I did it. I really did it. I did something good for the environment, voluntarily. What is it--you wonder with unabated curiosity? I bought a package of compact fluorescent light bulbs for my own personal use.
I know you are all proud of me for changing my ways, for finally seeing the light, for shaking the evil draw of the darkside. I have to admit, it feels good. But I also have to admit the real reason I did it--the CF bulbs were finally cheaper than the incandescents.
We were on a family outing to the local big warehouse store, run by the second most evil company in the world. They had a package of 8 13W CF bulbs on sale for $10.00. The 13W CF bulbs are claimed to be the equivalent of 60W incandescents**--what we use in many of our lights at home. Using my amazing math skills, I quickly figured out that is $1.25 per bulb. Using my amazing powers of recollection*, I quickly remembered that I can get regular bulbs for about $.25 each.
Hmmmm....that means it would take 7 5 regular bulbs to make up one CF--see those amazing math skills? So if the CF bulb lasts longer than 7 5 regular then the economist in me would be forced to take over and do something good for the environment. The CF package says they will last 5 years based on 4 hours use per day. That's 7300 hours. Incandescents last about 900 hours according to the packaging.
Even using the new math they're teaching in my kids' school, 900x7 5 is only 6300 hours 4500 hours and that's less than 7300 hours. That means the CF bulb is cheaper, and I can now safely buy them without compromising my economic morals. But hey, at least it looks like I'm conserving energy for the right reasons.
*For those that know me, you know I have no powers of recollection. My means of recollection is the ask my wife "Hey, how much are regular light bulbs?" She has amazing powers of recollection.
**On first observation, it seems the first 13W bulb we installed is significantly dimmer than the 60W incandescent bulb it replaced. Anyone know of an accurate CF/incandescent conversion?
