How many environmentalists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Haleakala Times
January 02, 2007
by Lee Briante

There's an awful lot of information on what is wrong with our energy use and policies, but little info on how to bring change at home today. The answer could be as easy as changing a light bulb.

Those funky looking glass sculptures you see on the home appliance shelf at Wal-Mart are more then just glass art; they are a very bright idea. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs or CFLs, offer both economic and environmental savings, and they are a very easy way to reduce your family's environmental footprint.

Estimates on the reductions they provide compared to incandescent bulbs differ study to study, but it is agreed that if every household in the US changed just one common incandescent bulb to a CFL, the reduction of greenhouse emissions would be roughly equivalent to removing between 1.5 – 3 million vehicles from the road. If every household in the State of Hawaii changed just one bulb to a CFL, net emission reductions would be equivalent to removing about 15,000 vehicles from the road. If every household in Maui changed just one bulb, it would equal to removing about 1,500 vehicles.

An average home has between 50-100 light bulb sockets, so those families more concerned with restoring a healthy environment can pick up plenty of slack for those who are not. Over its lifetime, a CFL will typically prevent 500 pounds of greenhouse emissions from being released.

There are also economic benefits, but they have proved minimal enough that consumers have panned over CFLs thus far, despite their environmental pluses. CFLs use 70-80% less energy and can save $30 - $300 in electricity costs over their lifespan, depending on wattage. CFLs are said to have eight times the lifespan of incandescent bulbs, which greatly reduces replacement costs.

Over the last few years the energy saving bulbs have become available in a range of wattages, colors and design options and can closely resemble the lighting quality of an incandescent bulb.

This leaves little room for excuses on not making the switch and begs the question: How many armchair environmentalists does it take to change a light bulb?

For more information on CFLs check out:

http://www.onebillionbulbs.com/

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

http://www.environmentaldefense.org