Chitownproperty

Despite valiant attempts by the Illinois House of Representatives to reinstate the freeze on electricity rates from ComEd, Chicagoans should be bracing for at least a 25 percent hike in their bills this month. The House passed a measure to freeze ComEd’s rates another three years, after the utility company held an auction late last year to set the price for electricity after a previous 10-year ban expired. But the bill still needs to pass the Senate, where it faces stiff opposition and isn’t likely to even come to a vote.

One widespread suggestion to help homeowner save on energy is to replace standard incandescent light bulbs with new, more efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorscents are those funky corkscrew-shaped bulbs, but despite their strange looks, they use 75 percent less energy, can last up to 10 years, and on average save you $30 over the life of the bulb.

These new bulbs are pricey–they cost around $5 each–but it’s the right thing to do, both to save you money and do your share to conserve energy. Matt has been on a mission to replace all the bulbs in his and Debbie’s townhome, and we wanted to share some of the results:

• Not all compact fluorescent bulbs can be used with a dimmer, so if you want to do this, make sure you buy ones that specifically say they are dimmable. The standard bulbs will buzz and flicker unless the dimmer is set at the highest level, which of course defeats the whole purpose.
• Compact fluorescents come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including globes and floodlight/can style bulbs, so if you aren’t wild about that corkscrew shape, shop around for your tastes.
• Test out one bulb before you buy for the whole house. Fluorescent lights normally give off a more white, sterile light like what we expect in offices and retail stores, and cheaper brands of the compact bulbs don’t improve this much. Spend some money on the name brands. Matt found that GE bulbs have a nice, yellow glow that is indistinguishable from incandescents.
• The compact fluorescents are larger than incandescent bulbs, so they may not fit in tight spaces like lamps, ceiling fans, closet lights, etc. Again, test one or two first. Concentrate on putting new bulbs in your high traffic areas because you probably won’t be able to fit them everywhere.
• Finally, compact flourescents don’t light up immediately when you flip the switch, and may need to warm up a few minutes before they hit full strength. This takes some getting used to, but if you use the right wattage, you’ll never notice the difference.