Saving the world one lightbulb at a time
By: Sarah Mann, Senior PR Specialist | February 6, 2007
It’s a predicament we all have faced in the aisles of our local store — we know that fluorescent lights are better in the long run, yet it is still hard to fork over triple or even quadruple the cost of the incandescent one. If you broke down and went for the cheaper version; you aren’t alone. There are so few people actually buying the more efficient fluorescent bulbs that California assemblyman Lloyd Levine recently proposed California bans the sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2012.
While this may seem a little extreme, it appears that something needs to be done to increase the awareness for the benefits of fluorescent light bulbs. Here are just a few:
- Fluorescent light bulbs last 10 times longer then their incandescent counterparts. If I could avoid climbing up on that ladder to change a light bulb 10 times less often, I would be one happy camper — not to mention the money I will be saving in the long run.
- That brings us to the cost factor. While initially, the fluorescent bulbs cost more, in the long run, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy believes they can save a consumer $4 to $13 a year for each bulb. That can add up to big savings!
- Now for the kicker: according the the website eartheasy, if every American home replaced a single incandescent bulb with a fluorescent one, we could keep a half a ton of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere. Ninety average size power plants could be shut down if everyone in the U.S. used energy-efficient lighting.
It is actually hard to find any downfall to using fluorescent light bulbs — other than their appearance which many find unattractive. Even if you start by just replacing the light in the garage, its a step in the right direction!
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Zillow
Comments
6 Comments so far
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Dooley on February 6, 2007 6:47 am
I would buy them except they do not work with dimmers. My house i just bought has dimmers in all the major rooms. When they make the compatible, I will used them.
Spencer on February 6, 2007 2:59 pm
One of my (many) new year’s resolutions was to be more environmentally conscious, and I bought a bunch of flourescent light bulbs. The light is a little bit different though - it’s sort of white instead of yellow - but I’ve gotten used to it, and it makes me feel greener.
Thanks for telling people about little things like this that we can all do to help.
psycovermin on February 6, 2007 3:21 pm
the full spectrum once are getting cheeper also, i found 4 packs for $10. the light is better for your eyes and sanity. the plants like them more also.
i replaced a few “old” cf bulbs with the full spectrums in majore rooms of my house, as the “old” yellower ones burn off i will only get full to replace them.
Don on February 6, 2007 6:51 pm
More people should use them! We’ve had several in our house for years and I haven’t had to replace one yet. Definitely cuts down on the bulb changing routine.
And in addition to reducing costs, for those of us that want to do something to help the environemnt they are one of the simplist things we can do individually to promote energy independence and slow global warming!
Dan on February 7, 2007 9:30 am
Regarding dimming CFLs - Philips has one, 23W Marathon. Here is a link to their PDF. No excuses now!
http://tinyurl.com/29elce
Jeff on February 8, 2007 2:13 pm
Has anyone heard of OneBillionBulbs.com? They are running a campaign to track savings and environmental impact from large numbers of people trying out CFLs. It’s worth a look if you are interested in that sort of thing.