How to save a light
During a recent visit with my grandmother, a light bulb in one of the many lamps throughout her home flickered and burned out. Surely, this is an ordinary occurrence in most households—but my grandma’s no ordinary gal. She informed me that she had purchased the bulb when I was a toddler—nearly 20 years ago—and that it’s been, er, glowing strong ever since. Who was this lasting culprit? Why, a CFL, of course! Apparently, Grandma was an early adopter—CFLs have only been around since the early 1980’s—and now she’s living proof that they do, indeed, put traditional incandescent bulbs to shame.
If you haven’t yet switched to energy-efficient, long-lasting compact fluorescent light bulbs, here are a couple reasons why you should:
CFLs are “green lights” …
Since November, OneBillionBulbs.com has been working to get the word out about the benefits of CFLs and to inspire people across America to make the switch. The typical CFL lasts an average of ten times longer and uses 2/3 the energy of an incandescent bulb.
…that will save you money
Buy CFLs and, in addition to lowering your utility bill, your state might give you a rebate. In California, for example, PG&E is offering an instant rebate on the purchase of certain CFLs. Check with your local energy provider to find out whether you’re eligible too.
… and last ’til your grandkids grow up
All those “How many ______ does it take to change a lightbulb” jokes are about to become extinct. Depending on frequency of use, many will shine for decades. Just make that when they do eventually go dark, you recycle them properly: CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, an essential ingredient for making the energy-saving light source. They are safe to use in your home, but just like paint or electronics, need to be recycled properly and should not be discarded with household trash. Visit Earth911.org or Lamprecycle.org for recycling options near you.
