CFL last longer and use less energy for an equivalent light output.  Manufacturers tout them as very suitable for locations where changing bulbs is difficult ...  So ... the NYC Transit is using CFL in Subway tunnels.

Read on for more ...  

" ... replacing its incandescent train signaling lights with ... light emitting diode (LED) Signals. ... a 60 percent savings in energy compared with traditional incandescent light. ... improve brightness 150 percent, and they decrease greenhouse gas emissions substantially ... also have an extremely long life, which reduces landfill use and saves labor.To date we’ve replaced 47,000 of our 60,000 signal lights with LED."

" ... replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs in subway stations ... When NYC Transit switched to T12 fluorescent bulbs, station lighting increased 750 percent and power consumption decreased 28 percent. An additional change to T8 bulbs kept lighting as bright as before, but reduced our energy use by an extra 26 percent."

"Compact fluorescent bulbs in this tunnel will last 7,500 to 10,000 hours. Formerly, incandescent tunnel bulbs burned for only 750 hours."

Via:  NYC MTA    Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

Several complaints about compact fluorescent bulbs is that:

- they contain mercury
- they do not fit in the same space as an incandescent bulb

Philips has solved these problems with their ALTO bulbs. 

Read on for more >>>

" ... Philips Energy Savers ... don't just provide the light of your standard light bulb, they also have the same classic shape. ..."

These bulbs are better for the environment because they use less wattage for similar light, can last years longer than incandescent bulbs as there is no filament to burn out and have less mercury than other CFB. 

Mercury is a highly toxic material that can pollute air and water and improper disposal of CFB can lead to pollution (though probably off set by the pollution of less fossil fuels ... ?)

Via:  Philips Lighting - Link

Continue reading "Philips ALTO Bulbs" »

Posted by Green Dude at 07:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

Some schools are already green.  Others are just getting started.  Many need help with a structured program to guide them. 

Green Flag promotes 4 key areas:

-- Indoor Air Quality - looking at mold, irritants, etc
-- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, - pretty self explanatory
-- Non Toxic Products - cleaning products and others
-- Integrated Pest Management - for grounds and indoors
 

"Schools across the nation are using the Green Flag School Program to make their schools healthier places to work and learn. ... Achieve recognition for ... your school already does, and improve your program with the support of teachers and field experts across the country. ... check out the Green Flag School Program today!"

Via:  Green Flag Program  Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 05:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

The Energy and Security Act of 2007 was signed into Law on Dec 19th, 2007.  Along with items like requiring higher CAFE for cars there is an interesting note about ... the incandescent light bulb.

Though most people are saying that the incandescent bulb will not be sold after 2012 - it is more correct to say that the current energy inefficient incandescent bulb as sold today will not be available.

It is likely that the initial make up supply of bulbs will be from either higher efficiency incandescent bulbs or as in intermediate step - CFB. 

One little problem about CFB is that they contain MERCURY which is a rather nasty environmental pollutant - one linked to health effects in younger children.  Maybe lower cost LED bulbs will be available by 2012?

So far now ... maybe it is time to stock up on the old incandescent bulbs ... 2012 will be here before you know it.    

Via:  WhiteHouse.gov   Link 

Continue reading "Incandescent Bulb's Days (May Be) Numbered ..." »

Posted by Green Dude at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

Being green can run the continuum from easy (use CFL bulbs) to hard (change your lifestyle) and low cost (turn off unused lights) to expensive (install a solar electrical system).

 Why be green?  Did you know that the  " ... average American household generates 15,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide each year ..."

"... replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Carbon Dioxide Savings is 150 pounds per bulb annually. Cost: $2.50 per bulb."

" ... Move the temperature down 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the summer. Saves 2,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide each year. Cost : None (Cost Savings)"

Continue reading "Easy Steps to a Green Home" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

options

"Wal-Mart ... [NYSE: WMT] ...will open ... [Jan. 18, 2007] in Kansas City, Mo. the first ...High-Efficiency stores that will use 20 percent less energy than a typical Supercenter.  ... will help the retailer move one step closer to achieving its  environmental goals, which include using less energy and producing less waste."

"In 2005, Mal-Wart opened two experimental stores in McKinney, Texas, and Aurora, Colo., to test several different environmentally friendly technologies, ranging from wind power to pervious pavement, from waterless urinals to light-emitting diodes. ... plans to open the next High-Efficiency store in Rockton, Ill., this spring."

"To achieve the 20 percent energy reduction ... the company will target two main energy-consuming units: the heating and air conditioning system (HVAC), and the refrigeration system. ... the new HVAC and more efficient refrigeration systems are fully integrated so that 100 percent of the heat rejected by the refrigeration system is reclaimed into the HVAC. The reclaimed heat is then converted into usable energy. By incorporating a loop-piping design, the ... system also reduces the amount of installed copper and the total refrigerant charge required."

"Other energy-saving technologies ... include the installation of ultra-efficient case fans, glass doors on medium temperature grocery cases, RollSeal® quick response doors to seal air in areas such as the Garden Center, and a top-of-the-line dehumidification system. ... a daylight harvesting system, which uses skylights to refract daylight throughout the store and light sensors ...  During periods of higher natural daylight, the system then dims or turns off the store lights when they aren’t needed, ..."

"... also features GE’s energy-saving light-emitting diode (LED) refrigerated case lighting. LEDs have a longer life span than fluorescent bulbs, produce less heat and use significantly less energy than typical grocery case lighting. ... motion sensor-driven LED lights have been installed in all freezer and medium-temperature refrigerated cases.  ... the lights in these cases automatically turn off, and quickly turn back on when a customer approaches."

"...is committed to selling products that sustain our resources and our environment. As part of this store’s grand opening events,...donation of 21,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), Wal-Mart will aid the city’s campaign to distribute CFLs to low-income and senior citizen households in Kansas City, Mo. ..".

Via:  Wal*Mart.com  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

... "To reduce the amount of mercury in its CFLs, WalMart worked closely with manufacturers GE, Royal Philips, Osram Sylvania and Lights of America. All four suppliers committed to achieving a greater reduction in mercury content than the 5 mg standard set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) earlier this year. These suppliers will also adhere to clean production techniques that will minimize mercury pollution from factories manufacturing CFLs. " ...

Via WalMart Stores, Inc.: WalMart Announces Major Mercury Reduction in Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Posted by Green Tech at 09:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

Here is an interesting factoid ... 

Did you know that "If everyone who received this newspaper today switched one lightbulb in their house to a compact fluorescent light, it wouod be like eliminating the emissions of approximately 89,000 cars for one year".

Via:  Starbucks "ad" in the Sunday May 6, 2007 edition of the New York Times ...
 

Learn more at www.planetgreengame.com   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

The Home Depot has always carried products that were "earth friendly" such as Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFB). 

They have now introduced "Eco Options" branding to highlight those products that offer one or more benefits related to the environment.  

According to Home Depot, the Eco Options Brand " makes it easy for you to identify products that make a difference, one choice at a time."

Sustainable Forestry:  products "produced from responsibly managed forests"

Energy Efficient:  products "that use less energy, reducing the amount of electricity needed"

Healthy Home:  products "that improve the quality of the environment in & around your home"

Clean Air:  products "that improve air quality through reduced emissions"

Water Conservation:  products "that clean or use water more efficiently"

The bottom of the Eco Options Home Page has lots of useful information and facts ...
>>>Check it out and learn more!

Via:  The Home Depot   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 05:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

"SYDNEY, Australia (AP)—The Australian government on Tuesday (20-Feb-07)  announced plans to phase out incandescent light bulbs ... Legislation to gradually restrict the sale of the old-style bulbs could reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 percent, said Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull."

"Australia produced almost 565 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2004, official figures show."

"Under the Australian plan, bulbs that do not comply with energy efficiency targets would be gradually banned from sale. Exemptions may apply for special needs such as medical lighting and oven lights."

"Fluorescent bulbs are currently more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but use only about 20 percent of the power to produce the same amount of light and last longer, making them more competitive over time, advocates argue."

Via:   LiveScience.Com   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 07:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

Are the incandescent bulbs days numbered?  Is it soon to be relegated to the history book?  Some seem to think this should be the case.

"The incandescent light bulb should go the way of outdated inventions like the coal-burning locomotive, says an energy coalition that advocates a widespread change to more energy efficient lights, compact fluorescent bulbs and light-emitting diodes."

"The ... Lighting Efficiency Coalition, which includes companies such as Philips Lighting, environmental groups such as the Earth Day Network, ... is pushing for a “sweeping transformation of the U.S. marketplace towards energy efficient lighting products by the year 2016,” said coalition member Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas."

"Incandescent bulbs currently consume 42 percent of the electricity generated in the United States, but only provide 12 percent of the country’s artificial light, said Bryan Dundan, a Philips Lighting vice president. ...Instead of incandescent lights, coalition members advocate implementing technologies already available today, such as compact fluorescent lights, halogen lights, and light emitting diodes (LEDs), which require less electricity to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb.

Via:    LiveScience.com   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 07:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFB) have many positive qualities including:

However, CFB are manufactured with a small amount of mercury and therefore need to be disposed of properly.  Improper disposal can result in ground and possibly water contamination from the mercury vapor in the bulbs.

"Most states do not have special requirements for the disposal of regular household mercury-containing fluorescent lamps (including compact fluorescents), although a few states and localities ban homeowners from disposing of such lamps in normal household trash."

"Many towns and cities offer recycling opportunities at local recycling centers or transfer stations. There may also be household hazardous waste collection days when fluorescent lamps are collected along with paints, pesticides, used motor oil, etc. Contact your local waste disposal officials for details. State requirements and recycling opportunities vary.

"For more information, including a list of companies that recycle lamps, visit www.lamprecycle.org."
 

"Please Note: Recycling companies at www.lamprecycle.org do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by GE or NEMA of the companies or their technologies. Persons contacting the listed companies should make their own investigations and determinations about the costs and appropriateness of the activities of the listed companies."

Via:  GE Consumer and Industrial Lighting   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 07:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options

... "In a world-first for a national government, households and commercial users will be pushed to use energy-efficient alternatives, such as compact fluorescent lights, which have been on the market in Australia for 10 years. " ...

Via The Australian: Light Bulb Legislation

Posted by Green Tech at 08:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

options