"Green Light!" Photography by RLHall ArtfulExpress
This work was meant to remind everyone that one simple change can make a huge difference in the fight for environmental protection, Go Green!
I'm happy with my switch from regular light bulbs over to CF bulbs. I decided to try them because of the environmental issue, but also because of my frustration with regular bulbs. Certain areas of my house must experience power surges, or something, that constantly blow out light bulbs. Plus the fact that it seems every package of bulbs purchased would have a bulb that either didn't work at all, or blew as soon as you put it in and turned on the lamp. That may be due to the fact that I normally only purchase them to keep on hand when I find they are on sale. Though I buy only brand name bulbs, I have come to believe that when they end up with a bad batch of bulbs, they mix them in with the good ones in a multi pack and sell the resulting defective package at a discounted price. It just happens too often to be just a coincidence...
I still buy only brand name energy star rated CF bulbs on sale, and they seem pricey. But I've found that they last so much longer, and work just as well in the blow out areas of my house that it makes it well worth while. In the last two years, I have only had to just recently replace the bulb that blew in the one lamp that is constantly used. And every bulb from the packages have worked well right from the start.
These bulbs don't flicker or make noises like other flourescent lights tend to do and they give off less heat than regular bulbs. The lighting is visually adequate and comfortabe. I bought one package and began replacing the regular bulbs that blew with a CF bulb. Now all my lights have CF's in them. And I think it has made a noticeable difference in my electric bill, though it's hard to judge with the service rates constantly increasing. I do continue to conserve energy by turning off unnecesary lights. I'm happy to contribute to environmental protection in such a small, easy way that is also better for me personally and could really make a difference - (see paragraph below) - imagine if everyone made the switch to more environmentally safe lighting in their houses and businesses like I did!
Energy-saving compact fluorescent (CFs) use a fraction of the electricity, which means lower electricity bills and millions of tons less global warming pollution. And in the summer, because they don't burn as hot as incandescent bulbs, they'll lower your cooling bills. If every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with efficient bulbs, the pollution savings would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road! This, and the following, information was taken from the Environmental Defense Fund site...
Energy-saving compact fluorescent (CFs) use a fraction of the electricity, which means lower electricity bills and millions of tons less global warming pollution. And in the summer, because they don't burn as hot as incandescent bulbs, they'll lower your cooling bills. If every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with efficient bulbs, the pollution savings would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road!
How to make the switch
1. Start with one bulb.
There are lots of choices, so before switching all the bulbs in a room, try just one to make sure it gives the kind of light you want. Look for bulbs with a color temperature between 2650 and 2850 degrees Kelvin or labeled "warm white."
2. Know your watts.
Look for a CF bulb whose wattage is about one-quarter of the incandescent you're replacing. For example, a CF bulb in the 15-watt range replaces around a 60-watt incandescent.
3. Check the shape and size.
Both the CF bulb and its ballast (between the glass and the screw-in part) can be bigger than standard incandescent bulbs. Inspect your lamp or light fixture to make sure it can accommodate the CF bulb.
4. Be careful choosing CF bulbs to use with dimmers.
In order for a CF bulb to work in a dimmer, it must be specially designed to do so. Read the package before you buy a CF bulb for a dimmer-controlled fixture.
5. Look for Energy Star.
The most energy-efficient CF bulbs carry the Energy Star label, the imprimatur of the government-backed energy efficiency program.
6. Dispose of burned-out bulbs properly.
All fluorescent lights contain trace amounts of mercury. But don't worry — there is far less mercury in CFs than in thermometers or old thermostats. Plus, using these bulbs helps prevent mercury from being released into the air from coal-powered power plants. When they burn out years down the road, recycle them. Visit Recycleabulb or Earth911 to find your closest recycling location.
7. See if your utility offers rebates.
Energy-efficient bulbs help utility companies lessen their load at peak times, so sometimes they run special programs or rebates to encourage you to make the switch.
For more tips, visit the Energy Star CFL Buyer's Guide. It has everything you need to switch to energy-efficient lights.
*** You may want to read the following articles before deciding to change over to CFL Bulbs, or supporting the governments ruling out incandescent bulbs. Especially if you have pets! :
http://www.science20.com/science_amp_supermodels/cfl_bulbs_save_planet_make_your_pets_insane
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=93442
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