When to switch off your lights

comments from our community

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  Posted by business m Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:41am PDT

  How about a little more information regarding impact on longevity of CFL's used in situation where they are turned on an off more often? As the article said, turning a CFL on for less than 15 minutes does use more engery that it supposedly saves. Next, add in the affect of on/off cycles on the life of a CFL. The extra "burst" usage will cause them to wear out much sooner than the expected life. Then, of course is the disposal because you can't just toss them in a trash can. However, I wonder how many people do just that? Add the cost of the CFL bulb, the dubious saving unless you are are leaving them on and then the cost (and energy use) of disposal, you aren't saving anything or reducing energy use. Throw them in a trash can to get busted, spewing the interal dust and gas into the atmosphere and the net result is more polution than with an incadescent bulb. But, the label says "Green" and that's enough to fool most people who don't take the time to learn about it. If anyone really wanted to save energy, adopting LED lights is a much better alternative. The problem with that is LED's last way longer and the bulb companies who have sucessfully convinced government to ban incadescents are profiting like never before with incadescent bulbs.

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  Posted by D Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:41am PDT

  They didnt seem to add LED lighting. It's still fairly expensive, but by far the most efficient. Flicking LEDs on and off rapidly does almost nothing to shorten the life of the LED (hence that little blinking light on the front of most computers that flickers when its doing something) but also, the longer an LED is turned on, the less power it uses over time. In fact it uses less power and outputs more light when it's left on for a significant amount of time. Further, colder temperatures make these more efficient, so using them as outdoor lighting in the winter when it is to be left on is a good idea (conversely, CFLs use more energy in colder temperatures then when it's warm.). But with life times of 50k+ hours and decent energy savings over time, they are well worth the extra cost for these bulbs. Hopefully they hit main stream soon so that the costs will drop and make these far more viable.

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  Posted by Jonathan S Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:41am PDT

  Posted by tunedawgey Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:30am PDT Could you find out if the same goes for cars? I've always wanted know when it is smarter just to shut the car off when idling. If you're going to shut your car off and turn it back on, if you wait at least 30 seconds, you're not wasting any fuel.

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  Posted by Jesse B Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:41am PDT

  trevor, you are right about them lasting longer i guess... however, when that damn cfl bulb blows or breaks, you have to leave the room because of the mercury in them... then the clean up for the cfl is just crazy... you can have them... i will take edisons bulb any day of the week...

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  Posted by DoriPaul Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:41am PDT

  Trevor G must be the type who knows it ALL, all the time! HMPH!

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  Posted by eyesofcleveland Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:42am PDT

  When Not In Use, Turn Off the Juice. There!

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  Posted by montewatt Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:43am PDT

  My father-in-law had a sign that would turn some standard light bulbs on and off at the rate of about twice a second. Other lights would remain on all night. The blinking lights never needed to be changed.

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  Posted by lizznahrstedt Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:43am PDT

  LIGHT A CANDLE....

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  Posted by stevenb Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:44am PDT

  Of course they do Trevor G. We should all listen to Trevor G because Trevor G knows best.

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  Posted by K Dub Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:44am PDT

  Wow! That is rely interesting.

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  Posted by big_mlaker Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:45am PDT

  This article is accurate. The cost of running an incandescent bulb continuously far outweighs the cost of replacement, unless you buy from a boutique. Since most of us buy our replacement bulbs in the checkout line of a grocery, hardware or do-it-yourself store, the cost is reasonably cheap. I have never gotten 2000 hours out of an incandescent bulb, rated for 2000 hours, or even close. I might if I left the bulb on continuously, which is how UL tests them. But then that $1.29 60-watt bulb would cost me hundreds. Nah, just turn them off and replace them when they fail. The whales will thank you.

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  Posted by lsha3 Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:45am PDT

  Over the past several months I have been able to lower electric bill down from $190+ in December to curently $57 for the March reading. In January $61,February $54 March $57. How did I do it? Considering the lamps in my living room are rarely used they are unplugged. And the living room tv along with it various attachments DVD player etc. are unplugged as well. The only things that are kept plugged in at all times are the fridge, stove, microwave and my bedroom tv/dvd player. My computer is unplugged when not in use as well.I keep the windows open to circulate air during the day and ceiling fans. On all windows and my patio doors I have blackout curtains along with vertical blinds to block out the heat.

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  Posted by BOBO Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:45am PDT

  mythbusters proved this over a year ago.

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  Posted by puma p Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:45am PDT

  i love lights, i love turning them on and off.

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  Posted by aka...best Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:45am PDT

  Now really you should turn off the computer because its making you pay more money at the electric com. because a plug is taking in electric energy.

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