Following up from yesterday's post, I've been surprised at just how many light bulbs I have.  They're coming out of the woodwork -- literally and figuratively!

I had forgotten about the two lights on the outside of the garage.  They automatically turn on every evening at dusk and go off every morning at dawn.  I had been using two 60W bulbs, but I've now replaced them with 9W CFLs which are equivalent to 40W incandescents.  (I had tried 60W equivalents, but they were way too bright.  If I had left it that way, I would have expected Wise Men from afar to show up in December.  And, where would they keep their camels?  My neighborhood HMA would never allow that!)

Replacing these two bulbs reduced my power consumption from 120W to 18W.  Assuming they're on for 11 hours every day (more in the winter, less in the summer), this change saves me $3.50 each month.


To illustrate how ridiculously awesome this is, I will recoup my $2 expense for bulbs in just 17 days!  After that, I'm pocketing $3.50 each month, or $42 a year by replacing two light bulbs.  I'm beginning to feel like an idiot for not doing this sooner. 

I've now reduced my monthly power consumption by 5.5%.  The next thing I'll be looking at is the water heater.  It may be hiding quietly in the corner, but it's secretly devouring kilowatts right under our noses.