HeyBub wrote:

Twice as much.

"Every CFL light contains a small ac-dc power supply with reactive
components in it that will affect the CFL's power factor (PF) - that is, the
load presented to the ac line. The closer the PF is to 1, the better. A load
with low power factor (.85) draws more current and is less efficient than a
load with a high power factor for the same amount of useful power. ... These
power losses don't show up directly on our electricity bill, but the
utilities sure see the effects.

The lousy power factor will show up in your bill if you are using them
in a business or industrial location where that factor is measured and
considered in computing your bill. You'll still come out ahead on cost
for the same number of lumens though.

And I've heard tell that utilities in some parts of the country are
beginning to meter power factor for residences too. I think it's where
there's significant use of air conditioning.

Maybe there's a market out there for some "bulb socket extenders" with
power factor correction capacitors inside them. G

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.


"I put one of my home CFL bulbs on my Kill-O-Watt power meter recently and
measured its power factor: It was .57. This is lousy. "

http://www.edn.com/blog/1470000147/post/450043045.html