Phase out of incandescent light bulbs

According to USA Today, 12/29/2011 http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/story/2011-12-28/light-bulb-rules/52256656/1 "The congressionally mandated efficiency standards gradually phase out Thomas Edison's 131-year-old creation in favor of other light bulbs that use at least 25% less energy. The first to go, beginning Sunday, is the traditional 100-watt, followed in January 2013 with the 75-watt version and in January 2014 with the 40-watt and 60-watt bulbs." Stores will still be able to sell the bulbs that they have in stock, but as of January 1st, no more 100 watt light bulbs can be manufactured or imported. In two years, you will no longer be able to purchase incandescent light bulbs. So, it would be a good idea to start replacing every light that burns out with a compact fluorescent bulb. Incandescent bulbs lose 90% of their energy to heat. That is what makes them so ineffecient. Halogen incandescent bulbs meet the requirements of the new laws, but cost more annually to use than CFL's. LED's also meet the requirements and they cost less annually than CFL's and last longer, but they cost almost $50 per bulb to purchase.

Light Bulbs

Did you know that a compact fluorescent light bulb (those funny looking swirly-shaped bulbs) produces the same amount of visible light as a standard incandescent light bulb, but uses typically 1/5 less power and lasts 6 to 10 times longer. That's pretty impressive! Here's an example: an 18 watt compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will produce the same amount of visible light as a standard 75 watt incandescent light bulb, but is only using 18 watts of electricity. A U.S. article stated "A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the five-year life of the bulbs, depending on your cost of electricity. Look at your utility bill and imagine a 12% discount to estimate the savings." I have already changed almost every single bulb in my house. They take a little getting used to, because it's a different kind of light. Also, they aren't at their full brightness when you first turn them on. They get brighter after they've been on a few minutes and warmed up. By changing my light bulbs, sealing my windows, and using the heat from my dryer and the sunshine through my windows, I can already see a difference in my electric bill.

Lower Heating Costs in Winter

Would you like to save a few extra dollars on your heating and electric bill this winter? Of course you would, who wouldn't? Here are a few tips to help you accomplish that. Do you have old wooden windows on your house? I do, and I didn't realize how much cold air leaks in through them until I noticed my curtains moving.

Open each window and thoroughly clean out the window sill. Run a thick bead of clear silicon on the window sill, right underneath the window. Place a strip of plastic wrap over the silicon so that it completely covers the silicon and hangs over each side about 4 inches, and close the window tightly. While you have the silicon out, run a small bead of silicon around each pane of glass. After a few days, peel the plastic wrap off the window sill. You have now created a seal that is perfectly molded to the bottom of your window. No more cold air! Yee Haw!

Open your curtains during the sunny days, and close them at night. The sun shining through your windows can really help heat your house.

Buy a new vent hose for your dryer. They aren't very expensive. Remove the old hose from the back of your dryer and install the new one. Instead of running the new hose outside let all of that warm, moist air into your house. Not only are you utilizing heat that would have been wasted, but it makes your house smell really good, like fresh, clean laundry! And, moist air is easier to heat than dry air, so the moisture from the wet clothes helps a lot too! On cold days I get a lot of laundry done. Just be sure to keep the lint trap cleaned out really well.

Do you have any tips you would like to share?