Energy Savings

Still not sure about those flourescent low wattage energy efficient light bulbs? Consider this...

Total savings over the life of one bulb: $83

Read on... and for more energy efficiency and cost savings read the whole article.

One of the easiest ways to slash your electric bill is to change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (those funny-looking spiral ones) use 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs of similar brightness. As the bulbs grow in popularity, prices are falling dramatically. Wal-Mart now sells 4-packs of their “Great Values” 23-watt CFLs (the equivalent of 100-watt incandescents) for roughly $8, or $2 per bulb.

While that’s double the price you’d pay for comparable incandescent bulbs, the CFLs will last 8 to 10 times longer because they can burn for up to 10,000 hours. That alone makes them worth the extra price, even before considering the significant energy savings.

If you’re put off by the slightly greater up-front cost, start by replacing the bulbs in the light fixtures you use most commonly. Here’s a breakdown of the math:

Action step: Replace one 100-watt incandescent bulb with one 100-watt CFL

Up-front cost: $1 (more per bulb than an incandescent)

Time to pay off: 17 days

Potential annual savings in electricity: $22

Lifetime Savings in Light Bulb Purchases: $6

Lifetime Electrical Savings: $77

Total Lifetime Savings: $83

* Assumptions: Calculations assume CFL bulb cost of $2 vs. $1 for an incandescent; the bulb is on an average of 8 hours per day; an electrical cost of 10 cents/kWh (kilowatt hour); the CFL bulb lasts 8 times as long as an incandescent. Note: To calculate your potential electrical savings, multiply 770 x your local electrical rate per kilowatt hour

Source: http://green.msn.com/galleries/photos/photos.aspx?gid=193>1=45002&page=2