CFL Test

I did a home test of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) for a 1 year period. In late 2006, I acquired 13 CFL's. Some were installed in high usage fixtures.
EPA Broken CFL cleanup instructions.
Comparison energy usage from my utility bills is shown for 2006 (before) and 2007 (after).
I used 5,249 kilowatt hours of electricity in 2005.
That's about 600 watts/hour, average.
A typical home lighting load is 8%. Before the CFL experiment, turning off all my lights for a year would only save $48.

I reduced my electrical bill for 2007 by 4.4%, but my natural gas bill went up 9%, because my furnace had to work harder because of the reduced 'waste' heat. Because the cost per BTU of electricity is almost 3 times the cost per BTU of natural gas, there was probably still a small dollar savings.

Typical Home Electrical Load: Devices with motors top the list. A typical home lighting load is 8%. Before the CFL experiment, turning off all my lights for a year would save only $48. The resulting heat bill would surely be higher, reducing the savings.
Lamp Examples: Incandescent flood lamp Incandescent 100 watt Halogen Capsulite 72 watt CFL 24 watt LED 4 watt EPA Broken CFL cleanup instructions.
Lamp efficiency and life (hours).
Standard 4 watt LED. Equivalent to 40 watt incandescent. I like these, but they aren't bright enough yet, and are too expensive. Cost was $14.95, 11/2007.
Led color problem. The Queen Bee didn't like it. Returned for credit. Distributor is discontinuing this style because of inconsistent color. Way too expensive: Cost was $67.95, 11/2007.
CFL PAR (Parabolic aluminized reflector) are not suitable for outdoor applications in Minnesota. At temperatures below 32° F, they come on very dim. Below 0° F, they may not come on at all. Also, CFLs, like other fluorescent lamps, are defined as hazardous waste, because of the mercury content, and must be disposed of like other hazardous waste. Disposed of at HC site, 3/26/08. Replaced with LEDs 7/16/08. 4 watts each!
LED PAR are bluish, but less noticeable by themselves. One was half as bright as the other, but is working ok now. I like these! I bought more when the cost came down. Cost was $59.80 a piece, 11/2007. Found a $20 source 7/2/08.

A few observations:

In the northern states, most of the savings claims made for CFLs are exaggerated.
EPA Broken CFL cleanup instructions.
Be careful selecting CFLs.
The light of some is extremely harsh. Buy the soft white ones.
Some do not start instantly. Buy the instant-on lamps.
For your first purchase, buy only one lamp, rather than a pack. If you like it, you can always buy more of that style.
Fluorescent lamps do not work well in cold weather.

LEDs are the lamps of the future, for many reasons, but are still too expensive.

Retail Suppliers, LED lamps

2009 Walmart began stocking a selection of LEDs made by Lights of America. Bought 3 in June. Two of the 3 failed at 9 months, with extremely low usage.
2009 Menard's began stocking a selection of better Feit LED lamps. Bought 2 in August.

Other Suppliers, LED lamps

LightingOnTheNet - Lower cost. Responsive. Bought 6 July 08. Spanish mfgr. 5 worked. Appears to be out of business 4/09.
Best-Home-LED-Lighting - First test order November 07. Great customer service. Expensive.
BetterLifeProducts
EarthTechProducts
Super Bright LEDs - 115 VAC lamps

Suppliers, Other

P3 Kill-a-watt - Power consumption measuring device.