LIGHT RIGHT

 

Every year, Americans buy over a billion incandescent fightbulbs.  That's three acres of bulbs every day.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Flip a light switch on and off .. and consider that you're affecting the environment. It may seem strange, because we're used to thinking of lighting as a domestic matter; it happens in our homes, not outside them. Yet ac, cording to the World Resources Institute, lighting accounts for 1/5 of all the electricity consumed in the U.S. which means that our lighting habits and choices have a significant impact on the Earth. The more electricity we use, for example, the more industrial emissions we generate, contributing heavily to problems like the "green house effect" and acid rain.

 

There are several simple ways to "light right." The most obvious is conservation diligently turning lights off when they're not in use. But a less obvious and more effective method is to choose and use your lightbulbs with energy conservation in mind.

 

LIGHT READING

The Compact Fluorescent:

 

Most Americans are unaware of the development of the compact fluorescent lightbulb. This amazing bulb screws into standard sockÂ

ets, and gives off light that looks just like a traditional (incandesÂ

cent) bulb not like the fluorescents we're used to seeing in

schools, offices, etc. "Electronic" compact fluorescents with "solid

state" ballasts are the best; they come on instantly and produce no

flicker or hum.

o Compact fluorescents are big energy,savers. They last longer and

use about 1/4 of the energy of an incandescent bulb. For example:

A 60 watt incandescent bulb lasts about 750 hours; a fluorescent

bulb with 1/3 the wattage will generate the same light and bum for

7,500 to 10,000 hours in five to ten Kears of normal use.

* Substituting a compact fluorescent light for a traditional bulb

will keep a half ton of C02 out of the atmosphere over the life of

the bulb.

9 Money talk: Compact fluorescents are considerably more expenÂ

sive than traditional incandescents initially (about $20). But

 

\IV ,/

 

doret compare that to the cost of one incandescent bulb. You will need 13 incandescents to last for the same 10,000 hours. * Over its lifetime, a compact fluorescent uses about $ 10 worth of electricity; during the same period, equivalent incandescents gobble about $45 of electricity. So you save $35 per bulb which is like earning 25% to 50% interest on your investment.

 

0 Compact fluorescents areet suitable for every type of lighting situation. One factor is size; they won't work, for example, in small lamps or certain covered fixtures. Another factor is frequency of use. They make the most sense if they're used in places where they're left on for at least 2 hours a day.

 

* You can't get compact fluorescents everywhere; you may have to look around a bit. Check hardware and home stores.

 

RESULTS 0 There are 100 million households in America. If a single compact fluorescent was installed in each Of them, the energy saved would be equivalent to all the energy generated by one nuclear power plant running full~time for a year.

 

BRIGHT IDEAS 9 Interestingly, one large incandescent bulb is more efficient than two small ones in a multi,bulb fixture. A 100 watt bulb, for example, puts out as much light as two 60s ... and it saves energy.

 

* In light fixtures that take three bulbs, try using only two. But for safety's sake, put a burned~out bulb in the last socket. * Try more efficient incandescents such as krypton filled, tungsten halogen, or infrared reflective coated.

 

SOURCES

 

Horne Energy magazine, 2124 Kittredge St. #95, Berkeley, CA 94704. The best magazine in America on home energy. Write for subscription info; send $2 for their excellent "Consumer Guide to Energy. Saq~ing Lights," a highly recommended first resource.

 

Rising Sun Enterprises, PO Box 586, Snowmass, CO 81654. Mail orders energy saving lightbulbs, including some compact fluorescents. Send $5 for their consumer guide / catalog.

 

 

LIGHT RIGHT

 

Every year, Americans buy over a billion incandescent fightbulbs.  That's three acres of bulbs every day.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Flip a light switch on and off .. and consider that you're affecting the environment. It may seem strange, because we're used to thinking of lighting as a domestic matter; it happens in our homes, not outside them. Yet ac, cording to the World Resources Institute, lighting accounts for 1/5 of all the electricity consumed in the U.S.which means that our lighting habits and choices have a significant impact on the Earth. The more electricity we use, for example, the more industrial emissions we generate, contributing heavily to problems like the "green house effect" and acid rain.

 

There are several simple ways to "light right." The most obvious is conservationdiligently turning lights off when they're not in use. But a less obviousand more effectivemethod is to choose and use your lightbulbs with energy conservation in mind.

 

LIGHT READING

The Compact Fluorescent:

 

Most Americans are unaware of the development of the compact fluorescent lightbulb. This amazing bulb screws into standard sock­ets, and gives off light that looks just like a traditional (incandes­cent) bulbnot like the fluorescents we're used to seeing in schools, offices, etc. "Electronic" compact fluorescents with "solid state" ballasts are the best; they come on instantly and produce no

flicker or hum.

 

Compact fluorescents are big energy,savers. They last longer and use about 1/4 of the energy of an incandescent bulb. For example: A 60watt incandescent bulb lasts about 750 hours; a fluorescent bulb with 1/3 the wattage will generate the same light and bum for 7,500 to 10,000 hours in five to ten Kears of normal use.

 

Substituting a compact fluorescent light for a traditional bulb will keep a halfton of C02 out of the atmosphere over the life of

the bulb.

 

Money talk: Compact fluorescents are considerably more expen­sive than traditional incandescents initially (about $20). But


compare that to the cost of one incandescent bulb. You will need 13 incandescents to last for the same 10,000 hours.

 

Over its lifetime, a compact fluorescent uses about $ 10 worth of electricity; during the same period, equivalent incandescents gobble about $45 of electricity. So you save $35 per bulbwhich is like earning 25% to 50% interest on your investment.

 

Compact fluorescents areet suitable for every type of lighting situation. One factor is size; they won't work, for example, in small lamps or certain covered fixtures. Another factor is frequency of use. They make the most sense if they're used in places where they're left on for at least 2 hours a day.

 

You can't get compact fluorescents everywhere; you may have to look around a bit. Check hardware and home stores.

 

RESULTS

 

There are 100 million households in America. If a single compact fluorescent was installed in each Of them, the energy saved would be equivalent to all the energy generated by one nuclear power plant running full~time for a year.

 

BRIGHT IDEAS

 

Interestingly, one large incandescent bulb is more efficient than two small ones in a multi,bulb fixture. A 100watt bulb, for example, puts out as much light as two 60s ... and it saves energy.

 

In light fixtures that take three bulbs, try using only two. But for safety's sake, put a burned~out bulb in the last socket. * Try more efficient incandescents such as kryptonfilled, tungstenhalogen, or infraredreflective coated.

 

SOURCES

 

Horne Energy magazine, 2124 Kittredge St. #95, Berkeley, CA 94704. The best magazine in America on home energy. Write for subscription info; send $2 for their excellent "Consumer Guide to Energy. Saq~ing Lights," a highly recommended first resource.

 

Rising Sun Enterprises, PO Box 586, Snowmass, CO 81654. Mail orders energysaving lightbulbs, including some compact fluorescents. Send $5 for their consumer guide / catalog.