Make The Change, Change a light bulb and make a difference
Sometimes it takes a motive to make a change so let money be your motivator and change a light bulb today.
Replacing a standard incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs known as (CFL), you'll save money on your electric bill and help the environment. The savings comes because the (CFL) uses less electric to operate and not only will you save money that way but you will save on your AC cost because the (CFL) throws off less heat then a regular old fashioned light bulb.
Cost Saving Benefits
Not only will you be saving money , you can take that savings and put it in to your monthly mortgage payment as extra principle. This means you can pay off your mortgage faster and paying off your mortgage faster means you save money on unwanted interest as well. Sounds like a great plan doesn't it?
Regular incandescent light bulbs are very inefficient meaning they cost a lot more to bring light to you and your house. Over half the energy consumed by an incandescent light bulb produces heat, not light. and when there is heat it makes your Air Conditioner run more therefore increasing your electric bill. Compact fluorescent light ( CFL ) bulbs are more efficient than incandescent bulbs. (CFL) bulbs typically uses 65%-75% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb to provide the same amount of light. It is a known fact that ( CFL ) bulbs last up to 10 times longer than a regular light bulb therefore are cost effective in the long run.
The up-front cost of a CFL bulb is typically higher than a standard incandescent bulb, the cost savings over the life of the bulb can be large. Here is an example. Replace one 100 watt standard incandescent bulb with a 28 watt CFL bulb that produces the same amount of light. Assume also that:
- the CFL bulb costs $5.00 and lasts 10,000 hours
- a standard incandescent bulb cost $0.75 and lasts 1,000 hours (therefore 10 standard bulbs are required to last as long as the one CFL bulb).
- the cost of electricity in your area is $0.12/kWh
Really there is no real reason to think about it, Go ahead an replace one light bulb, and you could save $88.90 over the life of that bulb. Here is a better thought try replacing all light bulbs to ( CLF ) and your savings will be greater.
It's also important to note that in some areas of the U.S., notably the North East, the cost of electricity to consumers is closer to $0.17 - $0.20/kWh.
Finally, don't forget the heat. Given that standard incandescent bulbs throw off most of their energy as heat, your home cooling costs in the summer increase in order to offset the heat generated by your standard incandescent light bulbs. With an energy efficient AC, making sure your AC ducks don't have leaks and by cleaning your AC filter when it needs to be cleaned you will even a lower home eclectic bill.
Environmental Benefits
Over half of the electricity in the U.S. is generated by coal-fired power plants. The abundance of coal in the U.S. makes it one of the cheapest energy sources for power plants. The problem is that in addition to generating cheap electricity, coal-fired power plants also release massive amounts of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas linked to global warming.
By replacing a few incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, you have an important role to play in the fight against global warming. Let's work backwards:
If you replace incandescent light bulbs with CFL light bulbs....
....then you'll consume less electricity
.....then less coal-based power will have to be generated to meet your demand
....then less coal will be burned
....then less greenhouse gas will be released into the atmosphere
Now that sounds like a lot of positive things you and your family can do , to make our world safer.....
The energy used in the average home can be responsible for more than twice the greenhouse gas emissions of the average car. When you use less energy at home, you reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and help protect our environment from the risks of global climate change.
The story doesn't end with greenhouse gases, however. In addition to releasing carbon dioxide, coal-fired power plants also release the following:
- Sulfur Dioxide - the main cause of acid rain
- Nitrogen Oxide - causes smog and acid rain
- Radioactive pollutants - in fact a coal-fired power plant can release more radioactive pollutants than a properly functioning nuclear power plant
Selecting the CFL That's Right for You
Here are several helpful hints* for selecting the CFL that's right for you:
- Matching the right CFL to the right kind of fixture helps ensure that it will perform properly and last a long time. Read the packaging to be sure that the type you choose works for the fixture you have in mind. For example:
- If a light fixture is connected to a dimmer or 3-way switch, select CFLs that are labeled for this use
- For recessed fixtures, it is better to use a 'reflector' CFL versus a standard-shaped bulb.
- Choose the color that works best for you. For example, while most CFLs are created with warm colors for your home, you could choose a cooler color for task lighting.
- To get a CFL with the right amount of light, choose one that offers the same lumen rating as the light you are replacing. The higher the lumen rating, the greater the light output.
Tonight is the night to start planning to " GO GREEN " take it one step further , tell your friends that live on the same block as you about the savings of using CFL's. Why not have a " Go Green " party once a month and figure out ways that you as a community can make a difference and don't let it stop there. Reach out and let others know that not only will we be helping the world we are going to take the savings and reinvest it back in to our own pockets.
To learn about the difference of all types of light bulbs go to this video. Do not attempt to do this on your own , this type of an experiment should only be done by a licensed electrician. This will also help you understand how much energy is really used between the different types of light bulbs.
http://homelessvoice.tv/videos.php?id=74
Click Below to see the video