Dark Mode Off / On

Have you heard all the hype about Enegery Efficiency Lighting ? I have but I have been ignoring the claims that they can save you money. Why? Because they cost more out of pocket?  So this week I took a challenge. I wanted to see if a light bulb can really save me and can they really last longer? I wanted to try this out and share the results with you.

We have lived in our home for 8 years. Over this time we have only used the cheapest lighting available. I usually get light bulbs at the dollar store or the 4 packs at Walmart for $1! As a frugal mom how could I pay more? The problem is these lights burn out so fast! We are constantly living in a dark house.  It is so unpredictable when they will go out. The only thing that is predictable is that they will go out and FAST! Anyone else like me? But what if changing the lights could really put money back in my pockets like this video?

INFORMATION TIME! 

Before I went shopping I did some research. You have to check out the GE Lighting website. It is very informative! Did you know that the lighting choices are changing between 2012 and 2014 in favor of options that use less energy. GE gives you great options including GE Energy Smart CF Ls, GE Energy Smart LEDS and GE Energy-Efficient Soft White.  Bright From The Start CFL look awesome. Achieves full brightness the instant you flip the switch. Uses 75% less energy than incandescents.

 

Interesting information on GE verses the traditional light bulb. Pay special attention to the savings.

Watts vs. Lumens

A watt is measure of power. A 60-watt incandescent bulb requires 60 watts of energy to produce the light it does. The brighter the incandescent bulb, the more watts it requires. A lumen, on the other hand, is a measure of the amount of light emitted from a lamp and the best way to describe energy efficient LED lamps. More lumens per watt means you are getting more light for less energy.

SHOPPING TIME:

I went to Walmart and decided to check out the CLF and LED lighting. I did a path to purchase show on Google + showing my shopping experience. It was quite over whelming at first. I tried to make it easier for you by doing the leg work.

TIME FOR THE SWITCH:

Once we were home the little man was excited to be a part of this experiment. As you can see in the photos below all of the rooms have lights that are burned out. (Evidence that they go out all the time) So I took out all the old and cheap bulbs and replaced them. Take a look.

 

The ceiling GE Smart lights were used in the living room:

Then I replaced the lighting in the dining room using the Bright From the Start.

The bathroom was the most impressive. Considering at least one of the three bulbs is always burned out, this is an awesome change! Look at my little man’s reaction!

The play room was undated too with the Energy Smart CFL.

I was happy to throw out all the light bulbs we removed. And the new GE lighting is amazing!

 So now for the BIG question! Can lighting really save you money? GE makes it easy to calculate the savings on their site. You can calculate your savings here.  Here are my savings. I definitely make my money back!

How amazing is that? With a simple purchase of $47 I am able to save $432 over the life of the bulbs! What will I do with the  savings? I will spend it on other items to help make our home more energy efficient! This is just the first step!

More ways I save on electricity:

  • Use fans! A breeze makes the room feel a few degrees cooler. Just be sure to turn it off when you leave.
  • Unplug Appliances when they are not in use – Many appliances drain power when they’re not even turned on. Rather they’re sitting in a sort of a sleep mode which allows them to turn on instantaneously when needed. They suck a small amount of energy while in this state, and it might be better to unplug some of your appliances that you don’t use extensively rather than let them suck juice.
  • Unplug small gadgets like cell phone or laptop chargers when you are not using them. Just like the appliances these drain and waste energy.
  • Maintain your refrigerator. Because it is one of the biggest energy-users in the home, a refrigerator should be operated at maximum efficiency. Limit the time that the door are open Also, keep your fridge as full as possible at all times. Then it will have less work to do because food items, once cooled, stay cold better than air does. There is less empty space for the refrigerator to cool. This is such a great energy saver, that some experts recommend refrigerating containers of water to fill up empty space.
  • If you do alot of cooking, you can help keep cooking times down to a minimum by always remembering to use lids on all of the pans you cook with. By keeping that energy closer to the food you are preparing, you can significantly reduce cooking time and, in turn, reduce the amount of time you have to have your stove on in the first place. Even if the recipe you are preparing doesn’t ask for a lid to be used, you likely aren’t hurting anything by trying to save energy.
  • No other single appliance uses more resources than your washing machine, so if you can limit the number of loads you do, you can save yourself significant cash. Wait for a FULL load. Try to combine loads. But do not overload! Be sure and use the correct amount of detergent. Too many bubbles make your machine work harder and use more energy. That is a tip that many of us do not know. And up to 90 percent of the cost of washing clothes comes from heating the water, so use hot water when it is absolutely necessary. Always use cold water in the rinse cycle.
  • Whether you have central air or an individual window or wall unit, be sure to clean the air filters every month. Dirt and dust hinder air flow, reducing efficiency.
  • Closing the curtains and lowering your Roman Blinds on the sunny side of your house will help keep you cooler on hot days. If you don’t want to obstruct the view, consider applying window film to the glass. I plan to try do-it-yourself cut-and-stick film to our windows. So that we can still see out but avoid the heat from the rays.
  • Always turn off your lights when you will be out of a room for an extended period of time. However if it will only be for a few minutes some suggest do not turn off then on again because the lights burn out faster if you turn them on and off constantly

 

So what do you think? Do you now feel like making the switch to energy efficient lighting is a money savings choice? Which bulbs would you choose. I choose a variety in hopes of helping you decide but there are many more choices.

AND before you go shopping print this GE Lighting Coupon!

For more info on GE Lighting visit their sites.

GE Twitter
GE Facebook
Also check out my #GELighting Pinterest Board.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric All opnions are 100% mine and honest.

Heather Brummett

I am Heather Brummett . I'm just a real mom, sharing my real life experiences with the world. Thank you for being a part of my world. Here you will find recipes, crafts, fun ideas for the kids, how to work at home, encouragement, inspiration, and the latest news in and around Houston. To be featured or for information on freelance work contact me at [email protected].

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