|
Change
your light bulbs
A review
of the lights in our home, which consists of a living room,
dining room, kitchen, laundry room, hall, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
|
Room
|
# Lights
(wattage)
|
Was
|
Is
|
Can be
|
|
Living Room
|
4 (20, 20, 30,
14)
|
400
|
84
|
84
|
|
Dining Room
|
3 (13, 23, 80)
|
360
|
116
|
62
|
|
Kitchen
|
2 (80, 16)
|
96
|
96
|
96
|
|
Laundry room
|
1 (100)
|
100
|
100
|
13
|
|
Hall
|
1 (25)
|
100
|
25
|
13
|
|
Main bedroom
|
3 (13, 13, 20)
|
300
|
46
|
46
|
|
Spare bedroom
|
2 (300, 15)
|
315
|
315
|
84
|
|
Main bathroom
|
3 (13, 13, 13)
|
450
|
39
|
39
|
|
Spare bathroom
|
2 (20, 11)
|
200
|
31
|
26
|
|
Total wattage
from lights
|
2321
|
852
|
463
|
When we
first moved in, the wattage of all light bulbs was 2320. Since then, as
we’ve needed to replace bulbs, we’ve hesitantly experimented with
different compact fluorescent bulbs. The combined wattage is now 850,
or a 63% reduced consumption. Reviewing our cozy home, I still see 4
places where I could make changes, one of which needs us to replace the
300W torchiere halogen with a new fixture. Within a few months, as we
incorporate the changes, we anticipate the combined wattage to drop to
460, an 80% drop! Now why didn’t we do this two years ago?
Some lessons we learnt…
- When
buying compact fluorescent bulbs, buy the ones with the electronic ballast. This means
no-delay lights, an essential feature for bulbs needed to turn on as
you enter a room.
- My
favorite is Sylvania’s spiral
bulb, 60w equivalent for 13w, available at Lowe’s, with a very warm glow.
- My least
favorite? Any CF bulb from Ikea.
Although their purchase price is cheap, they usually have a startup
delay, and really low lumens. I found myself getting depressed in
spaces where I’ve used them.
- Sylvania also makes great circle
fluorescent bulbs with adapters for standard lights with lamp shades.
Both the 20W and 30W bulbs in this category are great for reading by.
A 60 W
bulb, running 4 hrs a day, uses $12.25 of electricity in a year. A 23 W
bulb, would use about $4.75 in a year. The savings is $7.50, per
bulb, per year. If a bulb is $3 each, this pays for the bulb
twice over! And they last longer… think about it!
content modified: 4/29/2004 by meenal,
member of MAGNET, Mt Airy Greening Network
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