A bright idea
Australia may become the first country to phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more environmentally friendly compact fluorescent bulbs.
Fluorescent bulbs use 20 percent or less of the energy needed to produce the same light from incandescent bulbs, and they last 5 to 10 times longer, according to studies.
An article in the New York Times in January reported that if all the households in the United States switched to fluorescent lights, there would be no need to build additional power plants to accommodate future growth.
Wal-Mart has set a goal to sell 100 million fluorescent light bulbs a year by 2008, compared to the 40 million sold in 2005. And the light bulb maker Philips plans to stop producing incandescent light bulbs by 2016 because of the damage they do to the environment.
I replaced most of the lights in our house with compact fluorescent bulbs last month.
They cost more initially, but they last longer. The biggest reason they haven’t caught on is because people find the light unflattering.
But with greenhouse gas emissions rising and polar ice caps melting, this may not be the time for vanity.
Australia may become the first country to phase out incandescent light bulbs in favor of the more environmentally friendly compact fluorescent bulbs.
Fluorescent bulbs use 20 percent or less of the energy needed to produce the same light from incandescent bulbs, and they last 5 to 10 times longer, according to studies.
An article in the New York Times in January reported that if all the households in the United States switched to fluorescent lights, there would be no need to build additional power plants to accommodate future growth.
Wal-Mart has set a goal to sell 100 million fluorescent light bulbs a year by 2008, compared to the 40 million sold in 2005. And the light bulb maker Philips plans to stop producing incandescent light bulbs by 2016 because of the damage they do to the environment.
I replaced most of the lights in our house with compact fluorescent bulbs last month.
They cost more initially, but they last longer. The biggest reason they haven’t caught on is because people find the light unflattering.
But with greenhouse gas emissions rising and polar ice caps melting, this may not be the time for vanity.
posted by Brenda Hiles | 5:50 PM
2 Comments:
Brenda! I've been meaning for the longest time to say hi. You're so right about the energy-saving bulbs. I've been using them (mostly) for about five years now, and they really do last longer. I buy them through my local power company, and I get a pretty good deal. There's one place, though, where I still use a regular bulb, and that's in the lamp on my computer desk. There's a certain cat who likes to curl up beneath it and bask in the warmth. It makes me happy just to see him there.
Hi, Tom,
One of our cats used to sunbathe under the old-fashioned light bulbs. Now she lays on top of the computer with her tail hanging in front of the screen. It's time to get a new, flat-screened computer.
I've been happy with the compact fluorescent lights. In fact, I don't notice much of a difference except in the slight delay after I turn the switch before the light comes on.
I was happy to see Wal-Mart move the bulbs to a prominent shelf.
Keep spreading the word about them, and maybe we'll win a few converts.
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