Energy efficient bulbs?

[melric]

Obviously the USA hasn't gotten rid of incandescent bulbs. https://www.chameleonforums.com/eu-phase-out-non-energy-efficeint-light-bulbs-19323/index2.html
My question is how can you save on your electric bill aside from going solar? I'm using a lot of power here people! I bought some halogen bulbs that only use 11 watts, but don't produce any heat at all. Of course I'm using them inside my room instead of a cage. Let me know what you think would work.

 

[melric]

Or maybe I should replace the entire house's bulbs with these 11 watt beauties and keep the incandescent's for the cham's? But I want to be energy efficient all around. $150 for electricity is a lot.

 

[Whatcamo]

You could look into installing solar tubes for the purpose UVB and lighting on your cams cages then you'd just need a heating source however the solar tubes can provide some

With my reef tanks and all $150 sounds great writer months I push $280

 

[melric]

You could look into installing solar tubes for the purpose UVB and lighting on your cams cages then you'd just need a heating source however the solar tubes can provide some

With my reef tanks and all $150 sounds great writer months I push $280

Well that is the winter. Summer with the A/C on is when it gets really expensive. Not exactly sure what solar tubes are?

 

[fluxlizard]

Summer with the A/C on is when it gets really expensive.

Depending on where you are and what you can rig up, when chameleons are outdoors during the summer the light bill is free. That's what I do- about 5 months out of the year my chameleons are outdoors 24/7. I provide thermal gradients in the enclosures with patio misters running in the heat of the day in part of the shady part of each enclosure. Pretty cheap to set up.

 

[Beachbabies]

If you can get them outside for a majority of the summer, all you need during the winter is 15 mins everyday, or 30 mins every other day. I try to get each of my chams out for atleast 30 mins once a week over the winter and then every day as soon at the temps hit 65. i know it's cold now, but try to get them out there @ noon and then hold him while youre outside, that way he'll absorb some of yur bodyheat.

 

[melric]

I would need 8 sunning cages as of now. But, I will think about it. It sounds logical. I might have to have the misting system run more often because it gets in the high 90's to 100's in the summer. That's when I have my A/C on for them, lol. I think the highest last year was 113 or 115. Not sure.

 

[Solid Snake]

To cut electric costs all around? My friend is in the lighting bussiness, and when led housetype bulbs started coming out he GAVE me 10 of them. They sell for $20 or so. I hardly use the lights in my house anyhow, I like it dark. But these things cut my electric bill from $75 to $30. They last like forever(almost). So, high investment, longterm return, but it helps.

 

[Lancecham]

Or maybe I should replace the entire house's bulbs with these 11 watt beauties and keep the incandescent's for the cham's? But I want to be energy efficient all around. $150 for electricity is a lot.

I haven't seen a $150 electric bill in the last 13 years. You don't want to know what mine is.
But, by replacing the bulbs in your house to the 11 watt bulbs, it will help a bit.

 

[EvilLost]

I didn't read all the responses in depth, but a few general comments regarding power usage...



You are billed for the wattage you use. So, simply lowering the wattage of everything means you use less power, and pay less. So yes you should change all of your house bulbs to CFLs with the lowest wattage that gets you enough light. In terms of lighting (I'm being GENERALIZED on purpose), if you want energy efficiency you want to look at the LUMENS/WATT generated by different things. In general, CFLs use way less power than incandescent to put out the same light (ie they have a HIGHER lumen/watt value). HPS/MH systems can generate decent lumen/watt ratings but only if you want a huge amount of light in one place; which obviously is no good in this situation. LEDs are currently on the fence...the technology is just getting there. CREE XM-L leds (the best in the industry that I know of) can put out the best lumen/wattage ratio, but the premade fixtures are pretty pricy, and doing it yourself is cheaper but still costly (and of course, you have to be comfortable doing it yourself).




Solar is slightly different (conceptually) in that you aren't lowering your power usage, you are just generating your own power rather than getting it from the utility so you don't pay for it. Although it is a great direction to go in general, you should still consider lowering your power usage as well, even if you do go the solar route.

If you'd like some detailed info on your particular setups and how you can switch to LEDs or other lower power sources, PM me and we can discuss the specifics