Change A Bulb. Save The Planet.

Change A Bulb. Save The Planet.

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The incandescent light bulb. For decades we have basked in its warm, yellow glow. It has kept away bogeymen when our parents tucked us in. It helped bake yummy, little cakes in our Easy-Bake Ovens. It became the centerpiece of ethnic jokes and Aggie jokes. How many Californians does it take to screw in a light bulb? Four. One to screw it in. And three to share the experience.

It has been there for us when we flip on the switch in dark hallways. It has chased away the cockroaches in our kitchens. It has faithfully been our companion through thick and thin. But the incandescent light bulb may be going away.

Out with the old. In with the new.

Californian lawmakers have proposed a ban that would make incandescent bulbs history by 2012. And other environmental-friendly states may follow suit.

Decrying the inefficiency of the common light bulb, a Democratic assemblyman from Los Angeles thinks California should be the first state to ban it. Assemblyman Lloyd Levine feels compact fluorescent light bulbs and their adorable spiral shape are so efficient that consumers should be mandated to use them.

Incandescent bulbs were first developed almost 125 years ago, and since that time they have undergone no major modifications, said Levine. Its time to take a step forward.

The assemblyman is right. The old-fashioned incandescent bulb uses far more energy than its fluorescent counterpart. It is predicted that electricity consumption could be slashed by as much as 75% by replacing your incandescent bulb with a fluorescent bulb. Fluorescent bulbs also last ten times longer than the typical incandescent bulb. Another energy-saving alternative is the halogen light. A halogen bulb can produce 25% more light than a traditional bulb of the same wattage, making them far more energy-efficient.

These kinds of changes are already underway in countries like Great Britain and Australia. To head this trend off at the pass, light bulb manufacturers like General Electric are developing a new sort of incandescent bulb that will be out on the market in the next year or so. It is said to be twice as efficient as the current incandescent bulb.

Save some money. Save the environment.

It is predicted that Americans could save a whopping $55 dollars over the life of a single light bulb. But making this kind of switch not only can help lower your electric bill, it can help protect the planet. It is argued by some experts that if every family in the U.S. switched to fluorescent, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases. Thats the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

Of course, the easiest way to save energy is to turn lights off when they are not in use. An incandescent light bulb uses no energy when it is turned off. So why not flip off the lights and dine by candlelight tonight? It is energy-saving, relaxing and very romantic.

If everyone did his or her part, energy savings wouldnt require an act of Congress. It would take care of itself. So why not do yours?

And let those Californians share the experience.

About the Author:
Visit dPi Energy for your pay as you go home electricity needs.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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