http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/light_bulbs.htm
From Larry West,
Your Guide to Environmental Issues.
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Save Energy, Money and the Environment with Compact Florescent Light BulbsIf
you want to change the world, start by changing a few light bulbs. It
is one of the best things you can do for the environment—and your
budget.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, if every U.S. household
replaced just one regular incandescent light bulb with a compact
florescent light bulb, it would prevent 90 billion pounds of greenhouse
gas emissions from power plants, the equivalent of taking 7.5 million
cars off the road. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says
that by replacing regular light bulbs with compact florescent light
bulbs at the same minimal rate, Americans would save enough energy to
light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and on top of that, replacing one regular light bulb with an approved
compact florescent light bulb would save consumers $30 in energy costs
over the life of the bulb.
Reasons to Switch to Compact Florescent Light Bulbs
Compact florescent light bulbs use at least two-thirds less energy than
standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and
they last up to 10 times longer. Compact florescent light bulbs also
generate 70 percent less heat, so they are safer to operate and can
also reduce energy costs associated with cooling homes and offices.
How Much Can You Save by Using Compact Florescent Light Bulbs?
For most people, this offers a lot of opportunity for energy and cost
savings. Lighting accounts for 20 percent of the electric bill in the
average U.S. home, and the average home has approximately 30 light
fixtures. (Calculate your personal energy and cost savings with this
handy online calculator, and find out how much you will be helping the environment.)
To save the most energy and money by using compact florescent light
bulbs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends replacing
standard bulbs in areas where lights are used frequently and left on
for a long time, such as family rooms, living rooms, kitchens, dining
rooms, and porches.
Choosing the Right Compact Florescent Light Bulbs
To make sure you get the same amount of light when replacing standard
bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs, check the lumen rating on
the light you are replacing and purchase a compact florescent light
bulb with the same lumen rating. (A lumen rating is the measure of
light the bulb puts out.)
Wattage varies greatly between standard light bulbs and compact
florescent light bulbs. Compact florescent light bulbs typically use
about one-quarter of the wattage used by standard bulbs to produce the
same amount of light. So to replace a traditional 60-watt bulb, look
for a compact florescent light bulb that is about 15 watts.
Compact florescent light bulbs are available in many different sizes
and shapes to fit in almost any fixture—from three-way lamps to dimmer
switches—for both indoor and outdoor use. Compact florescent light
bulbs also come in a variety of color temperatures, which helps
determine the color and brightness of the light each bulb provides.
(Learn more about the brightness, color and light quality of compact florescent light bulbs.)
Keeping It Simple
None of this is as daunting as it may seem. But to make it really
simple, the environmental group Environmental Defense has put together
an easy-to-use web site
that lets you search for the compact florescent light bulbs according
to where you want to use them or by shape, brightness, color of light
or other features.
The site also features user reviews of specific bulbs, and side-by-side
photos of energy-saving compact florescent light bulbs with
incandescent bulbs to help you determine whether the florescent bulbs
will fit your light fixture.
With all of the choices now offered by compact florescent technology,
saving energy, saving money, and protecting the environment is as easy
as changing a light bulb.
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