Compact Fluorescents are a hot topic these days. Australia has mandated their use and there has been some talk of similar laws in the US (I’m looking at you, California). What’s the big deal with them? They last longer and use less energy than conventional incandescent bulbs. The negative? They cost significantly more. While your typical incandescent bulb is typically less than a dollar for a common wattage, a compact fluorescent can cost as much as $2 or $3.
So while they’re a pretty big investment, they offer power savings and therefore save money on your electric bill. The question is how long will it take for this pay off in power savings to account for the extra expense of the bulbs? Well it might not be as long as you think, compact fluorescents also last quite a bit longer than incandescent bulbs. Another benefit is they put off less heat than incandescents. Less heat is always better when it comes to cooling a house in Georgia.
The amount of time it would take for the compact fluorescent investment to pay off can vary a lot home to home. Low Impact Living estimates about 1.5yrs on average for a small home. In the world of green living and green lifestyles where an extra cost with little to no economic reward is usually assumed this is quite good. The typical compact fluorescent bulb promises to save anywhere from 40 to 80 kw/hours per year.
It all depends on how big of an initial investment you are willing to make and how long you are willing to wait to see some net savings. Compact fluorescents are an incredibly easy “green” solution though. If you can change a light bulb you can do the upgrade. I have heard some complaints of CF’s not fitting in certain lamps or fixtures but I have yet to come across this. CF’s are getting smaller with each new generation and I have even seen some shaped like the classic light bulb.
Another tip for those that rent like myself. If you want to use CF’s but are worried about not feeling the impact due to a short lease, consider your new bulbs an investment. Take them with you when you move and reinstall the old incandescents. Yes CF’s cost more but because of this they should not be considered disposable like incandescents.
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