There are many ways to save money and help the environment. CFL or compact fluorescent lights are in my “top ten” most bang for your buck. Did you know that the standard incandescent light bulb, the one Thomas Edison invented and the one most of us have in our homes uses 3 times more electricity than the new CFL. 90% of the electricity is wasted as heat, YES the incandescent bulb uses heat to produce the light. The CFL represent one of the brightest ideas yet for cooling down the atmosphere and your electric bill. They use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer.

If every U.S. household replaced just one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent, the emissions savings would be comparable to taking 3 million cars off the road for a year. Annual savings by replacing one 100w bulb with a CFL is about $40 dollars in your pocket. See how much you can save using the GE Lighting Calculator.

About the author: Richard Hutchinson is Founder and President of the National Energy Label System LLC., the company that originated the Residential Energy Label (REL). Dedicated for over 30 years to the design and science of energy efficient homes, he practices what he preaches, providing a basis for comparison so every home buyer can make an informed decision. He is a Certified Green Building Professional and a past inspector/verifier for the NAHB, National Green Building Program™ and a member of the “Green building counsel of the Capital Region Builders & Remodelers Association”. He is also an Energy Star Partner, affiliate member of the AIA and NY member of the US green building council. Affiliations: NAHB National Assoc. of Home Builders, CRHBA Capital Region Home Builders, AIA American Institute of Architects, USGBC U.S. Green Building Council, ES Energy Star Partner, CGP Certified Green Professional, NGBP National Green Building Program , USCC U.S. Chamber of Commerce, NELS National Energy Label System