Climate for Action: Save Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Some Cash by Switching Your Light Bulbs
Do you have ENEGRY STAR light bulbs in your home? ENERGY STAR light bulbs are light bulbs that conserve energy and wear a label that says ENERGY STAR on them. Compared to an incandescent light bulb, an ENERGY STAR light bulb uses up to 75% less energy. These light bulbs conserve energy and therefore reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use. In fact, by replacing just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR light bulb you can save 400 pounds of greenhouse gases from entering into the atmosphere! So, let’s make an impact by using ENERGY STAR light bulbs in our homes, not only will we be helping the environment, but these light bulbs will also save our families some money. Some ENERGY STAR light bulbs last ten times longer than incandescent light bulbs and will save $30 over the course of their lifetimes. Therefore, by using ENERGY STAR light bulbs, we are able to save energy, greenhouse gas emissions from entering into the atmosphere and some cash! Encourage your friends and family to use ENERGY STAR light bulbs so that they can also be a part of these savings. Let them know that by acting together we can make a difference. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if every American replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR light bulb, we would save enough energy to light three million homes for a year, we would save more than $600 million in energy costs in a year, and we would reduce greenhouse gases emissions equivalent to taking 800,000 cars off the road. Who knew that such a simple task like replacing a light bulb could make such a difference! Become a climate ambassador in your community and take the ENERGY STAR pledge today! . Do you have any products in your home that help conserve energy? If so what are they and how do they help benefit our environment?
About the author: Michelle Gugger graduated from Rutgers University in 2008. She is currently spending a year of service at EPA’s Region 3 Office in Philadelphia, PA as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
I have solar garden lights and a little solar panel that I use to charge AA Batteries.
I think that’s so awesome. Finding renewable energy sources are even better than using energy conserving products.
Lighting is approximately 8.8% of residential electricity use (DOE 2001, http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/recs2001/enduse2001/enduse2001.html). Residential energy use is approximately 33% of total electricity production (http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epates.html), so residential lighting is approximately 8.8×33=2.9% of US production. Changing every lightbulb in the US to CFL will reduce residential lighting to 0.7% of US production…
First, I don’t see the utilities significantly changing production based upon a drop of 2.2%, especially as I expect other uses will more than consume that “savings”. Second, if we factor in the actual use of fossil fuels to generate electricity in the US, the “emissions savings” becomes even smaller.
Overall, if everyone on the Titanic had a bucket and bailed as though their lives depended on it, do you think the ship would have sunk?
Hi,
at Energy Star we believe that while each action may seem small the collective action of individuals can have a significant impact. In 2007 our programs, including CFL lighting, reduced energy bills by 16 billion dollars and cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 42 million metric tons.
Did you know lightbulbs can be made to last 10 years? But If corporations did that they’d only have to produce one lot every ten years. That’s why they’re happy the population keeps on growing so there will always be plenty of new customers, even if lightbulbs do last longer, the mountains of garbage will keep on growing and spreading right along with the “healthy” growing economy ( ! )
“A growing economy on a shrinking planet has no future.”
(from “If Saving the Earth”
Hello everyone,
This is a fantastic opportunity to explore ways to save this world and more specifically exchange our idealisms. According to me not only is using non-renewble source of energy like solar, wind, geothermal is very useful to save our mother earth but also creating an awareness amongst people to do so will give our spirits a boost to use these alternatives. In Maharahtra – India [the place where I live] Municipal Corporations have made it mandatory for setting up solar water heating systems for residential areas I personally think if in such ways if governments take initiative in this direction we will certainly overcome various problems which we face in our day to day lives e.g. increasing prices of fuels, delayed rains, extreme heat, etc.
Thank you for this golden opportunity. We with the aid of this sort of blogs will certainly change way of thinking of people and secure the future of not only ours but also of upcoming generations and our earth.
Great article.
These same power compact used in Energy Star lighting are now found as SHO (Super High Output) and these SHO in 6400 Kelvin lamps are now being widely used for Green House applications and planted aquariums due to their high plant growth potential, all the while using much less electricity.
These lights along with LED are better lighting choices for high lighting needs over traditional high wattage consuming lights
Reference:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html
Energy efficient light bulbs are the easiest first step consumers and businesses can take towards reducing their energy consumption. Products have gotten light years better in the past few years and, in my eyes, indisputably better for 99% of applications. Both CFL and LED light bulbs run much cooler than incandescent bulbs, use energy much more efficiently, and do offer saving on your electricity bill. I am a vendor of energy efficient bulbs, so perhaps I am a bit biased, but I don’t know why everyone doesn’t switch today.
Everyone should use Energy Efficient Bulbs and make an effort to get the enviornmental issue across.
Now iam also going to use ENERGY STAR light bulbs in my home.
LED’s is a even better alternative to the Energy star bulbs and LED’s use up to 90% less energy that regular bulbs. and if you want to go even further (do more, save more) why not go solar. It not as costly as you might think. Using Outdoor Solar Lights like e.g. Solar Deck Lights is an effective way to reduce utility cost while using a gateway solution to ease yourself into the of solar energy solution. Try it, and to learn more visit http://solardecklights.iblogger.org
Hi! do all appliances who have energy star icons are energy saver too? I noticed it on pc, television and fridge
Yes I think that using energy saving light bulbs as well as energy efficient house appliances will and do make a difference as well as your energy supplier where you are getting your gas and electric from.
I use in uk this ethical energy supplier who carers a lot for environment provides cost effective energy for the households in UK
Well, energy efficient (Energy Star) light bulbs have tonnes of benefits over the regular filament bulbs. I mean for example they last up to 10 times longer, they use 20% of the electrical energy, emit bright white light (instead of a yellow one) and they dont waste so much energy as heat. You can save about $10-20 everytime you have to pay a power bill just by replacing the lights in your home with energy efficient ones…
Energy saving light bulbs last 10 times longer than the regular filament bulbs and they give off bright white light instead of a yellowish one. They are more intense, waste less energy as heat, and making a switch from regular filament bulbs to energy saving ones can potentially save you $10-15 every bill statement.
I dont see why energy efficient light bulbs arent being used in every home. It’s great to know that filament light bulbs will be banned worldwide by 2014! no more energy wasting bulbs!
Several months ago I was searching for LED Light bulbs online and was disappointed to see how high their prices were, but recently I built a site for an LED light bulb vendor. and was quite amazed at how the prices have really started to come down. Personally I love saving energy and I hate changing light bulbs… so LEDs are right up my alley. :)
“Earle”
Yes, I agree that LED’s is an even better alternative to the Energy star bulbs. But what about the use of Solar powered lights, or Solar Spot Lights. If your not using electricity at all then it’s safe to say it’s worth talking about.
Found your site on google today and really liked it… I bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later.
The green movement leading to a more eco-friendly future is within our grasp if only we could change our bulbs with energy efficient Pendant Lighting
This blog describes that Energy Star light bulbs are which absorb less energy comparatively Compared to an incandescent light bulb, an ENERGY STAR light bulb uses up to 75% less energy and saves environment. This blog is energetic.
Electricity supply is big problem in the whole world ,the methods shown in blogs are really useful but along with these we should try our self to reduce the power consumption because saving in electricity will save our nation from power crisis.I have an product called amanation which is approved by America government which helps the people to save electricity.
Electricity is a major problems now, without it we can do nothings. Its better using led solar lighting, not only for home but also for other place such as garden and patio.
Learn what are the benefits of led solar lights
These same power used in compact lighting Energy Star is now found that SHO (Super High Output), and the SHO in 6400 Kelvin lamps are now widely used for applications for greenhouse and planted aquariums because of their potential higher plant growth, while using much less power.
LED light bulbs can save energy 50%-80%, Green Lighting, Low-carbon Life, Energy-saving Emission Reduction.
Hey, you guys know about led tubes? Back to severals years ago, nobody head about led tubes, but today, after just about 3 or 4 years, led tubes have been a very hot product that are even available on in the supermarket. led tubes are still very expensive, but the prices are dropping down dramatically these years, so it can be predicted they will become more and more popular in the near future.
Before I started my own business I didn’t think something like finding light bulbs would be important. However, now with rising energy costs I did my homework and shopped around and found that Halogen Light Bulbs provides a great selection. I’d definitely recommend this site to find the right bulbs.
Great post. Keep us update with your developments!
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