Replace 5 light bulbs with CFLs
changing lightbulbs
Why: Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs are 4 times more energy efficient and last 10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs. CFL technology has improved in the last couple years. They now illuminate immediately without a flicker or buzz. These are not your mother’s CFL bulbs.
How to get it done: Choose the 5 most-used lights in your home, and figure out which type of bulb you need (e.g. 3-way for lamps, dimmable for the dining room). Check the package to figure out the right wattage (e.g. a 60-watt standard bulb is usually replaced with a 13 watt CFL bulb). Because of the small amounts of mercury in CFL bulbs, they do have to be recycled as hazardous waste. Hardware stores such as Lowes and Home Depot offer CFL recycling. To find the CFL recycling drop-off closest to you, check here. The bust the myths and get the facts about CFLs go here.
Cost to you: $2-$20 per bulb
$ Savings: Replacing your 5 most-used bulbs will save about $60/year.
CO2 Savings: If every household in the US replaced just 1 standard bulb, we would prevent CO2 emissions equivalent to 800,000 cars annually.
Family activity: A young child will enjoy going around the house finding and counting all the light bulbs. The average house has 45. An older child could do a study to help you figure out which bulbs you use the most, and thus should be replaced first.
