a little home work before you run out to purchase your new CFL's.
What you need to do is make an inventory of your existing lighting, both style and wattage. Be sure to note if you have any bulbs on dimmer switches, recessed lighting or if any are 3-way bulbs. Don't forget your outdoor decorative lights and floodlights. Also note if the bulbs are soft white, bright white or natural light. Finally, note any special bulbs, such as globe or chandelier styles. You may want to bring samples of these bulbs along with you to make sure you get the right size, for both of the bulb and the metal fixture. As you do this, make a note of how many of each type of bulb you have.
While you can take this list to the store as is, I found it handy to make a grid for easy reference. I listed each of the different styles and types of bulbs down the left side of the grid, and listed the wattages along the top of the grid. I then filled out how many of each bulb I needed in the grid itself.
Another easy reference I brought along with me was a printout from energystar.gov. From the site's home page, search for "CFL purchasing guide" and it will be the first item of the resulting list. This guide made choosing the right replacement bulb a snap.
Happy shopping and let the savings begin!
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