I suspect that there have been some posts on this already, but when I did searches here I didn't get quite what I wanted. I have a number of twin bulb four foot fluorescent fixtures around my place. I gather that some of my choices are as follows:
-Do nothing. Keep them fluorescent.
-Replace them with LEDs that work with fixtures having a ballast.
-Replace them with regular LED tubes and bypass the ballast.
-Buy new fixtures that use LED tubes.
So far, I have chosen to do nothing because it seems a bit too expensive to switch. It seems like the price has come down quite a bit and there is a place online that has tubes for about $8.00 each. Anyway, what is the general consensus here on this. Is it time to switch yet or are most people still waiting for the prices to come down a bit more? Also, is the preferred method to bypass the ballast in existing fixtures or are bulbs that work with legacy fixtures a good choice?
What about the economics of savings on energy use? It looks to me like the savings from incandescent to LED is more noticeable than the savings from fluorescent to LED? It that accurate or am I way off base here?
I will also check with my power company to see what sort of rebate program they have for these.
Right now, I am inclined to use up the fluorescent tubes that I have, but vow to not buy any more of them. Then, as they need replacement, bypass the ballast in the existing fixtures and swap them out with LED tubes. With any luck, they will be less than $8.00 per tube by that time!
-Do nothing. Keep them fluorescent.
-Replace them with LEDs that work with fixtures having a ballast.
-Replace them with regular LED tubes and bypass the ballast.
-Buy new fixtures that use LED tubes.
So far, I have chosen to do nothing because it seems a bit too expensive to switch. It seems like the price has come down quite a bit and there is a place online that has tubes for about $8.00 each. Anyway, what is the general consensus here on this. Is it time to switch yet or are most people still waiting for the prices to come down a bit more? Also, is the preferred method to bypass the ballast in existing fixtures or are bulbs that work with legacy fixtures a good choice?
What about the economics of savings on energy use? It looks to me like the savings from incandescent to LED is more noticeable than the savings from fluorescent to LED? It that accurate or am I way off base here?
I will also check with my power company to see what sort of rebate program they have for these.
Right now, I am inclined to use up the fluorescent tubes that I have, but vow to not buy any more of them. Then, as they need replacement, bypass the ballast in the existing fixtures and swap them out with LED tubes. With any luck, they will be less than $8.00 per tube by that time!