Who has the best deal on energy efficent light bulbs what store and what brand name do you buy??? thanks ronda

-- ronda (thejohnsons@localaccess.com), November 14, 2001

Answers

We belong to a small electric Co-op who sells many products to their customers. We purchased 2 of those compact fluorescent bulbs with a special coupon they sent out with our bill a few month ago and have cut a few dollars off our bill. We also shop at Costco and they sell those bulbs at a reasonable price. As for standard bulbs we use the 1200 to 1600 hour GE. Hope that answers your question.

-- David Goss (dj94goss@msn.com), November 14, 2001.

Whatever you do, don't use compact fluorescents in ceiling fan lights-- they can't take the vibration of the fan.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 14, 2001.

I buy the compact ones at the x-Mart since they are cheaper than mail order so far. Our bulk club carries them too. They are about $7-12 per bulb, depending on what bulb you need.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), November 15, 2001.

We put 4 of the compact bulbs in our ceiling fan--not using the fan at the moment, so vibration wasn't a concern--but the thing just doesn't seem to work correctly with them. It buzzes, like when you first turn on a regular florescent fixture. We had to take two out, then it works fine. Also made the battery backup for the computer, in a different room, and on a different circuit, start to act up when in that fixture. Scary, probably a wiring problem with this house, but we paid $10 for two bulbs at Home Depot. Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), November 15, 2001.

I use them in the ceiling fans, I thought the viration would hurt them too, but it has been over a year and they still work, one thing that will kill'em quick tho' is heat, inclosed or recessed light fixtures hold in too much heat.(the only ones that have died at my house) I pay about $10.00 apiece for them at Walmart or Lowes. I only buy the brightest ones now because they loose some brightness over time and go a little more yellow in the color tone.I was very pleased that I can spend 40 bucks on light blubs and have the electric bill go down almost $40. the next month, it was too cool!!! I only have like 6 places left to put them (out of more than 30) I might try some of the more pricey ones next time around, but I don't know, I've been happy with the cheepy's so far.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), November 15, 2001.

some incadescent dimmer switches won't work with fluorescents.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), November 15, 2001.

How "enclosed" does the light have to be to affect the life of the bulb? My fixtures have those glass globes that are open at one end and slightly flared. In the kitchen we have track lighting, with metal cases that you can swivel and point whatever direction you want. Sorry, not a very clear explanation. We also have recessed light fixtures in the bedrooms, but I imagine they wouldn't work there very well. The dome goes up into the ceiling and the bottom is level with the ceiling. I didn't think that the compact bulbs produced much heat??? I want to switch my house over to these bulbs as much as possible, so any help is appreciated. Thanks!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 15, 2001.

can also use LED lights, I have some in my ceiling fans,,work great for such a little thing

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 15, 2001.

were using 4 in our ceiling fan. the swirl ice cream cone looking bulbs. I think we got them at sam's club for around $18.90 for 2. They have been working now for 2 years with no problems.

If your fixtures are open you should be all right. The fish bowl totaly enclosed won't work.

:o)

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), November 15, 2001.

Even our local "energy advisor" at our utility said not to use them in ceiling fixtures, also not where it is too cold, and also not in the bathroom. Why they don't put that clearly on the bulb box is beyond me.

-- GT (nospam@nsospam.com), November 15, 2001.

The idea is NOT to put CF's where they are turned on&off for short periods of time----that will kill them fast!! Stay with the old incandesents for the quickie on & off's........MUCH cheaper than killing that $6 TO

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), November 15, 2001.

What I understand now is that they need a continuous "air flow path" that is not too wet,too hot or too cold. there are some low voltage halogen that are suposted to save as much energy as the fluorescents, I like LEDs but haven't bothered to mess with them in the house, my husband uses them on his big truck,

I do have them (the fluorescents) in the bathroom with a shower, but not in the shower stall's light fixture.(I haven't tried it) Next time I buy a round I plan to swap some older ones to the "new" questionable spots just to see, [the very first ones were lower wattage and don't give as much light now.]

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), November 15, 2001.

thanks everyone for your answers we recieved some coupons from our utility provider and was wondering what to buy unfortunately we dont leave any light on for any lenght of time. to bad I can't install one in my moniter ha! you would be amased what I can accomplish by the soft glow of the computer. ronda

-- ronda (thejohnsons@localaccess.com), November 16, 2001.

I just bought a bulb that puts out 150 watt but doesn't actually use that much electricity at Walmart for $9.96. Guaranteed to last 8 years. Can't remember what company made it but do know it is called the Twister. After being in use for several years they don't throw off as much light as they did at first though. Does save on the electric bill though!

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), November 17, 2001.