While I was reading this article, Australia to ban old-style bulbs, I was reminded that lighting is a high percentage of our energy consumption.

As consumers we are always trying to find the best deal so to some having to switch from ordinary bulbs to the Compact Fluorescents(CF) seems extreme. They are expencive usually two to three times or more than incandescent bulbs. But that cost is negated many times over when you look at the life expectancy of the CF lights, the energy savings per month they are in use, and the decreased environmental impact associated with the CF light bulbs.

The decreased environmental impact is multi-benefiting. The lights themselves use energy. There is heat generated by incandescent light which is wasted energy and means increased cooling needs in hotter months.

So is that initial cost really that much?