oil lamp vs. electric

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Is it cheaper to light a house for two adults with oil lamps (and what kinds or oil and lamps) than to use electric? Has anyone figured out a formula for such based on the price of electricity per kilowatt hour? Or, is it more cost effective to switch to the more efficient electric bulbs(and what kinds would those be)?

-- David Dati (drdati@mwt.net), October 08, 2001

Answers

Seems like our elect. bill keeps getting bigger, even when we try to cut back. I think if you run the house on elect. then bigger savings would be in appliances like the dryer, etc. We like to use oil lamps every now and then, just for practice for power outs. We had the power go out for 4 hours last winter and we have small kids. I would also be interested if someone can say how long their oil lamps last. Ours are the cheep ones that give dim light, but they work in a pinch. We usually light at least two for reading. I still have oil in them, it seems to last quite a while. Also consider, when using elect. are you more inclined to leave it on longer? waste elect? When we use oil, we are careful to make sure they are out when not in that room, etc.

-- notnow (notnow05@yahoo.com), October 08, 2001.

About 5 years ago I visited a homesteading family that had no electricity and relied on oil lamps. They used a kerosene called K1 and said it cost about $1.30 a gallon or about $25 for 2 lamps for a year. I have a lamp that I use occasionally. I use pure paraffin oil which is quite expensive compared to kerosene, but supposedly burns cleaner. I looked at the Lehman's catalog, and they sell 5 gallons of the paraffin oil for $69. Wicks can last a long time and are relatively inexpensive.

-- Barb (rosemontfarm1@aol.com), October 08, 2001.

Just very rough approximates here. A good oil lamp will put out the equivalent of about 35/40 watts of light, last maybe 9/10 hours on half a quart of oil. So thats: Oil lamp - 0.4kwh for the price of half a quart of oil Electric lamp - 0.4kwh X price per kwh

There are also other things to consider such as the cost of a good oil lamp, cost of efficient electric lighting, inconvenience, safety, how clean the fuel burns, maintenance, etc.

-- Jake (Jake@home.com), October 08, 2001.


If you are already on the grid and have lights, please consider buying the high efficiency light bulbs. They make them to fit regular sockets in lamps etc. They cost roughly $8 each depending on what wattage you need and they last a very long time--years and years. I really like the ones I have bought. I am replacing my standard bulbs with these as they burn out. I buy mine at the local -Mart store.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), October 08, 2001.

There are two things that use up light bulbs (including the ultra- compact ultra-economical fluorescent ones). Those are having them on (length of time), and turning them on (number of times). The economical compact-fluorescent ones last ROUGHLY as long as standard incandescent ones on both measures. That means that the economical ones are only economical where you turn them on and off infrequently, and leave them on for long periods of time - studies, living-rooms, etc. That way their low power consumption can have an effect. For lights which aren't used for long, but are turned on-and-off frequently (say toilets, bathrooms, hallways, porches) the old- fashioned incandescent light bulbs are the better buy - use more power while they're on, but since they are on-and-off so often they will burn out more often, and the cheaper bulbs are more economical on that basis.

Watch for LED lights - not ready for prime time yet, but they will be super-economical when they're better developed.

Burning stuff on a retail level is more expensive than using electricity which you are getting on a close-to-wholesale basis, and naked flames have dangers as well; but using a candle or a lantern can be short-term more economical than having to put in electric wiring (e.g. for an outside toilet) or connecting to the grid. And of course the economics change if you're using home-grown resources (e.g. solar cells, tallow candles).

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), October 08, 2001.



Greetings dave. My experience with oil lamps and candles would leave me to believe that they are cheaper, but I never did calculate any of it. All of my electrical light experience has been in situations where the electrical bill was including many other appliances. Candles for me were the most cost effective. A properly made candle with mirror reflectors where light would hit walls, can throw more thaa a candle of light. Your effeciency can be increased with any lighting system in this manner. When pondering this idea myself, I have to ask, what kind of environment am I creating with this use. In the case of electricity on the grid where I live, it is hydro- electric dams, which I have a problem with. My use of grid power is thus something that I am conscious of. Kerosene, and other oil lamps come from the petroleum industry. It doesn't take much browsing to dig up the negative ethics of that call. I'm in the process of homesteading this uncoming spring and have ideas on some wind generation, and solar panel electricity. Propane lights are nice and bright for reading. Electric is better for reading than any oil or candle that I have tried. But if your not reading or doing needlepoint, I'd go with candles. Beeswax is my favourite source of light, it isn't the brightest, but it's real cheap, it's real pleasant, smells good, and works when the electrity is out, which seems to happen at the darkest times. Roberto, near Terrace B.C.

-- roberto pokachinni (pokachinni@yahoo.com), December 18, 2001.

Remember to adjust for the kilowatt hour price (and oil price) for your area, because the numbers others have may or may not be the same as yours.

Also a couple of tricks to increase the amount of light:

Paint your walls white (I know the famous decorator mavens will be appalled, but they aren't paying my electric bill), lol

Put a mirror (a three-panel hinged one if you can get or make it) behind your oil lamp (or candle).

A solatube or suntunnel type skylight works wonders for dark bathrooms and hallways, and aren't that expensive if you can put them in yourself.

One other thing is that electric is cleaner for you. Indoor pollution is nothing to sneeze at, and this time of year people are running their fireplaces too.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), December 18, 2001.


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