Switching to energy saving light bulbs will now pretty much be mandatory. As of January 1st, 2014, it was illegal to manufacture or import traditional incandescent light bulbs that we all know and love. Stores can still sell them until they run out, though, and you can still use them in your home.
So, what’s this mean for the average consumer? We’ll have to switch to energy saving light bulbs whether we want to or not.
Regardless if you agree with this decision or not, the good news is switching to energy saving light bulbs can save households a bundle every year on their electric bill. We actually decided that switching to energy saving light bulbs was the best way to go about four years ago, when my children didn’t seem to understand the purpose of a light switch. As soon as we made the switch, there was a noticeable difference in the amount of energy used.
Switching to energy saving light bulbs has another cost advantage, though. They last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, meaning that you won’t have to constantly buy and replace your bulbs. Wanna know how many bulbs we’ve replaced in the four years since switching to energy saving light bulbs?
One.
Of course, switching to energy saving light bulbs isn’t cheap at first. The cost of these bulbs is higher than that of traditional incandescent bulbs. The bulbs more than pay for themselves, though, so it’s definitely a worthwhile investment.
If you’re on a budget and considering switching to energy saving light bulbs, here are a few tips to help you along the way…
Scout Sales and Coupons
Like just about any other products, energy saving light bulbs go on sale every once in a while. Keep an eye out for sales at your local hardware stores and large retail stores, like Walmart and Target. Some discount stores, like Dollar General and Family Dollar, also sometimes have great sales on energy saving light bulbs as well.
You can also sometimes find coupons for energy efficient light bulbs. In fact, there were some in the Sunday paper and printable ones available not too long ago.
Buy Generic
When switching to energy saving light bulbs, you don’t have to spring for the top of the line brand names. The generic energy saving light bulbs are often just as good and usually cost a great deal less.
Get the Ugly Ones
One of the biggest reasons why some people aren’t looking forward to switching to energy saving light bulbs is that they’re ugly. Plain and simple. You can get energy saving light bulbs that are all pretty and encased in regular looking bulb glass, but these are a little more expensive. Instead, choose the ugly swirly ones. These are a little cheaper and no one will notice if you are able to use a lamp shade or globe to cover them.
Buy Packs Instead of Singles
The cost per energy saving light bulb is generally lower if you buy packs of bulbs as opposed to single bulbs. It may be a little pricier up front, but you’ll actually be saving money in the long run, especially if you have several lights in your home.
Spread it Out
As I mentioned above, it’s still perfectly fine to use old incandescent light bulbs in your home. Therefore, you don’t need to rush right out to replace every light bulb in your home. I say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Replace your old bulbs with energy saving light bulbs as they blow. Or, if you’re looking to reduce your electric bill but can’t afford to replace all of your bulbs at one time, pick them up a few at a time. For instance, get one pack a week or month, or one pack each time you get paid. In no time at all, you will have switched completely to energy saving light bulbs.
