Who here uses CFL light bulbs?

[NTB]

Just wondering. I've used them for several years in reading and desk lamps. After I got my new job, I decided to use them where ever I could in my apartment - they've gotten quite a bit cheaper over the last couple years. How about you?

Nate

 

[her209]

I have CFL in my aquarium but my aquarium is empty so I cannot say.

 

[imported_Rat]

What is CFL?

 

[amdskip]

I use them for almost all of my lights including celing fans and bathroom lights. I don't care how it looks as long as I'm saving money. I bought all of them from sams club for cheap.

 

[amdskip]

Compact Fluorescent light bulb

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Rat
What is CFL?

Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Rat
What is CFL?

http://www.specialtyoptical.com/compactmain.htm


Yep sams has a 8 pack GE for $12 or so.

 

[imported_Rat]

Why didn't you just say fluorescent light bulb then?

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Rat
Why didn't you just say fluorescent light bulb then?

because to most people (well, me at least), "Flourescent light" = 4 foot-long shop-light looking thing, not regular-sized bulbs that you can use in any fixture.

Nate

 

[sandorski]

Should have read the thread before voting "WTF...."

I've been thinking of picking some up since most of my lightbulbs are now burnt out and would like to save some $$ too. How are they for life span?

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Should have read the thread before voting "WTF...."

I've been thinking of picking some up since most of my lightbulbs are now burnt out and would like to save some $$ too. How are they for life span?

I've never had one burn out on me; Usually either I've replaced the lamp or the bulb itself got broken somehow before they burned out. The ones I picked up today, for instance, use 20W of power, are rated at the same light output as standard 75W bulbs, and are supposed to have a 12,000-hour lifespan.

Nate

 

[mugs]

We use CFLs wherever we can. Can't say if it reduces our electric bill, because we've always used them. Simple math says that it does reduce our electric bill though.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: sandorski
Should have read the thread before voting "WTF...."

I've been thinking of picking some up since most of my lightbulbs are now burnt out and would like to save some $$ too. How are they for life span?

I've never had one burn out on me; Usually either I've replaced the lamp or the bulb itself got broken somehow before they burned out. The ones I picked up today, for instance, use 20W of power, are rated at the same light output as standard 75W bulbs, and are supposed to have a 12,000-hour lifespan.

Nate

We had one burn out, but it's a light that stays on 24/7.

 

[FoBoT]

yes, i buy them from costco

i don't use them 100%
if a fixture has 4 bulbs, i'll put 2 or 3 cfl and leave 1-2 normal, depending on the room

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: sandorski
Should have read the thread before voting "WTF...."

I've been thinking of picking some up since most of my lightbulbs are now burnt out and would like to save some $$ too. How are they for life span?

I've never had one burn out on me; Usually either I've replaced the lamp or the bulb itself got broken somehow before they burned out. The ones I picked up today, for instance, use 20W of power, are rated at the same light output as standard 75W bulbs, and are supposed to have a 12,000-hour lifespan.

Nate

Good to know. Personally I don't trust the Hour Rating on lightbulbs anymore, they never last more than 6-12 months regardless the claims. I'll certainly pick some up.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yes, i buy them from costco

i don't use them 100%
if a fixture has 4 bulbs, i'll put 2 or 3 cfl and leave 1-2 normal, depending on the room

I'm just replacing the conventional bulbs in this apartment as they burn out.

Nate

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: sandorski
Should have read the thread before voting "WTF...."

I've been thinking of picking some up since most of my lightbulbs are now burnt out and would like to save some $$ too. How are they for life span?

I've never had one burn out on me; Usually either I've replaced the lamp or the bulb itself got broken somehow before they burned out. The ones I picked up today, for instance, use 20W of power, are rated at the same light output as standard 75W bulbs, and are supposed to have a 12,000-hour lifespan.

Nate

Good to know. Personally I don't trust the Hour Rating on lightbulbs anymore, they never last more than 6-12 months regardless the claims. I'll certainly pick some up.

Well, you may be right, especially if you leave them on a lot. If they're anything like conventional, tube-type flourescents, they start to dim about half way through their rated life.

Nate

 

[raz3000]

I discovered CFLs several months ago and now we're using 8.

 

[TXHokie]

I use mostly CFL where I can but I can't tell if I'm saving any $$$ because the #%$# power company jacked up our rates 25%.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yes, i buy them from costco

i don't use them 100%
if a fixture has 4 bulbs, i'll put 2 or 3 cfl and leave 1-2 normal, depending on the room

I'm just replacing the conventional bulbs in this apartment as they burn out.

Nate

Incandescent bulbs cost $.25 or so apiece. A 100 watt bulb will use $.25 worth of electricity in about 20 hours. Not worth waiting until they burn out.

 

[mrrman]

I have them in every socket in the house..all my 3 ceiling fans have dimmable CF lights in them and they are great. My bills are low as it is so I am not sure what the true savings are.

 

[cker]

I use 'em all over the place. Power here is pretty cheap, and I'm big on turning off unused devices -- so I didn't notice a huge drop in power bill. It kinda depends on how you live -- I tended at the time to run few lights, often only one bulb active in the apartment at a time. I need to get my hand on some of those dimmer-compatible CFs mrrman is talking about, since my main light now is an incandescent chandelier with about 200-250 watts worth of bulbs.

Overall I got a better result from turning down the thermostat on my electric hot water heater. My only CF gripe is some cheap bulbs have really bad color, and it takes the bulbs a while to come to full brightness when it's cold (I tend to keep my home cool in the winter). I didn't know that CFs take a few minutes to come up to full brightness in the cold, so I was a bit concerned when I woke up one morning and every light I turned on was dim and flickery.

One nice feature is that since they radiate less heat you can put a brighter bulb into a fixture that is only approved for a low-wattage incandescent, like a recessed ceiling fixture or a sealed ceiling fan globe.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: cker
I use 'em all over the place. Power here is pretty cheap, and I'm big on turning off unused devices -- so I didn't notice a huge drop in power bill. It kinda depends on how you live -- I tended at the time to run few lights, often only one bulb active in the apartment at a time. I need to get my hand on some of those dimmer-compatible CFs mrrman is talking about, since my main light now is an incandescent chandelier with about 200-250 watts worth of bulbs.

Overall I got a better result from turning down the thermostat on my electric hot water heater. My only CF gripe is some cheap bulbs have really bad color, and it takes the bulbs a while to come to full brightness when it's cold (I tend to keep my home cool in the winter). I didn't know that CFs take a few minutes to come up to full brightness in the cold, so I was a bit concerned when I woke up one morning and every light I turned on was dim and flickery.

One nice feature is that since they radiate less heat you can put a brighter bulb into a fixture that is only approved for a low-wattage incandescent, like a recessed ceiling fixture or a sealed ceiling fan globe.

Oh. There's dimmable and not dimmable?

Good to know. :thumbsup:

 

[SSP]

We're only using CFL's, and have been for more then a year. The friggan ontario government wouldnt shut up about the damn thing.

 

[ta8689]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: sandorski
Should have read the thread before voting "WTF...."

I've been thinking of picking some up since most of my lightbulbs are now burnt out and would like to save some $$ too. How are they for life span?

I've never had one burn out on me; Usually either I've replaced the lamp or the bulb itself got broken somehow before they burned out. The ones I picked up today, for instance, use 20W of power, are rated at the same light output as standard 75W bulbs, and are supposed to have a 12,000-hour lifespan.

Nate

We had one burn out, but it's a light that stays on 24/7.

we had 5 burn out in our kitchen. Im not sure why. Regular bulbs last WAY longer. When it burned out it smelled really bad. Im thinkin somethings wrong. Or we just bought crappy bulbs...