Energy Saving Lightbulbs? 10 pts also!?

Question

So I was thinking they said every lightbulb will save $30 a month... if I put all energy lightbulbs in my home will I really see a smaller bill next month? I was just curious if they are really as great as they say.... How much was your bill before them and then after? thanks

Answer 1

GE has a savings calculator you can use based on the Watt rating of the compact fluorescent bulb you are using (also based on 4hrs per day usage).  See the link in the sources section for the calcuator.

If you want to do the calculation yourself, you need to know this equation:

money = (Watt_rating)/1000*(time_used)*(price_pe...

money: is the amount of money to run the bulb

Watt_rating: is the rating on the light bulb (divided by 1000 to get kW)

time_used: is the time you run the light bulb (in hours)

price_per_kW-hr: is your energy rate the utility charges

********* Example  *********

So, to compare two bulbs: say a 100 W conventional bulb versus a 26 W energy saver assuming $0.10 per kW-hr energy rate:

money1 = (100 W)/1000*(time_used)*(0.10 $/kW-hr)

money2 = (26 W)/1000*(time_used)*(0.10 $/kW-hr)

savings = money1 - money2 = (0.0074 $/hr)*(time_used)

So by replacing a 100 W bulb with a 26 W energy saving bulb, you are saving about 3/4 of a penny each hour you use the bulb.  Now, how long would it take to save $30?

$30 = (0.0074 $/hr)*(time_used)

time_used = 4054 hrs

So in other words, you would have to run the energy saver bulb for 4054 hours (169 days straight) before you could save $30 in energy costs compared to a 100 W bulb ($40.54 as compared to $10.54).

You might have mis-read that $30 per month savings claim.  The package probably claims that you can save $30 over the lifetime of the bulb (which is still pretty good).  You could potentially save about $10 on your electricity bill per month if you replaced ten of your lightbulbs, depending on how long those ten light bulbs are needed over the course of a month.  You could save even more if you ensure that the bulbs (or other electrical equipment for that matter) are turned off when not in use.

Answer 2

Yea, they save money now, just have to figure out how we are going to pay for the cost to dispose of them later, like how to clean up the mercury in our landfills and water, etc, that is used in these energy saving light bulbs.

Answer 3

The new bulbs give off the equivalent of a 60 w bulb but use only 13 w. If you had 10 old light bulbs burning in your house you would be using 600w of power. With 10 of the new light bulbs you would only be using 130 w of power. Do the math. You are saving a lot of power by using the new bulbs.

Answer 4

you will see some energy savings. If you keep using the new bulbs in about 100 years you might recover the additional costs. Instead of paying $3-4 for the new buld pay 50 cents for the old fashion one and give the difference to charity.

Answer 5

Yes it can save some....I changed all the bulbs 2 yrs ago and the bill went down about 10$ a month.

Answer 6

Yes you will get some energy savings...But it's not worth the downside risk if one of those bulbs accidently breaks and releases Toxic Mercury inside your house. Just look at what I found-out on this website!!!    http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/f...

What if I accidentally break a fluorescent bulb in my home?

The most important thing to remember is to never use a vacuum . A standard vacuum will spread mercury containing dust throughout the area as well as potentially contaminating the vacuum. What you should do is:

Keep people and pets away from the breakage area so that the mercury in the powder inside the bulb is not accidentally tracked into other areas.

Ventilate the area by opening windows.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as rubber gloves, safety glasses, old clothing or coveralls, and a dust mask (if you have one) to keep bulb dust and glass from being inhaled.

Carefully remove the larger pieces and place them in a secure closed container, preferably a glass container with a metal s***w top and gasket seal like a canning jar.

Next, begin collecting the smaller pieces and dust. You can use a disposable broom and dustpan or two stiff pieces of paper to scoop up pieces.

Put all material into the glass container. Pat the area with the sticky side of duct, packing or masking tape. Wipe the area with a damp cloth or paper towels to pick up fine particles.

Put all waste and materials used to clean up the bulb in the glass container and label it “Universal Waste - broken lamp”.

Take the container for recycling as universal waste. To determine where your town has made arrangements for recycling of this type of waste, call your town office or check out the Maine Department of Environmental Protection website at http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/hazardouswa...

Answer 7

depends on how your company bills you. i dont know how the billing works, but if they charge you for just providing service and then a little bit more depending on how much you use, they you will see less of a difference than if they charge you entirely on how much energy you use.