[Vision2020] Savings on Light Bulb Use

[Art Deco]

Jeff, et al,

We purchase and use Feit Conserv-Energy bulbs which we purchase by the 4-pack at Costco for about 1/3 of the cost of similar items at WalMart and other area stores.  Doing this, each bulb costs about $1.50.

Comparison:

      Type
     Lumens
     Energy Used
     Average Life
     
      Ordinary Bulb
     1690
     100 Watts
     750 Hours
     
      Conserv-Energy
     1600
     23 Watts
     10,000 Hours
     

 

The Conserv-Energy bulbs use less than 1/4 the energy of an ordinary bulb, last 13 1/3 times longer, but give about 5% less light.  If you rerun your figures for this particular energy saver bulb, you will perhaps reach a different conclusion about the savings involved.



There are two disadvantages of the energy saver bulb:  



1.    It takes about a minute for it to reach full light output level.

2.    There are a few places where they cannot be used due to their different size and shape.





Note to Tom, Dan:  Re: Motion Detector Lights:



1.    There are now more sophisticated models of motion detection lights available including one using a wireless transmitter which will sound an alarm inside and/or outside your home.  The alarm(s) can be turned on or off.  This would not work for those of us on Moscow Mountain who lights are switched on by deer, elk, moose, bear, raccoons, skunks, owls, and occasional bobcats and cougars (and wandering neighborhood pets) -- it is a useful however for more populated, less feral areas.



2.    When installing motion detector lights and fixtures be sure to silicon completely and heavily around any opening where moisture could even possibly enter.  Even a little moisture will cause these units to malfunction (until they dry out again).


Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Harkins" <jeffh at moscow.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 6:46 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Savings on Light Bulb Use


> In an earlier post, a "visionaire" was extolling the virtues of the savings 
> experienced by switching from standard incandescent light bulbs to "energy 
> saver" type bulbs.  He said his experience generated savings of $20.00 per 
> month.  I thought about that and realized that it was possible, but unlikely.
> 
> So that folks aren't misled about the possible savings that would accrue by 
> switching to the energy saving bulbs, here is an example.
> 
> The example is based on the Sylvania Energy Saver bulb.  Sylvania 
> advertises that if you switch from an "ordinary" 75 watt soft white light 
> bulb (which produces 1,180 lumens) to their energy saver 67 watt light bulb 
> (which produces 1040 lumens) you can save $.48 per year (they assume their 
> bulbs - both types - have an average life of 750 hours - approximately one 
> year's use) and the price per kilowatt hour is $.08 (I think our price 
> locally is about $07 per KW.  This computes to a savings of $ .04 per month 
> for each bulb in service. So, yes indeed, if you have a place with 
> approximately 500 light bulbs, you can save about $20.00 per month by 
> switching to energy saver type bulbs.
> 
> But also realize you will lose the use of some 70000 lumens  (140 lumens 
> per bulb times 500 bulbs) over the course of the year. If you actually need 
> those lumens, you will have to purchase an additional 67 bulbs.
> 
> I think one would save more by switching to Geico.
> 
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