energy saving light bulbs

[chimpydoodle]

Are they worth the extra cost in the beginning to re-coup a saving in the long run? Also i have seen such variations in price on them, from around 6quid to 75p for the cheapest in a hardware store, does the price reflect the quality or it it just the rip off mark up by the shops?!

[Jules001]

Morrisons have them BOGOF 99p. So I got 2 60w bulbs and they don't give out enough light and I have had to change them back to ordinary bulbs so I am very disappointed in them and won't be spending my money on them anymore

[woodchopper]

A standard 100w bulb will consume one unit of electric in 10hrs - it will take 50hrs for a 100w equivalent energy save to use the same.
EG. if a the life of a standard 100w bulb = 2000hrs it will use �22.00 worth of electric ( at 11p/unit ).
A 100w equivalent energy saver run for 2000hrs will cost �4.40.
They are worth their money - as for the light output - I checked a 60w equivalent against a standard 60w with a light meter and found them to be comparable.
If a 60w equivalent is too dim - use a 100w equivalent and remember they take a couple of minutes to warm up.

[wildwood]

I think they are great. They are getting cheaper all the time, and are a definite power saver. The ones in my living room have been there for 4 years and the one in the hall (which goes on when dark and stays on till morning every day) for three years. We have put the new shape curly ones in the two ceiling sprays in the lounge and you'd harly notice them as different from the ordinary bulbs.

I have every confidence that they will last the projected five years of normal use and have to be a energy saving.

[Raylectric]

They are getting better and cheaper all the time, as has been said,well worth buying.

[chimpydoodle]

Thanks very much for all your answers, here's to cheaper bills this winter!! x

[qapmoc]

Yeah but, as you noted there can be a big price variation and in this case ''you get what you pay for'' . The cheapo ones give a very low light output watt for watt and also have a shorter life than good ones.and it is worth paying a bit more and buying good quality ones

One point - these lights don't like to get too hot, so they have a much shorter lifetime if fitted inside a sealed light fitting such as a bulkhead type light.