One Light Bulb for Change!

If every household in the United States replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an compact fluorescent light bulb, the energy saved could light 3 million homes for one year, save about $600 million in energy costs per year, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions in a single year (the equivalent emissions to 800,000 cars!)

Is it time for you to jump on the CFL bandwagon? If you haven’t yet, why not?

The light from CFLs isn’t the same as my incandescent bulbs.

CFLs still have a reputation for giving off a cool, eerie light that doesn’t flatter anyone’s skin tones.  Manufacturers now offer a wide variety of bulbs with different Kelvin (K) ratings. Bulbs ranking under 4,000K will have a warmer light. Those above 4,000K have a cooler light.  Look for “soft white” or “warm white” bulbs to most closely mimic the light from incandescent bulbs.

Visit http://green.yahoo.com/18seconds/ (the time it takes to change a light bulb) to find out where your state ranks in the CFL switch, (Minnesota is #25!) and get tips on selecting the right bulb for your needs.

CFLs are too difficult to dispose of.

CFLs contain about 4mg of mercury (compared to about 500mg found in a conventional mercury thermometer.) This does not pose a safety risk at home, but could add up if disposed in a landfill.  Disposing of your used CFLs shouldn’t be an inconvenience: keep in mind that they have a much longer life than traditional bulbs. You can dispose of them at your local Household Hazardous Waste collection site, and many retailers that sell CFLs also accept them back for recycling. (Like IKEA Twin Cities!  In fact, if you bring in your bulb to be recycled Monday – Thursday, you can receive 15% off any item in As-Is priced over $20.)

The CFL bulbs I used didn’t last as long as promised.

Following the correct guidelines for usage is key! Don’t use a CFL with a dimmer, unless the bulb is labelled as “dimmable.” Also, choose CFLs for rooms where you leave the light on for an extended period of time (more than15 minutes.) Frequently switching the bulb on and off will shorten its life.

Compact Fluorescent bulbs last up to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs.  Generally, an incandescent bulb will last less than 1,000 hours (about a year, if used 3 hours per day) while a CFL last about 10,000. So, if you install a compact fluorescent bulb in your dining room for your child’s first birthday, that same bulb may be casting light on dinner of their tenth birthday as well.

The time is now! We can all band together an build a more sustainable life at home. Visit www.ikea-usa.com for more tips for all the areas of your home.

(Check out this great article at WIRED about the future of LED bulb technology!)