[98_1LE]

It is a near real time (a second or two of lag) power monitor. The electric company installed it for free for signing up for a 2 year contract, and since I am planning to stay with them anyway.

Here is with the dryer on:
(IMG:http://i44.tinypic.com/20hne36.jpg)

Here is with it off:
(IMG:http://i40.tinypic.com/o53hg1.jpg)

It has a bunch of screens that display different data, including daily/weekly/monthly cost estimates.

And the remaining incandescants in the house have to go!

[trackbird]

I'm running the same low wattage bulbs I bought "years ago" with the exception of my kitchen and stairs (I bought those 5 years ago when I moved in). The rest of them that are in lamps came from my old apartments. I've only had about 2 go bad (out of 20+) in 8 years or so.

Also, my shop lights are 6,500 K (Kelvin) color temperature bulbs. That's the same color of light as direct sunlight. My garage looks like high noon on a bright summer day. I LOVE that light for the shop (and would HATE it in my kitchen). You might try buying fluorescents with a different color temperature, you might like them better.

[Todd]

I'm running the same low wattage bulbs I bought "years ago" with the exception of my kitchen and stairs (I bought those 5 years ago when I moved in). The rest of them that are in lamps came from my old apartments. I've only had about 2 go bad (out of 20+) in 8 years or so.

Also, my shop lights are 6,500 K (Kelvin) color temperature bulbs. That's the same color of light as direct sunlight. My garage looks like high noon on a bright summer day. I LOVE that light for the shop (and would HATE it in my kitchen). You might try buying fluorescents with a different color temperature, you might like them better.

wow...i'm shocked. most of hers don't last a year. its so bad that when she replaces them, she puts the date on them. She hasn't been good enough about tracking the different bulbs she buys cause some have a 7 yr warranty. I definitely agree on the "color" of the lights...the low Kelvin bulbs are much more dim than others. I guess what doesn't help at least at my house is that much of my light is in the open ended ceiling fan fixtures. CFL's are ugly to look at and I typically use clear vibration resistant bulbs. To make things worse, I also have halogen lights on the back of the house too... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)