User Comments

1. 

   9/17/07

   n8

   Oh dear God yes I turn off the lights. We have a big place that would cost a fortune to light if we kept all our lights on all the time.

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2. 

   9/17/07

   cardiogirl

   I am always chasing after my husband and children turning lights off whenever I see them on. This habit is ingrained from childhood and it feels wasteful to leave the lights burning when no one is in the room. I couldn't tell you how much is saved, but I know I burn a lot of calories running from the basement to the second floor and back down again turning off lights.

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3. 

   9/17/07

   ThriftShopRomantic

   Yes indeed, I do. Though at night in my entryway I have one small lamp I do keep on for most of the evening...
   
   Since the cost of medical care after my falling down the steps would be HIGHER than the light bill. :-)

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   1. 

      9/17/07

      WT

      Yeah! Keep the reasons I never thought of coming!
4. 

   9/17/07

   urikalish

   I've got 1 word 4 u:
   fluorescent

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   1. 

      9/17/07

      techfun

      Yes, low-wattage long lasting fluorescents are available for almost any type fixture used in the US. They don't suffer as much from the on/off cycle of normal incandescents so you can save money and energy by using less power and then turn them off when desired to use NO power.
5. 

   9/17/07

   WT

   Cardiogirl - Thanks for the added reason. I never would have thought about the calories I burn running out to the barn to turn off lights others leave on!

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6. 

   9/17/07

   WT

   @urikalish: That is correct, but as I recently wrote on my site, even that is not as clear cut as I would like.

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   1. 

      9/17/07

      urikalish

      One day it will all be LED lighting
7. 

   9/17/07

   WT

   Yes, I am impatient for them to be ready. The LED lights will really change things for the better when they are finally ready for prime time. Right now they are prohibitively expensive. Any ideas how long before they are in use?

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8. 

   9/17/07

   techfun

   From what I have read, modern incandescent bulbs are less prone to deterioration from being turned on and off as compard to bulbs from 20 years ago.
   
   For the money savings, take a look at this:
   
   What about the costs : According to the CEC initial cost of an incandescent light bulb is about $0.50. Recent prices comparisons conducted in the Sacramento and Los Angeles areas found that CFL light bulbs were generally under $3.00 per bulb. However, a new 20-watt compact fluorescent light bulb produces as much light as a traditional 75-watt incandescent bulb. The CFL also lasts up to 10 times longer than a traditional incandescent light bulb (an incandescent bulb has a lamp life of 1,000 hours while a CFL has a lamp life of 10,000 hours). Bases on and average California energy costs of $.105 per kWh the total energy cost of a incandescent light vs. a CFL over the life of a CFL is $78.75 vs. $23.25 or a $55.50 energy savings. Combine the energy savings with the fact that one $3.00 CLF will replace 10 $0.50 incandescent bulbs and the total savings per bulb is $57.50.
   
   From: info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0701-0750/ab_722_cfa_20070423_094447_...

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9. 

   9/17/07

   wares4life

   I keep as many lights on as I can and also enjoy driving my decked out 1999 Buick Park Avenue to wherever I want to go.
   
   The sky isn't falling!! Stop it.

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