Even if the Republicans overturn the ban, I don’t intend to ever buy another incandescent bulb. Why would I? The CFLs use less electricity and last longer. They also don’t generate nearly as much waste heat as incandescents, meaning your air conditioning doesn’t have to work quite as hard.
My husband and I made the switch several years ago, and other than a couple of dud ones early on, we’ve never had a single one burn out. When we were selling our old house, though, the real estate agent told us not to use CFLs in any of the overhead fixtures so as not to put off folks who find the “flicker” or “glare” objectionable or the quality of the light inferior. Which worked out in our favor, because it meant we didn’t leave any of our CFLs behind when we moved.
As an added bonus, National Grid is currently offering discounts on CFLs. They’re available at participating retailers, online (free shipping if you order before June 30!), or by phone at 1-800-473-9150. The sooner you start using them, the sooner you’ll start seeing the savings—a single CFL can save you $50 in electricity costs over its lifetime and can pay for itself in 3 months.
Switching to CFLs is just one of many ways you can cut down on your electricity usage and lower your bill. As I wrote previously, home entertainment systems have become our biggest energy hogs other than heating and cooling. Powering them off when they’re not in use or putting them in “sleep” mode if available can net you big savings. Placement can also make a difference. If possible, keep home theater equipment away from your thermostat. The waste heat generated by the electronics will make your air conditioner work harder.
But perhaps you’d prefer to take a more comprehensive approach to saving energy. National Grid has compiled a handy list of seasonal energy-saving tips you can use throughout the year. They also offer free in-home energy assessments. Since heating and cooling account for the greatest energy use in homes, the assessments focus on weatherization and ventilation, installing programmable thermostats (an easy fix you can do on your own even without an energy audit) and replacement of aging furnaces and hot water heaters. The inspector will usually show up with freebies such as CFLs or a programmable thermostat. RISE also offers free home energy audits.
How much difference does it really make, you might be wondering, and is it worth all the trouble. Well, one family I know is now saving $42 a month on their electric bills because they replaced old appliances—even though they added a storage freezer (Energy Star, of course) to save money by being able to take advantage of really good sales on meat. In addition, after weatherizing and replacing drafty windows and doors, instead of having to have oil delivered every 4-5 weeks, they now only need it every 7-8 weeks, saving about $500 over the course of the winter.
As an added incentive, for a limited time, National Grid is offering residential customers who heat with oil or propane and complete an energy assessment a 25% discount (up to $2250) to replace their furnace or hot water heater. Do it today. This is one audit you won’t dread.
Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 2: How low can you go?