October '09 Full Moon

See the light!

We've passed the autumnal equinox, the point in the year where the nights grow longer than the days. The days are getting noticeably shorter and here in the Pacific Northwest, even the days are darker! That means our lights are on more, so what better time to think about how much energy you use for that light.

An average household dedicates 11 percent of its energy budget to lighting, and it’s one of the easiest places to start saving energy. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) use around 75 percent less energy and some claim to last up to 10 times longer than their incandescent cousins. If every U.S. household replaced just one regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, it would prevent 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road. Wow! That's so easy! Tell your friends!!!

Look for Energy Star-qualified CFLs because they have to meet tough standards for energy-use, brightness, color, and bulb life. While pricier at the store, tests confirm that each CFL will save you about $5 a year in electricity costs over a regular bulb. This site will help you figure out the right bulb to buy for your needs.

And if you're a PSE customer, you can even get free bulbs! Check Rock The Bulb.

So, even if you don't want to replace all your bulbs right now, get yourself a few CFLs and be ready next time one of those old incandescents burns out!

Beware that CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, and should be recycled at the end of their life. As of this date, Home Depot says you can recycle them in any of their stores for free!

Wanna know more? Check here.