Go Green Save Green!
I have to share my awesome money saving, eco-friendly purchase I made last week! I was at my favorite home improvement store the other day (Lowes.com). Every time I am there, I look for deals on LED light bulbs.
Let me back up a bit and preface this by disclosing something: I have three finished floors in my home that have a lot of lights! Add to that five kids that all seem to forget to turn them off, you can only imagine the energy bill and replacement costs of light bulbs!
So back to my find. I was strolling the isles at Lowe’s and I found an incredible deal! Only $9.98 for the Utilitech 13.5-Watt (60W) A19 Medium Base Warm White (3000K) LED Bulb! That is about half the regular price! So I did what I had to do… I bought every one they had left! Yes, I cleared out the remaining 18 lights they had.
Here’s why (Let me break down the savings for you):
LED Light
- $9.98*18= $179.64
- Average life of the LED= 25,000 hours
- Energy used for a 60W equivalent = 13.5W
CFL (Existing light)
- $11*18=$198 (already purchased)
- Average life of CFL=6,000 hours.
- Energy used for 65W equivalent = 15W
By replacing all of the lights that were still working, I took a hit up front.
- Cost of LED $179.64
- Cost of existing lights that still worked= $198
- Total cost $377.64
Here is where I will make up the loss. The package on the CFL claims they last 6,000 hours. I have been lucky to get about a year out of them.
Here is the break down of recouping the cost of the LED purchase:
- Year 1 = $377.64-$198=$179.64 (Recouped the cost of CFL replacement)
- Year 2= $198-$179.64=$18.36 (LED’s saved me $18.36)
- Year 3=$198
- Year 4=$198
- Total savings for lifetime of LED bulb = $414.36!
And that doesn’t even factor in the energy saved from using the LED V. CFL!
As you can see, the saving is big. If you plug in the numbers for incandescent bulbs, you would find that the energy costs were reduced significantly!
My tip – look for sales! Yes, the initial cost can be large for LED’s, but in the end, you will be glad you switched because you will have saved so much money and energy in the long run!
Erik Johnson, the author of this blog, is employed by a privately owned chemical manufacturing facility – working in training as well as supervision. During Erik’s off hours, he enjoys traveling with his beautiful wife, cooking, hanging out with the kids, and playing with his two dogs. He also enjoys cycling, running, and anything else that keeps him outside. You can find him hanging out at the local antique shops searching for hidden treasures. Erik’s strength comes from his positive outlook on life. He incorporates his optimism and love of life into helping others and inspiring people to reach their full potential.
Image courtesy of ponsulak / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Renee is a retail tech executive, leads a non profit chapter providing education on prescription drug abuse, and is an avid yoga practitioner. Most importantly however: she and her ever patient husband of 6 years are raising three boys through what most days and in many ways is truly a Life Half Crunched.
Susan Ellis-Saller, founder of See You, Be You Life Coaching is all about helping people! She knows from her own experience that diet plays an extremely important role in helping one feel and do her best! You might catch Susan hanging out with her husband and three children; hiking; reading; taking a class about Aromatherapy, Bach Flower Therapies, or Reiki; at an art museum; or pursuing some new life experience.
