Compact fluorescent lightbulb dilemma

[disneysteve]

Everything I read, see and hear touts the energy and cost savings to be had from switching to compact fluorescent lightbulbs. We have gotten a couple in the house, but here's my dilemma. I have a dozen or more brand new regular incandescent bulbs in the closet waiting to be used. It may be years before I use them all. Is it worth getting rid of them and buying CF bulbs when current bulbs burn out? I'd be wasting what I paid for the bulbs I already have, but I'd be saving energy with the CF bulbs.

[humandraydel]

Given that incandescents are so cheap, you would still be saving money by throwing them away. And of course you would be saving energy.

I'm trying to think of what I would do. I probably wouldn't throw the incandescents away. I'd probably keep them around just in case I needed a light bulb and didn't have any extras and couldn't make it to the store immediately.

[Broken Arrow]

Personally, I've only swapped out the lights that I use most often with CFLs. The rest are still on conventional light bulbs. This way, I still get the energy savings with the CFLs and its frequent use, but I can still put the existing conventional bulbs to some, albeit infrequent, use.

[cschin4]

I would use up what I had first. What is to be gained by tossing them into the landfill? You could do as one poster suggested and put the fluorescent bulbs in the most frequently used lights and use the others up in other spaces. I personally do not like the lighting from the fluorescent bulbs.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by cschin4

I personally do not like the lighting from the fluorescent bulbs.

I think this really depends on the bulbs. They aren't all the same. I always notice when we travel that the hotel rooms have all fluorescents and the lights are warm and bright. You just have to make sure you get the ones that are labeled "warm" and/or "soft" rather than "cool".

Perhaps I will just replace a couple of heavily used ones and save the incandescents for the others.

[MonkeyMama]

I would probably freecycle the bulbs or give them away and switch. I just say that because our entire house has the CFLs. We have lived here 6 years and have yet to switch one lightbulb. Our electric bill is insanely low. I don't really see the point of ever using an incandescent again. (That reminds me I probably have some laying around I should get rid of too. I think we figured we would use them up but 6 years later we have found no need).

[simpleyme]

I too had a huge stash of bulbs the long life more expensive ones,I have tall ceilings and it is a pain to change them and I cannot stand bulbs to be burnt out

anyway i in the past year have replaced every bulb in my house with fluorescence and my summer electric bill( no air conditioning as we live in a mild climate) is usually 69 dollars in the summer dropped to 33 dollars! so I spent a hundred dollars less on energy this summer that more than pays for the bulbs,I got some of the bulbs free with the dreaded rebate and bought the rest at walmart

I replaced some halogen bulbs with big fluorescent in my kitchen I think those made the biggest difference ,as well as the big light in my fan in the bathroom
I gave all my regular bulbs to my son I felt guilty giving them those energy sappers;-)

[mom-from-missouri]

I'd keep them and use them as needed--some fixtures wont take a CFL--3 of our floor lamps wont, and one bathroom light wont--due to the way the shades are made.
I wouldn't throw them out at least-if I had a ton, I'd keep some and donate the rest to a non for profit .

[Fern]

I would switch to the CFLs now but keep the incandescents. I'm keeping mine so that whenever i eventually move, i'll take my CFLs with me!

[poundwise]

Ive replaced, over time, most of the lighting in the house with CFL bulbs. The exceptions being appliance bulbs (fridge, stove) and decorative globes in the bathroom.

Just a friendly FYI on the subject --

Don't toss burned out CFL bulbs in the trash and, if you break a CFL bulb, don't use the vacuum to clean it up.

Compact fluorescent bulbs require careful disposal