Has anyone used energy efficient light bulbs?

Do you save actual energy from using it?

They save me getting out the step ladders 8 times less often

They also didn't cost me a penny, the local PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. government were giving them away for free. A man turned up at my front door and handed me about half a dozen of them.

Ain't PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. great?!

I've been using compact fluorescents (CFLs) for years. Wouldn't use anything else. Better light for 20% of the juice.

Incandescent bulbs are really space heaters with a little light as a byproduct.

The CFLs available now have a nice colour light, start instantly, and they'll start up in very cold temperatures (below -20 C).

The only place I don't use a CFL is in my cold room (cold storage for potatoes, squash, and beer). The light is on for maybe 20 seconds at a time. CFLs don't like to be cycled on and off for very short periods; it reduces their lifespan.

CFLs, like other fluorescents, have a tiny dab of mercury in them. It's important to recycle them properly.

changed out about half of the lights in my moms house with the cfls and saved her about 20 dollars a month

how do you recycle these lights?
where does one take the bulb to recycling?

About 75%. The ones I've got give you 60 watts of light for 13 watts of power.

I collect mine in a big box along with other odds and ends (bits of electronics with lead, nicad batteries, unused paint, cleaners and solvents -- all the stuff I don't want to end up in the soil or water table).

Unless the glass is broken, the mercury is sealed inside, so there's no rush to deal with them.

Where you take them depends on your local jurisdiction. Some towns, counties, and small cities offer a "toxic roundup" once or twice a year. Larger cities may have permanent locations for collection of such items.

I think if you dig into the local phone book and call around, somebody will point you in the right direction.

I've heard many "big box" retailers will take them back if there is no other local option. But I can't swear to it.

Here is a site with precautions and warnings for the use of CFL's,

http://www.esainspection.net/pdf/Safety_Alerts/07-03-AL.pdf

I use them where possible. They do save energy (and money), but the main benefit for me is not needing to change them so often.

I love that they last forever compared to regular bulbs. Only problem is that the light fixtures in the two rooms I'm in most often have dimmer switches, and the CFL packages say you shouldn't use them with a dimmer switch. I tried, and it doesn't work anyway; it's either on or off, they won't dim. I really like being able to adjust the level of light, so I'll be sticking with regular bulbs.
I saw on Discovery Channel or somewhere like that that lighting companies are working on the NEXT BIG THING in lighting. It was either LEDs or EL strips/panels in the walls. I can't find a link, but it looked really cool on the show, uses even less energy than CFL, and no mercury to worry about.

That is almost the only type of bulbs that I use.

Mine are in my bedroom, kitchen, and living room...., less money longterm, and I don't have to change bulbs nearly as often.

I've even purchased several 12v fluorescent and two LED bulbs that can be put in normal lamps, then set up the wires to attach to a battery.

I think you can buy CFLs that are compatible with dimmers. They're pretty new to the market.

that would be great, but i haven't seen any. ooooo joy, an excuse to go to teh Home Depot.

Yes you do, in spades..

I replaced all light bulbs i could with CF bulbs. Where the biggest savings came from were the porch and front door lights.

The things last for years, and give you the same lumen output.

I looked into the LED "bulbs", but they're just too expensive right now.

I save on average 10 to 20 dollars a month versus when I was using incandesant bulbs.

I have a blend in the house. My wife doesn't like not having instant light when the switch is flipped. They are mostly used in areas where the lights stay on for long periods. Hallways, stairwells, some bedrooms, some lamps. It varies. Front porch is incandescent so we can see who's ringing the bell without waiting for the bulb to warm up.

If you buy decent ones (i.e. not from walmart) then they come on instant with no warm up. I l;eave my outdoor ones on all the time so they stay warm in the winter.

Ditto on the delay. I replaced all the ceiling lights in my apartment with new fluorescents except the ones in the bathroom. I don't notice any delay in them like the old ones. I used the Sylvania eight to a pack from Sam's.