Energy-Saving Through CFLs - Does It Work?

Got CFLs? 

In theory, at least, these bulbs save you money on your electric bill because they use far less power.  The other part of the savings equation is that although they cost much more than “regular” bulbs, they will also last much longer – up to 10 years under ideal conditions.

But there are drawbacks and misrepresentations:

Energy savings are marginal.  Two years ago we replaced all the bulbs in the lamps and fixtures in our house that stay on the longest – kitchen, bathroom, favorite reading lamps, and such.  Since then we’ve replaced many more bulbs as the old ones expired.  But no drop in electricity usage was detectable on our bill.  

Advertising now claims that changing over 10 bulbs in a typical household will save $35 per year.  That's a pittance, and wouldn't be noticeable on your monthly bill, but it would still be something, except that the bulbs don’t last as long as they're supposed to.  Of those I installed just two years ago, about ¼ have failed (some almost immediately).  Ten years’ life is a environmentalist’s figment.  If you read the fine print, you’ll find that CFLs oriented downward rather than up will have a shorter life; that CFLs in enclosed fixtures will have a shorter life; that CFLs are made in China, that bastion of quality production.

And, there is still a certain lack of convenience.  You’re probably aware that (most) CFLs cannot be used with dimmer switches.  Very recently, I also found that CFLs, because of the large, bulky base that sits athwart the screw-in part, will not fit into many existing fixtures, or even newly purchased ones – the base will bump up against the fixture before it screws in completely, preventing contact with the flow of current. (The “bright” side is that such bulbs are extreme energy-savers, of course!)

The bottom line on saving is, as with many of the recommended environmentally sound, “green” steps individuals can take, is that significant savings occur only on the macro level.  If millions of people adopt CFLs (or if the same number recycle just a couple more newspapers every week), the cumulative advantages can be significant.  If you do go hogwild for CFLs (as we have), do it knowing you’ll contribute your small bit for the earth, but not because you expect to save meaningful money on your electric bill.  You won’t.  

Meantime, be prepared for lots of needless frustration trying to replace your early-demise CFLs, due to the mismatches and incompatibilities that are prevalent in the market now.