Comments on: Want to get $3,500? http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/ Mike Harding's Blog Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:10:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Over $500 saved with CFLs http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-36940 Over $500 saved with CFLs Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:51:33 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-36940 [...] Electricity Usage Post-CFL (2006 no CFLs) Regular readers of this blog will recognize that in June, 2007 we replaced 83 of our 95 light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps. Since that time, we’ve averaged savings on our electric bill of $42.77/month and now have [...] [...] Electricity Usage Post-CFL (2006 no CFLs) Regular readers of this blog will recognize that in June, 2007 we replaced 83 of our 95 light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps. Since that time, we’ve averaged savings on our electric bill of $42.77/month and now have [...]

]]> By: Real Data on CFL Replacement http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-34351 Real Data on CFL Replacement Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:12:57 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-34351 [...] in June, 2007. In fact, one of the most popular entries ever to appear in this blog was titled “Want to get $3,500?” which talks about the inventory, method, and expected savings of replacing standard lighting with [...] [...] in June, 2007. In fact, one of the most popular entries ever to appear in this blog was titled “Want to get $3,500?” which talks about the inventory, method, and expected savings of replacing standard lighting with [...]

]]> By: Most Loved Posts http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-34125 Most Loved Posts Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:47:55 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-34125 [...] - Want to get $3,500? - A post about how much electricity (money) I’m saving with a big bang switch over to compact [...] [...] - Want to get $3,500? - A post about how much electricity (money) I’m saving with a big bang switch over to compact [...]

]]> By: mike http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-32480 mike Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:06:10 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-32480 Hi Jesse, Thanks for the comment. I don't know what's causing that last light to burn out. I wonder if there might be voltage might be fluctutating in that fixture (i.e., simulating on/off cycles in some way - I don't mean competely on/off, just enough to damage the electronics in the lamp.) The thing to remember about screw in CFLs is that they are actually lamps, a ballast/controller along with the bulb. Other commenters, do you have ideas for Jesse? Thanks, Mike Hi Jesse,

Thanks for the comment. I don’t know what’s causing that last light to burn out. I wonder if there might be voltage might be fluctutating in that fixture (i.e., simulating on/off cycles in some way - I don’t mean competely on/off, just enough to damage the electronics in the lamp.)

The thing to remember about screw in CFLs is that they are actually lamps, a ballast/controller along with the bulb. Other commenters, do you have ideas for Jesse?

Thanks,
Mike

]]> By: Jesse http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-32477 Jesse Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:07:26 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-32477 I cannot understand why someone would argue that saving $500 is not the same as earning $500. If you increase your earnings by $500 you lose 40-50% of it in taxes; if you *save* $500 you are not taxed on the savings at all... at least not yet. GE compact flourescents can be gotten at Wal*Mart in our area for around $2.00 per lamp. 100 watt GE CF lamps originally were 1700 lumens; they are now 1750. They still bother my 63 year old eyes slightly (I feel like I forgot to take my 10,000 IUs of vitamin A). But they are far better than other brands which I took back to the stores. The slow startup brightness is often a plus, everywhere but stairwells; especially when you are turning on lamps in a room at night. We have six lighting our 960 sq. ft. garage and ten in the storage room above that. Which brings me to my question. Two of the GE 1750 lumen CF lamps quit in the storage room before they were used more than a few months. Both burned out in the last celing receptacle in the string. The room lighting is on its own circuit breaker originally wired for ten 75 watt incadescent lamps in insulation contact fixtures with a 4 inch opening at the bottom. The CF lamps project a half inch below the trim ring. So why is that last lamp burning out? GE says not to use CF lighting in completely enclosed recessed fixtures (it is printed right on the bulb base). They also told me that their lamps will burned our prematurely if they are turned on and off in a short time. We do neither. In our basement we have four 8 ft. fluorescent fixtures with a string of incadescent bulbs with pull chains along side them for a quick look in a file cabinet, etc. Nice web site Mike. Jesse I cannot understand why someone would argue that saving $500 is not the same as earning $500. If you increase your earnings by $500 you lose 40-50% of it in taxes; if you *save* $500 you are not taxed on the savings at all… at least not yet.

GE compact flourescents can be gotten at Wal*Mart in our area for around $2.00 per lamp. 100 watt GE CF lamps originally were 1700 lumens; they are now 1750. They still bother my 63 year old eyes slightly (I feel like I forgot to take my 10,000 IUs of vitamin A). But they are far better than other brands which I took back to the stores. The slow startup brightness is often a plus, everywhere but stairwells; especially when you are turning on lamps in a room at night. We have six lighting our 960 sq. ft. garage and ten in the storage room above that. Which brings me to my question.

Two of the GE 1750 lumen CF lamps quit in the storage room before they were used more than a few months. Both burned out in the last celing receptacle in the string. The room lighting is on its own circuit breaker originally wired for ten 75 watt incadescent lamps in insulation contact fixtures with a 4 inch opening at the bottom. The CF lamps project a half inch below the trim ring. So why is that last lamp burning out?

GE says not to use CF lighting in completely enclosed recessed fixtures (it is printed right on the bulb base). They also told me that their lamps will burned our prematurely if they are turned on and off in a short time. We do neither. In our basement we have four 8 ft. fluorescent fixtures with a string of incadescent bulbs with pull chains along side them for a quick look in a file cabinet, etc.

Nice web site Mike.

Jesse

]]> By: Decision Time: Energy Investments > Renewable Energy Journal http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-31693 Decision Time: Energy Investments > Renewable Energy Journal Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:44:38 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-31693 [...] 87% of a home’s light fixtures has reduced electricity demand by 25%. That’s hard data, a story about it is available here. Small choices like this made across a community can have a large impact. Regardless of where one [...] [...] 87% of a home’s light fixtures has reduced electricity demand by 25%. That’s hard data, a story about it is available here. Small choices like this made across a community can have a large impact. Regardless of where one [...]

]]> By: mike http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-31351 mike Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:39:52 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-31351 Clangnuts, thanks for the endorsement. Yeah, that first paragraph is lurid, glad you read on...If you think of it, drop another post when you can see the impact on your utility bill, I'd love to see more data. Good luck! Clangnuts, thanks for the endorsement. Yeah, that first paragraph is lurid, glad you read on…If you think of it, drop another post when you can see the impact on your utility bill, I’d love to see more data. Good luck!

]]> By: Clangnuts http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-31345 Clangnuts Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:21:17 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-31345 I so thought this was going to be yet another MLM scam type promotion (found the article on Stumble Upon). Almost gave it the thumbs down. Good post. We've just converted to CFL, so too early to see the bills reduce - but confident I'll see a big difference. THUMBS UP :-) I so thought this was going to be yet another MLM scam type promotion (found the article on Stumble Upon).

Almost gave it the thumbs down. Good post. We’ve just converted to CFL, so too early to see the bills reduce - but confident I’ll see a big difference.

THUMBS UP :-)

]]> By: mike http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-30934 mike Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:55:15 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-30934 Jason, great entry. Thanks for sharing. It's good to know that others are seeing the same sort of impact. Jason, great entry. Thanks for sharing. It’s good to know that others are seeing the same sort of impact.

]]> By: Jason Cameron http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-30933 Jason Cameron Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:39:04 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/28/want-to-get-3500/#comment-30933 Mike, Thanks for a great article on a very interesting topic. I myself <a href="http://cnrizzo.blogspot.com/2007/04/new-lights-on-subject.html" rel="nofollow">blogged</a> on this back in April. I had found an article about it and decided to switch my lights to CFL within my house. With this we have saved over $300 in the five months that we have switched. Thanks again for the great article. Mike,
Thanks for a great article on a very interesting topic. I myself blogged on this back in April.

I had found an article about it and decided to switch my lights to CFL within my house. With this we have saved over $300 in the five months that we have switched. Thanks again for the great article.

]]>