Save Whopper $$$ With Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

You see those pleas everywhere for us to switch to those corkscrew-shaped light bulbs. But since they cost from $5 to $15 or so each, I had pretty much ruled them out.

Then, one day in Target while waiting for a clerk to get back to me with something, I picked up a "Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb" carton and started reading. Well, was I ever surprised as I read on.  

It turns out that those odd-looking squiggly light bulbs can help you save lots and LOTS of energy and money on your electric bill, especially when you outfit your whole home with them, inside and out. 

A sign on the shelf by the CFLs said that if every American home replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENGERGY START qualified CFL, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. So, now, I'm all for being "green" with my household lighting.

That said, the reason CFL bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than regular bulbs is because they contain a very small amount of mercury. But before you worry too much, consider these two points. First, the phrase “very small” is important. In fact, the average amount of mercury is between 3.5 and 15 milligrams. 

Compare that to older fever thermometers, which contain about 500 milligrams, and you see it's a relatively small amount. Second, no mercury is released as long as the bulbs remain intact, exposure is only possible when one has been broken.

Still, you’ll want to make sure you don’t just throw the bulbs away where they can break and release tiny amounts of mercury. To locate a hazardous waste collection and recycling center in San Clemente click here.  

So, I left the Target store with a shopping cart full of squiggly light bulbs for both inside and outside our home. Even the big ones to replace the spot and floodlights in the ceilings. I also got ones for in the garage, and on the outside of the home. 

Now, with them all installed, I bet that little wheel on the electrical meter outside is turning a lot slower!

For more info on CFL bulbs, visit EPA's CFL page or Earth911.org. Southern California Edison also has CFL bulb information on its website. 

And go here to Search the MLS and find all the homes for sale and rentals in Orange County.

Or, if you need help in searching the MLS (especially on how best to search for rentals), call me, 949-463-4111, or email me, Debbie@DebbieFerrari.com and I will walk you through it. 

For tons of local info on nearby cities, go to my site --- Debbie Ferrari, 35-year  San Clemente Real Estate Broker