Has anyone compared their electric bills after switching to mini-fluorescent light bulbs?

[KingNothing]

I'm trying to figure out if it's worth dropping almost $100 to replace all the bulbs in my apartment with mini-fluorescents. I think I probably will, if for no other reason than for the whiter light, but I'm curious if anyone has an actual monetary amount they saved in a month.

 

[OFFascist]

I changed most of the light bulbs in my house, but I never actually compared the light bill.

One thing is for damn sure they last a whole lot longer.

About a month ago I had one burn out, and my family was like wow it finally died and then I remembered it was the very first one I bought and I bought it when I was still in highschool. I'm 24 now.

 

[Mrvile]

Our incandescent bulbs are a pain, they burn out often and they get hella hot. However I haven't found flourescent bulbs to be much better. They give off a "colder" light, they buzz, flicker, and we've even had some burn out. I use an incandescent bulb for my nightstand lamp because I like the color and it doesn't buzz or flicker, but we use flourescents pretty much everywhere else.

 

[neonerd]

Originally posted by: OFFascist
I changed most of the light bulbs in my house, but I never actually compared the light bill.

One thing is for damn sure they last a whole lot longer.

About a month ago I had one burn out, and my family was like wow it finally died and then I remembered it was the very first one I bought and I bought it when I was still in highschool. I'm 24 now.

:Q

 

[iamwiz82]

Honestly, bulbs burn out so rarely that it doesn't matter to me. The $6 I'd save a year is not worth the time to change them.

 

[Sluggo]

I have a few fluorescent bulbs in some hard to get to fixtures, but I HATE the light they give off.

Everything is a funny color, hell it even makes the dog look green. If they had some with a little more natural color I think I would do the whole house.

 

[OFFascist]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Honestly, bulbs burn out so rarely that it doesn't matter to me. The $6 I'd save a year is not worth the time to change them.

Compact Flourescent bulbs last years.

 

[Mrvile]

Does anyone else get buzzing with some flourescent lights or is it just me?

 

[silverpig]

I wish I could afford the 5500K white lights my aunt uses at work... Prolly some crazy plasma arc lighting or something.

White LEDs are getting cheaper all the time too... not quite there yet though.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: silverpig
I wish I could afford the 5500K white lights my aunt uses at work... Prolly some crazy plasma arc lighting or something.

White LEDs are getting cheaper all the time too... not quite there yet though.

LEDs are too bright, unless they're in a coated bulb like some incandescents are, they belong only in buttons and toys.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Does anyone else get buzzing with some flourescent lights or is it just me?

I get a buzz from a lot of things, light bulbs arent on the list.

 

[Looney]

If you do the math, since they use less watts, yes, they will consume less electricity, so you'll save. Add the fact that the life of these are SOOOO much longer than normal bulbs. They do cost more than normal bulbs, but just not needing to change the bulbs every few months is worth some savings imo.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: silverpig
I wish I could afford the 5500K white lights my aunt uses at work... Prolly some crazy plasma arc lighting or something.

White LEDs are getting cheaper all the time too... not quite there yet though.

LEDs are too bright, unless they're in a coated bulb like some incandescents are, they belong only in buttons and toys.

Uh, you can make dimmer LEDs just by not pumping so much power into them. Too bright is relative.

 

[SSP]

Originally posted by: Sluggo
I have a few fluorescent bulbs in some hard to get to fixtures, but I HATE the light they give off.

Everything is a funny color, hell it even makes the dog look green. If they had some with a little more natural color I think I would do the whole house.

I noticed certain brands are better then others. Also, with a light fixture, it has the same yellowish color as the normal 60watt bulbs we used before.

However... I noticed that fluorescents are VERY annoying when you?re trying to read under the light. This is why I have an incandescent desk lamp.

 

[0roo0roo]

ikea is a good place to get cheap ones. a lots of light fixtures while you are at it. dunno how much i save. maybe half. less wattage per bulb, but i got lots more lights overall. ikea has a wide variety of sizes. more then at placeslike home depot for sure. and they have the light fixtures that use em of course.

 

[GeekDrew]

I replaced all of the incandescent bulbs in the hallways and staircases in one of the homes that my family owns with fluorescent bulbs. I'm glad I did it, simply so that I don't have to climb up there and change them as often, now.

Now, if they made a fluorescent bulb that looked good in a chandelier (sp?), we'd be all set. It's a PITA to change those things.

I just had to change the fluorescent bulbs in the kitchen at one of the houses for the first time about a year ago. I think the last time it was replaced was the mid 90's.

 

[phisrow]

I just dropped one into the fixture in my room. 13 watt, claims to be 60 watt equivalent. So far I'm quite pleased with the colour of the light. I cannot very well comment on longevity, of course.

 

[oog]

we bought some, but we aren't going around replacing perfectly good working incandescent bulbs. as the old bulbs burn out we replace them with the fluorescent ones. yes, it does look a little strange to have a mixture, but i don't care.

 

[KingNothing]

I got bulbs from Costco today. $30 for 8 1600-lumen bulbs and 8 960-lumen bulbs. Not bad...

I for one really like the light they give off. It's whiter than incandescents. I can't find the bulbs themselves being sold on Ikea's site though, anyone care to link?

Also, does anyone make mini-fluorescent bulbs in a floodlamp housing? I'm talking about the kind of bulb you'd put in a motion-detector.

 

[Ornery]

We bought a pile from Home Depot about six months ago for really cheap, but two have died already. WTF?

Edit: After thinking about it, I realized the ones that died were in enclosed housings. Bet the heat did 'em in.

 

[Otaking]

Months differ too drastically in Texas to get a good comparison.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: Ornery
We bought a pile from Home Depot about six months ago for really cheap, but two have died already. WTF?

Edit: After thinking about it, I realized the ones that died were in enclosed housings. Bet the heat did 'em in.

The package does say they're not meant for an enclosed housing. Of course, it also says not to use them in a dimmer fixture and I've got five there now. :evil: They don't turn on until the dimmer's all the way up, of course. Maybe I'll put the dimmer version of these bulbs in there eventually if I want that feature.

 

[serialkiller]

so has anybody seen a difference in their electric bill?

 

[mercanucaribe]

What are 4100k color temperature bulbs like? Are they more like incandescents or are they bluish?

Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature

Apparently tungsten lamps are 2800k... So what color are the traditional fluorescent bulbs?

 

[Viperoni]

Electricity bill went down significantly, but all we had were incandescent lamps.

A yellower light is easier on your eyes, and better for seeing in dimly lit areas.
I put a fluorescent light in an exterior houselamp, and it's tough to make out stuff outside, but it does provide some light (at a MUCH lower price).

However, a pair of average 60-watt-equivalent fluoresecent bulbs in an average bedroom work fine.

Just make sure not to get the really cheap ones, I bought a few, they were extremely bluish and SUCK.