Should I replace light bulbs with low energy bulbs now, or wait for them to break?

Question

I want to minimise my carbon footprint. Changing light bulbs is a tiny part of it, but we're working on all fronts. At the moment, we are waiting for light bulbs to break before putting in low energy bulbs. But should we pro-actively replace them immediately?

The issue I'm worried about is the "embodied energy" used in making and distributing the new light bulbs. Does the energy saving from earlier replacement of the old bulbs justify the embodied energy of the new bulbs being used earlier?

Answer 1

You should replace the light bulbs, because with the low energy bulbs will use less energy. You should keep the old ones in case of emergency or when you run out of the CFLs, so in the time in between.

Answer 2

Wait for them to break.  Any other action is economically foolish

Answer 3

I bought a 5 pack of cfl's, as the old ones gave way, in go the new style.  When the 5 pack ran out, I'd get a new one.

Answer 4

replace it now its saves you energy and money so dont wait till it brakes

Answer 5

i have been replacing my bulbs with the energy saving ones as the blow.

Answer 6

I replaced all my lights and saved the old ones, for emergency use.

Answer 7

The embodied energy to create the incandescent bulbs has been spent, and if the bulb is brand new you will add to the embodied energy at least 3 times as much wasted energy over its lifetime.

Using an accounting principle, if you have used up most of the embodied energy, and along with it a lot of operating enegy, it would still be very worth while to change right away, with one exception.

Now you will run shrieking to the precipice, so control your rage. If you happen to be heating your home with electricity, the low energy cfl bulb will not reduce your electrical consumption during the heating season, use up the incandescents.

If you have a bulb in a closet that goes off when you close the door, and the door is almost always closed, an incandescent is a good fit.

If you have a bulb in yuour fridge and you normally keep the door closed, may as well use an incandescent.

If you have a box that you store low-hydrogen welding rods in, and you keep it heated with a light bulb, stay with incandescent. You might consider using calcium chloride that you periodically heat to drive off water rather than heating the box with a light bulb. The CaCl2 will keep moisture lower than the heat will. That will mean stronger welds.

If you are keeping broods of chicks warm with a light, stay with incandescents.