Can someone answer these energy conservation quesions?
You first question is the dimmer vs CFL. No one can answer that without more information. If you turn the dimmer real low the answer is probably the dimmer. For lighting your power used is basically volts times Amperes. When you use a dimmer you reduce the voltage and the Amperes to the bulb. I nor anyone else can calculate that with the info you have provided. The cable box is a small draw but if you are willing to wait on boot up go ahead and power it down. Computers especially CRT monitors do us electricity. Most have energy saving features which make shutting them off limited power savings.
