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just how important are energy efficient light bulbs anyway? as it turns out they're very important
Jul 16, 2009
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Could something as simple as a light bulb really make that big of a difference in the fight against global warming? The answer is a resounding YES. Girlawhirl's well aware that using compact fluorescent bulbs can reduce the carbon emissions of her household and save her money, so she's been on the bandwagon for a while now. But the Obama administration's upping the national ante, and with good reason… Here's what the President recently said about light bulbs: “The first step we're taking sets new efficiency standards on fluorescent and incandescent lighting. Now I know light bulbs may not seem sexy, but this simple action holds enormous promise because seven percent of all the energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and our businesses. Between 2012 and 2042, these new standards will save consumers up to $4 billion a year, conserve enough electricity to power every home in America for 10 months, reduce emissions equal to the amount produced by 166 million cars each year, and eliminate the need for as many as 14 coal-fired power plants.”
There's definitely plenty of power behind a little light bulb. And with that in mind, there are more energy efficient options these days than ever before:
Compact Fluorescents: Girlawhirl converted her whole apartment to a CFL-zone a couple of years ago and here's what she noticed: bulbs don't always last as long as advertised and it takes about a minute after turning them on for them to reach full potency and these bulbs contain mercury so she's got to dispose of them properly.
LEDs: These sound so good on paper, using so much less energy than both incandescent and CFLs, but they're really expensive – and it's hard to find LEDs that are designed as replacement bulbs. When Girlawhirl needed some new lighting under the countertops in her kitchen she went with LEDs and there are plenty of Christmas tree and outdoor options as well.
Re-vamped Incandescents: Here's the bright spot (pun intended!)… Just when she thought that plain old incandescent light bulbs were on their way to extinction, Phillips has introduced the Halogena Energy Saver bulb – re-vamped to use about 30% less energy. In addition, they don't contain mercury, and they light up immediately when turned on. They also emit a nice glow that's often lacking in CFLs. While they're not quite as efficient as CFLs or LEDs, they're a new option that's a good compromise.
There's a great selection of energy efficient light bulbs at thefind.com. |
