Another approach.... As the old bulbs burned out, I've gone ahead and changed to compact fluorescent bulbs in places where we leave the bulbs on a lot. In some cases I've stepped up in the light level by using a slightly higher wattage than suggested. For example, I use 26 watt fluorescent bulbs for lamps where I previously used a 75 watt bulb. This gives plenty of light and saves about $5 per year per bulb, assuming it's on about 3 hours per day. Do the math. The bulbs will last about 6 or 7 years. For places where the bulbs are not used as much, like in a closet or bathroom, the savings don't amount to much.
Another place where I have replaced the old incandescents is in some ceiling fixtures where replacing bulbs is a pain. The fluorescents last about 5 times as long as the incandescents and are worth it for the reduced trouble in changing bulbs.
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