Saving the Earth via choice of light bulb
- 1 20-W fluorescent fixture produces as much
light as 1 100-W Incan bulb.
- The fluorescent bulb lasts for 10,000 hours
- the Incan bulb lasts for 1000 hours
- The fluorescent bulb costs $7.50 (which is why
no one buys them)
- The Incan bulb costs $0.75 (which is why everyone
buys them)
Now lets calculate the total cost over the lifetime of
the fluorescent bulb assuming a cost rate of 10 cents
per KWH.
- Fluorescent bulb = 10,000 hours * 20 Watts =
200 KWH * 10 cents per KWH = $20 + the cost of the
bulb
 total cost = $27.50 (over about a 3 year period)
- Incan bulb = 1,000 hours * 100 Watts = 100 KWH *
10 cents per KWH = $10.00 + the cost of the
bulb total cost = $10.75
Okay the 1000 hours are up - you drive in your car
back to the lightbulb store (using $1.00 worth of gas) and plunk another
75 cents down and head back home with yer new light bulb. Then, 1000 hours
later, you get to do the same thing What the Hell are
You Doing? Well whatever it is, you have done it 10
times now.
Total cost is now $10.75 x 10 + $10 worth of gas = 117.50
if you just would have plunked down $7.50 in the first place, you would have
saved 90 dollars over a 3 year period and this is just for one light bulb!
Multiply this by 10-20 lightbulbs per house and you get $900-1800 of money
saved plus 8000-16000 KWHs of energy!
Clearly always use fluorescent bulbs if you are
interested in saving energy and money.
However, this requires thinking on the long term!
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