Short Change

Over the past year, I have completed my MBA, started a new career and bought a house. So lots of things to review and I promise to get into the details.

Energy Efficient Fluorescent Light bulbs: For today, lets start with light bulbs. The WSJ has a report on fluorescents which draw less power than incandescent bulbs. These energy-efficient ones are spiral like instead of glass. Generally they draw up to one tenth the amount of power as a regular bulb. The WSJ reports one drawback is that folks generally dislike fluorescents’ glow giving your home an industrial feel. They point to n:vision available at Home Depot as one brand that has different styles including a soft bulb. Generally these lights will need to be replaced less often than traditional bulbs as well. I have noticed that they take an extra moment to fully illuminate but I have gotten used to it.

In our home, we use these wherever we can especially in the places we often forget to turn off the lights like the closet, basement and garage. The spiral look is somewhat awkward and “cheap” looking, but in these places or inside fixtures, no one knows the difference.

Two tips:

1) Don’t buy these energy saver lights for fixtures on a dimmer. They do not work with dimmer switches.

2) Costco has fantastic savings on compact fluorescent lights. Now they are running a sale in Massachusetts for about $3 you get four flood-type lights (R30 style). Costco used to have the regular type for 3$ but they have jumped up to $8. At Lowes and Home Depot, they have coupons in the aisles for $2-4 off energy saving bulbs.

Refer to: New Fluorescent Light Bulbs Aim for More-Natural Look, WSJ, 2/1/2007 Page D3

Labels: Coupon, Energy, Retail

// posted by Steven F @ 4:23 PM