subject: Light Bulb Advice [print this page] When it comes to the common light bulb, most of us do not realized just how much of an impact making a little change in the way we use and think about these products can make to the environment and our monthly energy bill. By making a few easy changes in the light bulbs we buy, how we use them in our homes and how we dispose of them once they have out lived their usefulness, we can all save ourselves a great deal of time and money while helping to conserve the stability of the natural environment in the process.
Environmentally Friendly Light Bulbs
It is estimated by experts on environmental conservation that the amount of pollution and carbon emissions that we could remove from our environment if everybody simple switched to environmentally efficient light bulbs would be the equivalent of removing 3.5 million automobiles from the road. The new technology that is behind these environmentally friendly light bulbs takes advantage of the low wattage needed to generate fluorescent light and through coils of glass filled with the gas, known as compact fluorescent light bulbs.
There are many reasons consider making the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs beyond one's concern for the environment, these light bulbs are considerably more cost effective to use in the long run. Although compact fluorescent light bulbs cost a little more to buy in the store, many communities have instituted local programs that will reimburse some of your expenses if you decide to make the switch and can even provide compact fluorescent light bulbs to low income homes. Compact fluorescent light bulbs also last far longer than traditional light bulbs. In fact, Energy Star, a joint program created through the collaboration of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), estimates that compact fluorescent light bulbs last at least ten times longer than standard bulbs, meaning that you should be able to put in a new, environmentally friendly light bulb and not have to thank about it again for years to come.
However, the real cost savings from switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs come from the low wattage that they require to operate. Most compact fluorescent light bulbs require only about 15 watts to operate. Compare that to the 60-120 watt light bulbs still used by most consumers. According to Energy Star, the amount of savings that consumers can expect to save off of their energy bill for every light bulb that they change in their home comes to approximately $30-40 over the lifetime of each bulb. When you sit down and think about the cost savings that are offered by compact fluorescent bulbs and the impact that the old bulbs have on the environment, making the switch to this technology just makes since.
Use Lighting Fixtures Efficiently
Regardless of whether or not you decide to make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, there are still a few little changes that you can make to how you use your lighting fixtures that will have a big impact upon both your wallet and your impact on the environment. One of the biggest changes that you can make is by changing the way that you use lighting fixtures that have sockets for multiple light bulbs. Believe it or not, a great deal of the light that is generated by these light bulbs is wasted by simply being washed out by the light coming from the other bulbs. As a result, a single bright bulb can be just as bright or even brighter than multiple bulbs in the same fixture. Unless it would be aesthetically unpleasing to do so, consider switching to just using one light bulb in multi-bulb fixtures. Chances are, you will never even notice the difference and will save yourself a significant amount of money in the long run.
Another small change that most consumers over look is the effect that dust has on lowering the amount of available light that is generated by a light bulb. Although it might seem insignificant at first, the amount of light that is lost through being absorbed by dust that has accumulated on the light bulb and the lighting fixture or lamp can really add up over time. By simply remembering to dust your lighting fixtures, lamps and light bulbs on a weekly or biweekly basis, you will notice an immediate change in the brightness of your home or office while making your physical environment just a little bit more tidy.
As for compact fluorescent light bulbs, you can get more out of your bulbs by understanding a little bit about the technology behind them. Compact fluorescent light bulbs function through the use of a little transformer that meets an electronic circuit and creates a charge that brings out the phosphorescence of fluorescent gas. This unit is sensitive too heat, meaning that these bulbs will not last quite as long as they should if the are used in a closed environment that allows heat to build up. Try to use your compact fluorescent light bulbs in as open of an area as possible, and you will find that your bulbs will last much longer.
Dispose of Light Bulbs Properly
Depending on the type of light fixtures that are installed in your home or business office, it may be particularly important to ensure that your used lightbulbs are disposed of properly. Some light bulbs contain dangerous or toxic materials that do not make them suitable for normal waste disposal. For example, many light bulbs contain a significant amount of mercury in them that poses a serious health threat to both the home and the larger environment. Although mercury has a large number of important industrial and technological applications, it is a particularly toxic substance that can cause rapid nerve damage in humans and is believed to be a cause of certain forms of cancer. According to the EPA, as little as a single teaspoon of mercury can render a twenty acre lake uninhabitable for fish for many years to come.
Thankfully, there are now many ways for consumers to dispose of light bulbs that contain mercury or other toxic substances safely and responsibly. All over the country, light bulb recycling centers are popping up that are specifically designed to handle these post-consumer waste byproducts safely. There are a number of directories of light bulb recycling centers available online that will let you see if there is a light bulb recycling center near you. In the event that there is not an independent light bulb recycling center near you, your local waste management facilities should be able to inform you of how to properly dispose of these products in your area. These days, the vast majority of local landfills have adopted a small recycling facility for disposing of used light bulbs that is located near the disposal units for used batteries, oil and other products.
In closing, there are three simple piece of light bulb advice that every consumer can easily incorporate into how they use light bulbs that will help save you money while minimizing your impact upon the environment:
1. Make the switch to environmentally friendly compact fluorescent light bulbs.
