Residential Lighting

Cost Comparison

  Compact fluorescent lighting

one 15-W bulb
Incandescent
lighting

ten 60-W bulbs
Purchase cost $2.70 $0.90 each X 10 = $9.00
Service life 10,000 hours 10 x 1,000 = 10,000 hours
Energy consumption 150 kWh 600 kWh
Calculation of energy costs at a rate of $0.0751/kWh $11.27 $45.06
Savings for each bulb replaced
- Energy $45.06 - $11.27 = $33.79
- Purchase cost $9.00 - $2.70 = $6.30
- Total without cross-effects * $40.09

Because CFLs emit less heat than incandescent bulbs, your heating system has to make up the difference during the winter. Even so, you'll save $20.49 over the service life of each CFL bulb used indoors. (Estimate for an electrically heated single-family dwelling).