That's a 14 percent energy savings. But there is a tradeoff. A light meter shows that the 130-volt bulb is dimmer. It puts out 7,000 foot-candles. So for your 14 percent energy savings, you get 25 percent less light.
Bulbs also burn out most frequently at the moment they're turned on.
Instead of flipping a switch and sending a surge of electricity through your bulb, put your lights on a dimmer switch and ease them to full brightness. That will add hours to the life of each bulb. You'll need to go to a store that specializes in lighting to get 130-volt bulbs. If you shop carefully, you can find the 130s for just a few pennies more than the 120s. Copyright 2001 by Channel 6000 .