I Saw The Light

My husband eyes me warily as I follow him through the house turning off the lights when he leaves the room. I can hear him muttering under his breath. Though I don't understand all his words, he says: "...sounds like my mother..." I know I sound like mine.

What began for me as an attempt to lower our skyrocketing electric bill has turned into a crusade as a "light bulb went on in my brain." Reducing our energy consumption also helps improve the environment. By lowering our use of electricity, I am not just being frugal ... I am reducing our carbon footprint.

I like that double whammy.

I realize that I could make a much bigger positive impact on the environment by purchasing a Prius. My gasoline consumption is astronomical, partly because I live in Texas. The only way to get from here to there is in your own vehicle, because we don't have adequate public transportation in our area. Texans had plenty of room to spread out several decades ago, and we did. There isn't much within walking distance from my home.

A major purchase, such as a hybrid vehicle, is not in the budget right now, so I've decided to start small. Since last October I've been pinching pennies until they squeal. I'm finding little things -- affordable things -- that I can do to make a positive difference on the environment and my pocketbook. Going "green" can mean more green in your wallet!

It is all starting with the light bulbs, and a little bit of internet research. I've read that our electric lighting can account for 25% of the average electric bill (at my house, it might be more). I decided to explore the possibilities of Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL). They are just miniature fluorescent lights usually seen as the squiggly bulb above. It seems that people either love them or hate them.

Some people worry about the disposal of these bulbs, because they contain mercury. From everything I've read, I gather that the amount of mercury is minuscule. Though you cannot throw them in the household trash, most communities have recycling centers that will take them.

Other people complain that the light from a CFL is too harsh. I've had a few here at the house, and thought the light was too soft. But the arguments for purchasing CFLs are compelling:

• Though they initially cost more to purchase, a CFL is said to last 9-10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.
• CFLs use from 50%-80% less energy to provide the same amount of light as a standard incandescent bulb. That can translate into a $30-$45 energy savings over the lifespan of one single bulb.
• Replacing one incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep 1/2 ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the lifespan of that bulb.
• CFLs generate about 70% less heat than an incandescent bulb (saving on cooling bills in the summer)

A trip to my local hardware store was in order! I found that you can purchase the bulbs in several "color temperatures": "soft light," bright light" or "daylight." I discovered that the CFL bulbs come in a variety of shapes (not just the twisty ones), so I could use round ones at my vanity table and candelabra shaped ones in my chandeliers. Best of all, I found that there are some CFLs that work with my three way lamps!

We haven't replaced all of the bulbs at our house, because we can't afford that outlay of cash all at once. I'm loving the bright light 3-way bulb in my reading lamp beside the bed and the daylight bulb in my pantry shows me all the nooks and crannies (now I know I need to dust the pantry). We plan to replace the incandescents with CFLs on an "as needed" basis. In small doses, the expense won't seem so great.

If you are thinking of switching to CFLs, I have a few suggestions:

• Learn more about Compact Fluorescent Lighting at the GE Lighting FAQ page. It will answer many questions you might have.
• Don't dive right in and replace every single bulb in your house! Test it first and see if you like it. If you discover that you hate CFL bulbs, then you can wait for LED lighting to become affordable. It will.
• If you would like to test a bulb, you can receive a free EcoSmart 14w CFL bulb from participating The Home Depot stores on Earth Day, April 19, 2009.
• Check out Earth911.com to find a recycling area in your zipcode for your Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (and any other materials that are hazardous to the environment).

If you decide to test CFL bulbs, GE warns that using a CFL in a lamp that is switched on and off frequently will considerably lower the lifespan of the bulb. They work best in applications where the light will be left on for fifteen minutes or longer.

But, Honey, if you are reading this please understand that this is no excuse for you not to turn out the lights! Turning out the lights when you no longer need them is a way to save money and the environment that is absolutely free!

© Shelly Tucker, 2009