How many tips does it take to change a light bulb? A few more, apparently.
Despite avid media coverage and education campaigns, consumers still aren’t flocking to newer, energy-efficient light bulbs. But a switch could be good for your wallet. And besides, you won’t have much choice soon.
A federal law passed in 2007 requires manufacturers to make light bulbs that emit the same brightness using less energy. Traditional incandescent bulbs can’t do that, so they’ll effectively be dropped from production over the next few years. The most popular and affordable replacement is the CFL, many of which have a swirl design.
The initial-cost advantage might not be obvious because a CFL bulb will cost more than an incandescent, maybe $1.50 per bulb compared with 50 cents. But the CFL will last up to 10 times longer, making it far cheaper over the long run on initial price alone.
Then you have the energy savings. A CFL uses 75 percent less energy than an incandescent bulb. Each CFL can save you about $40 over its lifetime, according to Energy Star. Gregory Karp, Chicago Tribune; Associated Press file photo
