This article is the first in a list of practical things you can do to save money on your monthly electric bill. Get some new green products, and maybe use the extra money to pay for a little vacation.
Throw out all the incandescent bulbs
CFL is an abbreviation for a Compact Fluorescent Lamp, which is a fluorescent light bulb with the same form factor as a traditional incandescent bulb (meaning it will fit in most places where you now have plain old light bulbs installed).
A CFL does not generate light the way an incandescent bulbs does. Incandescent light bulbs have worked essentially the same way since Thomas Edison invented them. When electricity is connected to both sides of a carbon filament, it gets hot and produces light. In CFLs (as with the older fluorescent tubes), a closed glass tube is coated with a fluorescent coating that glows when a current is applied to the argon and mercury vapor inside.
The CFL is one of a few green products to help you to stop wasting your money on incandescent bulbs. Even if an incandescent bulb costs less than a $1 at the local store, it will still cost you much more to run it. Replacing a single incandescent bulb with one of the new Energy Star compliant CFLs will save you around $30 a year and last 10 times longer. So let's see one incandescent bulb every 3 months (4 per year x 2 years = $8) vs. a $6.95 bulb whose life averages 2 years, Hum
Since the development of CFLs, manufacturers have been working on a variety of shades, colors, or "temperatures" of light. Currently you can purchase bulbs that will produce light that is yellow, or warn, all the way to bulbs that produce a hard bluish white light. Used properly, this can accent a well designed room or be used for mood lighting. One area you might want to consider is the outside security lighting. I would not recommend a warm inviting mood light if it is being used as security device; perhaps an unfriendly harsh bluish mood would be better.
When using the Daylight or bluish bulbs be aware that their light appears harsh to many. People with light sensitivity could be adversely affected. If you notice them squinting or avoiding areas where this light is used, then try using a warmer light.
Look on the package for a number that ends in K. This stands for Kelvin or the "temperature" of the bulb. A Kelvin rating of 2700K-3000K is a warm/yellow bulb. A Cool White bulb has a rating of 3500K-4100K. A rating of 5000K-6500K is a Daylight blue bulb.
To replace a 40 watt incandescent bulb, use a 9-13 watt CFL bulb; for a 60 watt incandescent bulb use a 13-15 watt; for a 75 watt incandescent bulb use an 18-25 watt CFL; and for a 100 watt incandescent bulb, use a 23-30 watt CFL.
Nevertheless, do not forget to recycle all CFLs. California law for example forbids the disposal of any lamps containing mercury in the regular solid waste trash. Even though a CFL is one of the most convenient green products, it does contain about five milligrams of mercury - one-fifth of the amount of mercury in an average watch battery.
Many retailers in your area like ACE Hardware, Home Depot and Orchard have recycling programs that will accept your used CFL green products.
An even newer and more efficient green product for lighting is LED (light emitting diode) bulbs. They are up to 90% more efficient than a standard incandescent bulb. You will see them used more and more in decorative lighting systems. I am told that the electricity needed to light a single incandescent used a few years ago for lawn lighting could power 15 LED units.
We will look at more green products that help you reduce your energy bill next time.
Michael
Throw out all the incandescent bulbs
CFL is an abbreviation for a Compact Fluorescent Lamp, which is a fluorescent light bulb with the same form factor as a traditional incandescent bulb (meaning it will fit in most places where you now have plain old light bulbs installed).
A CFL does not generate light the way an incandescent bulbs does. Incandescent light bulbs have worked essentially the same way since Thomas Edison invented them. When electricity is connected to both sides of a carbon filament, it gets hot and produces light. In CFLs (as with the older fluorescent tubes), a closed glass tube is coated with a fluorescent coating that glows when a current is applied to the argon and mercury vapor inside.
The CFL is one of a few green products to help you to stop wasting your money on incandescent bulbs. Even if an incandescent bulb costs less than a $1 at the local store, it will still cost you much more to run it. Replacing a single incandescent bulb with one of the new Energy Star compliant CFLs will save you around $30 a year and last 10 times longer. So let's see one incandescent bulb every 3 months (4 per year x 2 years = $8) vs. a $6.95 bulb whose life averages 2 years, Hum
Since the development of CFLs, manufacturers have been working on a variety of shades, colors, or "temperatures" of light. Currently you can purchase bulbs that will produce light that is yellow, or warn, all the way to bulbs that produce a hard bluish white light. Used properly, this can accent a well designed room or be used for mood lighting. One area you might want to consider is the outside security lighting. I would not recommend a warm inviting mood light if it is being used as security device; perhaps an unfriendly harsh bluish mood would be better.
When using the Daylight or bluish bulbs be aware that their light appears harsh to many. People with light sensitivity could be adversely affected. If you notice them squinting or avoiding areas where this light is used, then try using a warmer light.
Look on the package for a number that ends in K. This stands for Kelvin or the "temperature" of the bulb. A Kelvin rating of 2700K-3000K is a warm/yellow bulb. A Cool White bulb has a rating of 3500K-4100K. A rating of 5000K-6500K is a Daylight blue bulb.
To replace a 40 watt incandescent bulb, use a 9-13 watt CFL bulb; for a 60 watt incandescent bulb use a 13-15 watt; for a 75 watt incandescent bulb use an 18-25 watt CFL; and for a 100 watt incandescent bulb, use a 23-30 watt CFL.
Nevertheless, do not forget to recycle all CFLs. California law for example forbids the disposal of any lamps containing mercury in the regular solid waste trash. Even though a CFL is one of the most convenient green products, it does contain about five milligrams of mercury - one-fifth of the amount of mercury in an average watch battery.
Many retailers in your area like ACE Hardware, Home Depot and Orchard have recycling programs that will accept your used CFL green products.
An even newer and more efficient green product for lighting is LED (light emitting diode) bulbs. They are up to 90% more efficient than a standard incandescent bulb. You will see them used more and more in decorative lighting systems. I am told that the electricity needed to light a single incandescent used a few years ago for lawn lighting could power 15 LED units.
We will look at more green products that help you reduce your energy bill next time.
Michael
About the Author:
Amazingly Michael Edwards is really concerned about our kids future, You can see more here at go green
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