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Sunday 27 January 2013

You light up my life

Does this image look familiar?

One of my first acts in owning a home was to replace all the bulbs with CFLs. (compact fluroescent bulbs) This is one of the easiest, most effecient, and cheapest environmental changes one can do. Not only do CFLs use less energy (around 75% less), but they also last longer (good ones average 5-6 years) and generate less heat.

Now I did the initial replacing 2 years ago - but there was this one light fixture I could not switch over. This was my six bulb fixture over my dining room table. It was/is attached to a dimmer. I was informed that there was no way to use CFLs to light my meals

BS! I found some! Blue Planet makes a dimmable CFL in soft white!

Now our fixture gives off a better light and instead of consuming 600 watts we now light our family using a paltry 138! The product is third party verified by energy star and the packaging is made out of a min. 35% post-consumer content and is recyclable. This small change has me singing 'cause
"You, you light up my life
You give me hope to carry on
You light up my days
And fill my nights with song."

2 comments:

  1. Now my biggest question is what to do with these bulbs when they do finally burn out. You can't just throw them in the garbage. They do make special outdoor CFLs as well.

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  2. Unfortunately because these bulbs have trace amounts of mercury they are considered hazardous waste. You can dispose of them as such at your local drop off or at any Home Depot.

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