Quote Originally Posted by Mississippi Steve
Easy enough to fix the electrical usage..... switch all the lights in the house to CFLs, use CFLs for grow lights, and start the cycle at the beginning of summer to coinside with air conditioner usage. Have the A/C serviced by a certified Master Tech to get it as efficient as possible.

*NOTE* once you start your lighting cycles, don't stop.

I use 2 sets of lights.... I am not worried about the hourly thing as Mississippi Power doesn't have those technologies for residential(yet). The first set is 10 CFLs (23W) over the top, and 10 dual tube 4ft fixtures. In veg, I run the CFLs only on 18/6, then once transplated to the 5 gallon buckets, I use both sets of lights on 12/12. It all kinda balances out in the end.
thanks for the spec's on the CFL's. :greenthumb: yeah, i was thinking CFL's would probably okay, too, since I already use a lot of CFL's for outdoor lights, etc. I'm probably safe to grow, I don't think they really monitor at that detail unless you request it, but then again, its two years to life for cultivation here , in Oklahoma, so I tend to be a bit over cautious. :jointsmile:

I have grown with CFL before and had pretty good luck but I could have used some more lights, I think. I might give them another shot. that and the sunlight. I've got a buddy that grows some really nice juicy plants just growing in the windows. its painfully slow but the plants look great. :greenthumb: I think my next project may be a hybrid of CFL enhanced natural sunlight. :jointsmile: