Christina and Jack Dillard

When building their new dream home, Christina and Jack decided to use 100% fluorescent fixtures inside and out. Read their thoughts on the transition.
 

What was the deciding factor in choosing all fluorescent lighting?
We really did our research before deciding to go all fluorescent. Using compact fluorescent bulbs makes such a small difference to us, but it makes a huge difference to the environment. The positive impact on the environment far outweighs the initial cost. Plus, the longer-lasting fluorescent lamps mean we won’t have to climb up a ladder as often to replace the bulbs in our 18’ tall family room ceiling.

I noticed that even your recessed lighting is fluorescent. How do you deal with the fact that, at the moment, fluorescent lighting can not be dimmed?
Dimmable lights never seemed like much of a consideration to me. My husband was hesitant to install a dining room chandelier that we couldn’t dim, but now that it’s installed, he doesn’t seem to mind. It’s merely an adjustment we had to make. Now that it’s been made, we don’t even think about it. Also, there are other ways besides dimming lights to create mood lighting, such as layered lighting. We've had an opportunity to get creative with our lighting plan.

When you entertain, do people immediately notice that your lighting is fluorescent or is it even an issue? What has their response been- positive or negative?
Honestly, most people don’t even notice that all our lights are compact fluorescent. Some guests have noticed after looking very closely. Those who discover we have all fluorescent lighting are impressed by the light quality. Seeing our house has dispelled many preconceived notions about fluorescent lighting and proved that modern technology has revolutionized energy-efficient lighting and made it a viable option for every room of the home.

Do you notice a difference in the color of light?
I don’t notice a color difference at all. While researching, we discovered that today's fluorescent bulbs come in a range of color temperatures from warm to cool.

Do you ever wish you had some incandescent light sources? And if so, where or in what application?
No, I can really say I don't. By getting creative and using layered lighting and also thinking about what the light will be used for--whether task or accent lighting and then choosing the appropriate bulb temperature--I can really say we don't miss the traditional incandescent fixtures.

Have you noticed a difference in your electricity bill?
We moved from a house half the size (about 1900 sq. feet), with half as many lights, but they were all (except for one kitchen strip fixture) incandescent. Our electricity bill in the current, larger house (about 3500 sq. feet) is about the same as the electricity bill in the previous, smaller house. Considering our previous house was new construction also (and therefore the insulation and other construction factors were comparable), we attribute our comparatively lower energy bill to our switch to compact fluorescent bulbs.

What would you say is the number one issue to consider before deciding to go fluorescent?
In my opinion, the biggest issue to consider is the cost; fluorescent bulbs are initially more expensive than incandescent. However, once you get past the initial investment, the bulbs will last much longer. In fact, through this process, we learned that the bulbs can last an average of 7 - 10 years.

If you had it to do all over again, would you make the same decision?
Why or why not?
Absolutely, we’d do it again. The drawbacks are minor in comparison to the advantages. We aren’t terribly environmentally conscious, but switching our house to all-fluorescent lighting makes a big enough positive impact on the environment to more than outweigh the initial upfront investment.