Global Warming and CO2 Emissions Blog

This excerpt from NPR's story earlier today:

Compact fluorescent light bulbs save consumers money — and their use can help slow global warming. So why haven't they come into widespread use yet?

A compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) is a tiny version of the long overhead lights in your office. It's twisted into a spiral. The CFL fits into the same fixtures where you use regular incandescent bulbs. The CFLs cost more, but they use about one-third of the electricity of the incandescent bulbs.

Utilities and local governments have tried giving them away to promote switching over to CFLs.

Wal-Mart hopes to more than double its sales of them in 2007.

"We are committed to selling 100 million CFL bulbs this year," said Andy Rubin, Wal-Mart vice president for sustainability.

He said one CFL should last five years, and the customer's electric bills should be 50 cents to 75 cents lower each month as a result of switching from one standard bulb to one compact fluorescent bulb.

If the nation's largest retailer were to meet its goal of selling 100 million CFL bulbs, the aggregate electric bill savings would be $3 billion, according to Rubin.

When Wal-Mart itself switched to CFLs in its ceiling-fan-lights displays, it saved $8 million a year.

"There is a real desire right now for action," Rubin said. By buying CFLs, customers know they are helping curb greenhouse gases. "Everyone can do this."

Why Use a CFL?

According to the federal government, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star approved compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), the United States would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

Energy Star is a joint project with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy that promotes energy efficient - and thus climate-friendly - products.

But not all CFLs are created equal. Here, some tips from Energy Star about what to look for and where to use a CFL:

The Benefits

- Energy Star qualified CFLs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer (average lifespan of a CFL is five years).

- CFLs save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb's lifetime.

- CFLs generate 70 percent less heat, making them safer to operate.

Where to Use

- To get the most energy savings, replace bulbs where lights are on the most, such as the family and living rooms, kitchen, dining room and porch.

- Install them in hard to reach fixtures, like ceiling fans.

- Make sure the CFL matches the right fixture by reading any restrictions on the package. Some CFLs work with dimmers, others are specially made for recessed or enclosed fixtures.

Myths

- CFLs have a harsh, cold light quality. Increasingly, this is less of an issue. Over the past few years, manufacturers have worked to provide a warmer color. Some people say they still notice a difference, but the gap is narrowing. For a warmer, white light, look for a color temperature of 2,700-3,000K on the package.

- CFLs aren't for bathrooms. Not necessarily. CFLs can work in bathrooms, but humidity may shorten the bulb's life.

- CFLs can't be used in older houses. In fact, CFLs may work better than incandescent bulbs in houses with older wiring; CFLs generate less heat and draw less electrical current.

Labels: carbon dioxide emissions, environmental activism, global warming