Energy and CO2 Emissions Savings from Switching to CFL Bulbs

Learn how much money you can save on your electric bill and help the environment at the same time by switching from the regular incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs by using this handy dandy Energy and CO2 Emissions Savings Calculator.I recently made the switch to CFL bulbs and I am proud to say that I am saving $67.72 per year and even more importantly, I am preventing 274.3 pounds of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere every year =) Please join the effort by making the switch. I’ll even make it easy for you by providing you this link for a 4-Pack of Soft White 23-Watt Mini CFL Bulbs (100-Watt Incandescent Equivalent) from Amazon.com for only $13.83.

Energy and CO2 Emissions Savings Calculator from Switching to CFL Bulbs
Type of bulb you are planning to switch: *
Number of bulbs: *
State that you reside in: *
Energy cost per kw-hour in cents: *
Average use per day in hours: *
*Required fields

Potential Savings Results
Annual Savings from Switching to CFL Bulbs: $
Savings over the lifetime of the CFL Bulb: $
Annual CO2 Emissions Prevented:	lbs
CO2 Emissions Prevented over the lifetime of the CFL Bulb(s):	lbs

* The energy cost per kw-hour is obtained from the Energy Information Administration for the residential sector in 2007 for each state.

This calculator assumes the average lifetime of a CFL bulb to be 10,000 hours and that of an incandescent bulb to be 1,000 hours.
The CO2 emissions were based on data provided by the Energy Information Administration for state-level greenhouse gas emission factors for electricity generation from 1998-2000.
The Energy and CO2 Emissions Savings Calculator also takes into account the price of having to buy the light bulb. The average price of an incandescent light bulb that is used in this calculation is $0.53 and $3.92 for a CFL light bulb.

Please note that if your switch has been set up to use a dimmer, you will have to use dimmable CFL bulbs. If you use a regular CFL bulb, you will notice the light flashing and your dimmer will be making a buzzing sound. Trust me, it is really annoying as I am currently dealing with this situation.

Here are some extra tips for saving on your electric bill:

Turn it off if you’re not using it - It is amazing how many components we leave on these days without even noticing like tv’s, lights, home audio systems, computers, printers… Get in the habit of shutting things off if you are not using them.
Look for the ENERGY STAR - When purchasing an item that uses energy, look for the ENERGY STAR label especially when it comes to large appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers, and air conditioners. The typical household spends $1,900 a year on energy bills. With ENERGY STAR, you can save up to 30% or more than $600 per year.* Here is the breakdown of an average energy bill:

pie chart of the energy usage of an average household * Figures and charts were obtain from http://www.energystar.gov

1 Comment so far

Pays to live green on July 31st, 2008

Great energy savings tips. I agree completely with your one statement that in order to save on energy, just turn off the lights. It seems so simple, but it makes all the difference. Also, actually unplugging electronics can make the world of difference as they suck up energy when they are not plugged in.

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