To CFL or Not to CFL?

For years I was a lighting consultant to a showroom in western Massachusetts. When I moved to Wilmington, NC, I signed on with Home Depot in the Lighting/Electrical Department. Lately, I’ve noticed, there has been much advertising and publicity regarding the use of CFL’s ([tag-tec]compact fluorescent light bulbs[/tag-tec]) as an energy-saving panacea.

Granted, these little spiral-shaped bulbs have improved much in the past three years, both in light-quality, higher wattages and some now are even dimmable. Most households that use them will notice a small drop in their monthly electric bill. The larger saving comes, of course, from every household replacing at least three incandescent light bulbs with CFL’s. Then, nationwide, the reduction in wattage usage is much more significant. As a consultant, I have always recommended the use of energy-saving lighting: CFL’s for lamps and fixtures, and fluorescent and solar for exterior lighting, and dimmers for all incandescent fixtures and lamps.

However, there are other ways of [tag]saving electricity[/tag] that should be emphasized as well, lest the push for CFL’s appears to be the major remedy for this nation’s huge and growing electrical consumption. Among these power gobblers are older refrigerators, clothes dryers, electric baseboard heat, and even TV’s and computers, which continually draw power even when they are not in use. Where it makes “green” sense to drive less when gas prices are high, it is wise to reduce usage of electricity as well. This can be done by washing only full loads, hanging clothes out to dry when possible, purchasing a new or newer energy-star refrigerator, considering buying a wood stove or more energy-efficient heating system, and not only turning off, but unplugging our computers and TV’s when they will not be in use.

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