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The 411 on CFL's In Your Home

By
Real Estate Agent with thredUP.com

 We have all heard the buzz lately on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, or CFL's, that are supposed to save you money utility bills.  They use less watts to put out the same amount of light.  Well, it occurred to me that not all of us know exactly how to use these, why to use these, and the real deal on the Mercury inside.  So, as you know me, I went to research.

First,  Incandescent Light Bulbs.  The "Normal" Light Bulbs that we have used for years really work off of heat instead of light.  Depending on what report you read the incandescent light bulb is 90-95% Heat and 5-10% Light.  Thus making it a rather inefficient bulb that can heat up your room.  If you are in the Southern part of the United States, that is probably one of the last things you want to do in the Summer.

These new Spiral Bulbs actually have their own Ballast in them.  According to Wikipedia, these bulbs can save up to 2000 times their weight in Greenhouse Gases.  On an equivalent 60 Watt Bulb it will only use 13 Watts thus using an average of 75% less electricity and saving money.  Now, how much will you save?  That is really hard to say because everyone has different household habits, but if you read the package it has a Dollar Amount.  This dollar amount is based on using the bulb for 3 hours per day and usually at .10 per kwh.  If you are in Houston, you probably pay WAY more than that.  There are ways to make sure that you get the most bang for your buck.  That is what I researched.

Here are a few things that you might not know:

  • Use the bulbs in areas where you will have the light on for longer than 15 minutes at a time.  The Restroom, for example, may not be the most effective place to use this type.  Using these bulbs for less than 15 minutes at a time can shorten the life of them making your dollar not go as far.
  • Do not use these bulbs in closed Fixtures such as Flush Mount lights in the Hallway.  No air will get to it and it can shorten the life of the bulb or worst, cause it to get too hot.
  • They make Outdoor CFL's for use at night.  However, if you are in a region where the temperature stays below 41 Degrees for several weeks at a time, you may encounter problems with the bulb.
  • You can not use this bulb if the light is connected to a Dimmer.
  • They do make CFL bulbs now for 3-Way Lamps

With all positives there are negatives.  The negative with these bulbs is that they contain a very small amount of Mercury inside.  As little as 1 teaspoon of Mercury can contaminate Lake forever.  There is a minute amount (appx. 5 mg) of Mercury in these bulbs which means that:

  1. If one breaks, you need to clean it up properly
  2. It is best not to send these bulbs on the Truck to the Landfill

I am going to place Helpful Links at the bottom of this post for more information on both of these topics. 

So, these new funny looking bulbs, all in all are a great product and really can save money on your electric bill.  Just be aware handle them properly. 

Helpful Links for more information on Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs:

The above Links are my Resources for this post with loads of other information regarding these bulbs.  I changed out several in my house yesterday, 8 to be exact.  I look forward to see how my Electric Bill Drops!

Thank You Maruchan313 on Flickr for the Wonderful Photo of this CFL Bulb!

Comments (21)

delete account
Clayton, MO
Hi Stephanie! I flagged this and gave you a 5! I just went tlooking on information about this yesterday!! Weird?! I replaced most of the lightbulbs in my house with CFL and have noticed I save about $30 a month and I think they are great, but the mercury freaked me out a little. Thanks for the links! :)
Sep 12, 2007 06:29 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Stephanie--Good information! Many people are not aware that these bulbs require proper disposal just like florescent bulbs. In MN they bulbs must be brought to a recycling or hazardous waste center...NOT put in the trash. But when you think of how long they last and the energy they save, it is a small price to pay. :)
Sep 12, 2007 06:29 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hey Matt,  :)  No need to be worried, just make sure you try and recycle them...and don't let your son clean them up if they break.

By the way, I posted the results of my insulation too.

Sep 12, 2007 06:31 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hi Pamela,  Thanks!!  Don't be freaked out about the Mercury.  It is a matter of knowing how to handle it.  The advantages of the bulb out weigh the Mercury issue.  Like I said, just try and recycle them or dispose of them properly.

If enough go to a landfill, there is not just an issue of releasing Mercury in the air, but getting high levels of Mercury in the Water Table.  That would not be good for anyone.

Sep 12, 2007 06:33 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Teri,   So true!  Also,  The Shoplite's that hold Fluorescent tubes have Mercury in the Ballasts...TV's have  POUNDS of Lead, Mercury and Cadmium in them, same with Computer Monitors..the list goes on and on.  I pay to recycle tv's, monitors etc.  They get disassembled and recycled once the Hazardous Waste is contained.
Sep 12, 2007 06:38 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
I put them in my mom's bathroom (six) and she stays in there for hours....getting ready. Maybe I just need regular bulbs in my own home?
Sep 12, 2007 06:53 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Sally,  It just depends what lights you use most.  I don't turn on any lights until atleast 8 o'clock at night.  I have so many big windows that I just don't need them.  Then, I mainly use the Kitchen and Living area....and outside.  So, those are the ones that I changed. 
Sep 12, 2007 07:07 AM
Billnulls Blog Florida Realty Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
AHWD
WOW - GREAT information! I did not realize all of this about the bulbs - I always thought you could use them anywhere and be doing the right thing! Live and learn! Thanks!
Sep 12, 2007 09:30 AM
No Longer Active
Real Estate - Fallon, MT

Figures... I should have read this an hour ago.  I just put two bulbs in the outside fixture over the front door, strike one is the fixture is enclosed and strike two is we're heading into winter in a few months where temps will certainly drop below 41 for extended periods...   On the plus side anyone looking for bulbs may find a bargain at BJ's Wholesale.... They are normally $10 a four-pack but in Connecticut have a instant rebate at the register for an out the door price of about $3.50....

 

Sep 12, 2007 11:19 AM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Stephanie- I am freaking about the mercury thinking about all the people who don't know and don't care and are just going to throw them out in the trash! I read somewhere that florescent was not good for you. Are these ones different? I read once that people who work in places with them in those long tubes, are suffering depression and other ailments. Is that another negative to them? I only use full spectrum lighting that has been certified health safe.The reason I love the full spectrum is that it looks just like natural daylight. It helps alleviate depression, helps with sleep issues and is healthy for the eyes. I even have them in my laundry room and I can see the white clothes as white. I care about saving energy but not at the expense of my family's health. Katerina

Sep 12, 2007 01:16 PM
Paula Henry
Home to Indy Team @ HomeSmart Realty Group - Avon, IN
Realtor - Indianapolis Real Estate - 317-605-4174
Stephanie - I also had no idea about the specific handling of the CFL's or where not to use them. Thanks for the info -
Sep 12, 2007 01:39 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Barbara Jo,  I had heard so many stories about these that I wanted to do some research before I used them.  I don't like looking at things in Hind Sight.  :)
Sep 12, 2007 02:18 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Dan,  You can use them out there but what I read was saying that they may not light up quickly or well at all basically.  Check out the links..it's great information.
Sep 12, 2007 02:20 PM
Chuck Dellorto
Coldwell Banker - Serving INDIANA & ILLINOIS - Highland, IN
"Talk To Chuck"

Hi Steph,

At home we use the CFL's everywhere possible. It does make a difference. We also dispose of them properly at the recycling center near us.

Sep 12, 2007 02:57 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hi Katerina,  I know what you are talking about.  I believe it is called Electrical Sensitivity.  That is what I wrote about in my off the grid post...until we hijacked it.  :)  I have not heard anything like that about these.  Hopefully more states will make it illegal to put these bulbs in the landfill.

Sep 12, 2007 02:59 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Chuck,  That is good to hear! 
Sep 12, 2007 03:00 PM
Rita Taylor
None - Sanford, NC
Sanford NC Real Estate - Homes for Sale in Sanford North Carolina

Stephanie,

We initially put these in our house in the hard to reach lights because they last so much longer.  When we found out they also save money we started replacing all of our bulbs with CFLs.  Have you read anything about LED lights?  I heard a radio commentator saying once those come down in price they will have the advantages of CFLs without the mercury issues. 

Sep 12, 2007 04:42 PM
Joanne Hanson
Coldwell Banker Colorado Rockies Real Estate - Frisco, CO
Summit County, Colorado Realtor
Stephanie, I asked someone at our High Country Conservation center about the mercury in the bulbs the other day.  Her answer was that, properly recycled, the bulbs still are a big improvement over incandescents and have a much smaller carbon footprint.  However, I hate the cold blue light that those squiggly bulbs put out.  I was able to buy CFL flood lights at Home Depot and like them a lot.  They are made for can lights and the light is warm. I get ones that say they are the equivalent of a 100W light bulb to replace my 60W bulbs because they really are not equal when it comes to brightness of the light.  The only way I know the warm floods are flourescent is because they are slow to light to their full brightness....they start out dim.  I will buy more next time I am there and gradually replace all my lights as they burn out. 
Sep 12, 2007 05:32 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Rita,  I saw a bunch of stuff on LED lights but I didn't want to be on that search all day.  :)  I'll see what I can find out.  I do know they cost more...we'll see.
Sep 15, 2007 01:56 PM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Hi Joanne,  check out the lucens..I think that is what they call it.  The package breaks down the light that they put out.  You may need to get a bulb with a few more watts to get the light up....and it will still be less than incandescent.
Sep 15, 2007 01:57 PM