When you replace standard incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent bulbs, you can reduce your lighting costs by up to 75%. In addition, compact fluorescent bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs-about 10,000 hours - saving money on replacement costs as well.
Compact Fluorescent Screw-In Replacement Bulbs
The two-piece compact fluorescent has a bulb that plugs into a reusable screw-in ballast adapter. These ballasts have an average life of 45,000-50,000 hours.
One-piece compact fluorescents are sold as a complete bulb/ballast unit. When the bulb needs to be replaced, the entire unit must be replaced. However, these bulbs last about 10 time longer than standard incandescent bulbs.
Circline bulbs are fluorescent tubes in the shape of a circle. They can be screwed in to replace incandescent bulbs, and can be plugged into a reusable ballast or purchased as a one-piece unit.
The following table lists several standard incandescent bulbs and the compact fluorescents that can replace them.
| Incandescent | Compact Fluorescent* |
|---|---|
| 60 Watts | 15 Watts |
| 75 Watts | 20 Watts |
| 90 Watts | 23 Watts |
| 100 Watts | 28 Watts |
|
* This comparison is an approximation. The actual lumens or light output may vary from bulb to bulb. |
|
Energy Savings
Although compact fluorescent bulbs initially cost more than incandescent bulbs, they use less energy and last longer. The following chart shows the potential life-cycle savings when replacing a 75 Watt incandescent with a 20 Watt compact fluorescent. In this example, we've estimated that the compact fluorescent bulb lasts as long as 10 incandescent bulbs. Estimated savings over the 10-year life of the compact fluorescent bulb are more than $38.
| Bulb | Retail Cost | Annual Energy Cost Per Bulb* |
Total Annual Energy Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75 watt incandescent | $7.50 ($.75 x 10) | $6.07 | $60.70 |
| 20 watt compact fluorescent | $13 ($13 x 1) | $1.70 | $1.70 |
| * Based on 1,000 hours of use per year at a cost of $0.085 per kWh of electricity | |||
Applications
New technologies for compact fluorescent bulbs make it possible to place
them almost anywhere that incandescent bulbs are used. This includes enclosed
lighting, recessed lighting, track lighting and outdoor lighting. For
help selecting the right bulb for your particular needs, we suggest
checking with a local lighting supplier. To save the most energy place
them where they will be used most frequently, and for long periods of
time. For instance, in your kitchen, living room or family room, in the
family bath, and in reading lamps.
