Comments on: Turn out (or replace?) that light! http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/ tightening your belt, without losing your edge... Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:21:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Shelly http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-417 Shelly Wed, 11 May 2011 08:59:23 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-417 Technology has caught up and we can save even more with LED lights. A 60 watt incandescent is equivalent to a 14 watt CFL which in turn is equivalent to a 6 watt LED: 60W incandescent = 14W CFL = 6W LED Burntimes are as follows: * incandescent = 750 hours * CFL = 8,000 hours * LED = 50,000 hours minimum Given that LEDs are typically many times more expensive than their CFL equivalent, their reduced electrical consumption and longer lifespan will easily justify the initial acquisition cost and long term savings. Give it a try. I'm in the process of converting my household to LEDs Shelly <a href="http://www.propertymanagementmedfordoregon.com" rel="nofollow">Medford Property Management</a> Technology has caught up and we can save even more with LED lights.

A 60 watt incandescent is equivalent to a 14 watt CFL which in turn is equivalent to a 6 watt LED:

60W incandescent = 14W CFL = 6W LED

Burntimes are as follows:
* incandescent = 750 hours
* CFL = 8,000 hours
* LED = 50,000 hours minimum

Given that LEDs are typically many times more expensive than their CFL equivalent, their reduced electrical consumption and longer lifespan will easily justify the initial acquisition cost and long term savings.

Give it a try. I’m in the process of converting my household to LEDs

Shelly
Medford Property Management

]]> By: Moxie http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Moxie Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:07:29 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-86 I’m glad you did the number-crunching on this! I try not to be wasteful on principle, but I’m glad I don’t have to be absolutely wracked with financial guilt if I do on occasion accidentally leave a light on overnight or while I’m in the other room. Good post! I’m glad you did the number-crunching on this! I try not to be wasteful on principle, but I’m glad I don’t have to be absolutely wracked with financial guilt if I do on occasion accidentally leave a light on overnight or while I’m in the other room. Good post!

]]> By: Moxie http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Moxie Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:00:39 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-84 I'm glad you did the number-crunching on this! I try not to be wasteful on principle, but I'm I don't have to be absolutely wracked with financial guilt if I do on occasion accidentally leave a light on overnight or while I'm in the other room. Good post! I’m glad you did the number-crunching on this! I try not to be wasteful on principle, but I’m I don’t have to be absolutely wracked with financial guilt if I do on occasion accidentally leave a light on overnight or while I’m in the other room. Good post!

]]> By: Kevin http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Kevin Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:13:29 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-70 Here is Springfield, MO we can pay an extra $5 per 100 kilowatt-hours and they will buy that much energy from a wind farm in Kansas. It is a pretty good deal all around because most of the electricity here comes from coal fired plants. Our basic rate is $0.0291 per kWh. With the extra charge for wind energy the four 26 Watt bulbs in my workspace would cost $1.92 to run continuously for an entire month. I only actually run them for a few hours a day, so they actually cost almost nothing. I'm glad I finally did the math on this. My wife always hassles me about leaving these lights on. Her aquarium pump and filter probably cost more to run. I can't wait to walk away with the lights on now. Here is Springfield, MO we can pay an extra $5 per 100 kilowatt-hours and they will buy that much energy from a wind farm in Kansas. It is a pretty good deal all around because most of the electricity here comes from coal fired plants. Our basic rate is $0.0291 per kWh. With the extra charge for wind energy the four 26 Watt bulbs in my workspace would cost $1.92 to run continuously for an entire month. I only actually run them for a few hours a day, so they actually cost almost nothing. I’m glad I finally did the math on this. My wife always hassles me about leaving these lights on. Her aquarium pump and filter probably cost more to run. I can’t wait to walk away with the lights on now.

]]> By: admin http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-52 admin Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:56:50 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-52 @jeff.. i wholeheartedly agree with you.. the only issue i have is getting the rest of the family to comply.. THAT is a hard trick.. @jeff.. i wholeheartedly agree with you.. the only issue i have is getting the rest of the family to comply..

THAT is a hard trick..

]]> By: admin http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-51 admin Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:56:09 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-51 @nate - this sounds like a good idea.. right now, i am at a point where my spending is in a holding pattern.. but i looked at that one, and it looks just as usable.. the only thing i would like to be able to do is hook it up to my dryer, as that is the beast that i would bet uses alot of juice.. it's an electric model.. @nate – this sounds like a good idea.. right now, i am at a point where my spending is in a holding pattern.. but i looked at that one, and it looks just as usable..

the only thing i would like to be able to do is hook it up to my dryer, as that is the beast that i would bet uses alot of juice.. it’s an electric model..

]]> By: Nate http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Nate Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:33:28 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-48 You can get a Kill A Watt from Amazon.com for under $24 shipped. I wouldn't splurge for the Kill A Watt EZ unless you have frequent power outages. All it does is multiply to get cost (which you clearly can do) and save cumulative usage across power failures. If you haven't, check out "Mr Electricity's" website (my name links). Don't be turned off by the 'old school' web design, it's the best site I've come across for energy savings. He focuses on the big stuff first, and dispels a lot of common myths. You can get a Kill A Watt from Amazon.com for under $24 shipped. I wouldn’t splurge for the Kill A Watt EZ unless you have frequent power outages. All it does is multiply to get cost (which you clearly can do) and save cumulative usage across power failures.

If you haven’t, check out “Mr Electricity’s” website (my name links). Don’t be turned off by the ‘old school’ web design, it’s the best site I’ve come across for energy savings. He focuses on the big stuff first, and dispels a lot of common myths.

]]> By: jeff n http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-47 jeff n Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:43:20 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-47 a good exercise. it's not about money, -it's about the grid's capacity. and -it's about the lifespan of those lights that you'll be trashing so much more frequently a good exercise.

it’s not about money,
-it’s about the grid’s capacity. and
-it’s about the lifespan of those lights that you’ll be trashing so much more frequently

]]> By: Meg from FruWiki http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Meg from FruWiki Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:34:05 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-45 Yeah, it is tough when you have others in the house. My husband and I don't have kids, but we've had roommates -- at one time 3 extra people, plus a boyfriend who might as well have been a roommate. And of course, we were dummies enough to not charge for utilities. It was tough because we didn't want to seem like control freaks -- which we were accused of by at least one roommate. However, considering the person who said it and how "out of control" of her life she is/was, I'll take that as a compliment. I just wish her parents had taught her to act like a mature adult instead of pampering and enabling her. Being less wasteful is a good habit to learn early on. Yeah, it is tough when you have others in the house. My husband and I don’t have kids, but we’ve had roommates — at one time 3 extra people, plus a boyfriend who might as well have been a roommate. And of course, we were dummies enough to not charge for utilities. It was tough because we didn’t want to seem like control freaks — which we were accused of by at least one roommate. However, considering the person who said it and how “out of control” of her life she is/was, I’ll take that as a compliment. I just wish her parents had taught her to act like a mature adult instead of pampering and enabling her. Being less wasteful is a good habit to learn early on.

]]> By: admin http://www.painlessfrugality.com/2009/07/turn-out-or-replace-that-light/comment-page-1/#comment-44 admin Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:08:47 +0000 http://www.painlessfrugality.com/?p=48#comment-44 @meg - i would guess that this is a good time to mention one of the main reasons i wrote this blog.. we are a family of four. for me, it's simple to see the benefits of frugality, even if things were free.. but in order for them to stick with the rest of the people in our houses, we have to make them as painless as possible. otherwise, the natives will revolt.. it seems like teaching people to turn lights off is near impossible.. and i am sure that if my family ever sees these numbers, they will definitely side against me on the issue.. i would love to see a $40 electric bill! i am going to check now how much the dryer uses.. i will have to estimate the electricity usage based on the wattage rating, but i should be in the ballpark.. thanks! @meg – i would guess that this is a good time to mention one of the main reasons i wrote this blog.. we are a family of four. for me, it’s simple to see the benefits of frugality, even if things were free.. but in order for them to stick with the rest of the people in our houses, we have to make them as painless as possible.

otherwise, the natives will revolt..

it seems like teaching people to turn lights off is near impossible.. and i am sure that if my family ever sees these numbers, they will definitely side against me on the issue..

i would love to see a $40 electric bill!

i am going to check now how much the dryer uses.. i will have to estimate the electricity usage based on the wattage rating, but i should be in the ballpark..

thanks!

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