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Energy Savings
It used to be you had one choice for replacing the light bulbs in your house, the good old incandescent. Then along came the CFL which saved considerably more electricity even though they cost a little more. Now, we have a third choice, LED (Light Emitting Diode). These new bulbs are very efficient but do cost more than both the incandescent and CFL. But when looking at cost one has to look at more than just the initial purchase price of the bulb as is shown in the chart below. The wattage comparisons are equivalent watts for each type of bulb.
Incandescent | CFL | LED | |
---|---|---|---|
Approximate cost per bulb | $1 | $2 | $8 or less |
Average lifespan | 1,200 hours |
8,000 hours |
25,000 hours |
Watts used | 60W | 14W | 10W |
No. of bulbs needed for 25,000 hours of use |
21 | 3 | 1 |
Total purchase price of bulbs over 23 years |
$21 | $6 | $8 |
Total cost of electricity
used (25,000 hours at $0.10 per kWh) |
$150 | $35 | $25 |
Total operational cost over 23 years |
$171 | $41 | $33 |
As you can see, buying longer-lasting, more efficient light bulbs can really pay off over time. Over a 23-year period, it will cost you over $170 (and many trips to the hardware store) to keep one 60-watt lamp lit with incandescent bulbs. By comparison, it would cost just $41 using a handful of CFLs, or $33 using a single LED light bulb — a savings of $130 or more.
Did you know that you can save 18% or more by reducing the water temperature on your water heater from 140 degrees F. to 120 degrees? Or that you can reduce your heating bill by 20 to 25% by lowering your thermostat 10 degrees for an 8 hour period at night? Also the difference between inadequate and proper home insulation can be 40% of a fuel bill. Even something as simple as cleaning out the dryer vent after every load which collects lint can save electricity. We as electrical consumers need to start doing our part by conserving energy within our homes. For more information on energy conservation you can go to www.touchstoneenergysavers.com.