I'm not an incredibly eco-friendly person, but I do like to do my part in trying to cut down on waste around the house, and not fill up the garbage dump sooner than necessary.  So, we've tried using energy-efficient light bulbs (or compact fluorescent bulbs) for several years now, but there's just one little problem with these light bulbs.  If used in high traffic areas of the house, they never last as long as the the manufacturer reports!  I think the standard on the twisty type light bulbs, which is what we mostly have, is 8,000-10,000 hours.  I would also say, that in our living room, which seems to have the lights on the most per day, might be on an average of 8 hours a day.  I think that's pushing it, but then on rainy days, it might be all day, so 8 hours is a good number.  Using those figures, the compact fluorescent light bulbs should last around 2.5 years.   So, how long do ours last?  Maybe 6 months!

Compact Fluorescent Energy Efficient Light Bulbs for Sale at Amazon

Earthmate EP2357AE 23-Watt Spiral CFL Full Spectrum Bulb, 6 Pack List Price: $56.94 Sale Price: $32.63 You save: $24.31 (43%)

Earthmate EP2352AK 23-Watt Super Mini-Spiral CFL 2700K Bulb, 6 Pack List Price: $44.94 Sale Price: $39.62 You save: $5.32 (12%)

Earthmate EP4052AE 40-Watt Spiral CFL 2700K Bulb, 6 Pack Sale Price: $62.94

Dimmable - 20 Watt - 80 W Equal - Warm White 2700K - CFL Light Bulb - PAR38 Reflector - Marathon by Philips 146449 Sale Price: $32.41

GE 13-Watt Energy SmartTM - 8 Pack - 60 watt replacement Sale Price: $8.53

Honeywell Econoswitch RPLS740B 7-Day Solar Time Table Programmable Switch for Lights and Motors List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $36.00 You save: $13.99 (28%)

Sylvania 15172 65-Watt 130-Volt BR30 Indoor Flood Light, 6 Pack List Price: $20.99 Sale Price: $10.25 You save: $10.74 (51%)

Philips 409904 Dimmable AmbientLED 12.5-Watt A19 Light Bulb List Price: $39.99 Sale Price: $23.99 You save: $16.00 (40%)

Dimmable E26 A60 Standard Household Base 50 Watt Incandescent Light Bulb Replacement with a 6 Watt Led, Warm White By Ledwholesalers, 1012ww List Price: $45.00 Sale Price: $10.50 You save: $34.50 (77%)

Panasonic PANASONIC FDS18E35/4 REPLACEMENT LAMP Sale Price: $4.75

So, if you just stop reading there, you're probably thinking there's something wrong with the fixture to pop the light so quick.  But unfortunately, we also have them in our bathrooms (which do not have lights on all day long).  And we've also tried various types, manufacturers of the light bulbs, sizes, and what not in 3-4 different houses in the past 6 years, with virtually the same problem.

So, to me, in high traffic areas, the energy efficient light bulbs do suck.  But, to give them a little redemption, the energy-efficient bulbs do work very well in very low traffic areas such as the closets and pantry areas.  Those light bulbs tend to last a long time (a long time being the 3 years we've been in this house, we haven't changed the energy efficient bulbs in the closets).

If you are interested in saving the planet just a little, then I can definitely recommend using energy efficient bulbs (or compact fluorescent light bulbs) in your low traffic areas, but as far as the high traffic areas of your home, I've just not seen enough of a benefit to warrant spending extra on "efficient bulbs".  Below are a few energy-efficient bulbs that we thought made pretty good samples.  If you know of an energy efficient bulb that really works as described, and works in a high traffic area, let me know through the comments below!

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B. Daniels is the lead review expert with Find Cheap Bargains. B. was more than likely the person responsible for the hands-on review of every product on the site. He also spends time searching for sale bargains when not conducting and writing the reviews.