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How I saved 13 TONS of CO2 in one night? Hint, hint. I am sure most of you have heard that replacing an incandescent bulb with a Compact Flourescent can save you 75% of the energy used to light your home. It can last up to 10,000 hours and each bulb saves the CO2 gases going into the atmosphere by 1 ton per the US Dept of Energy. WOW! It takes ONE tree 40 years to absorb one ton of CO2. A family of four in North America generates 110 TONS of CO2 in a year. Outside of North America, that is 22 tons.
I gave a 7 minute talk to Toastmasters on Monday night explaining the effect of the greenhouse gases and warming of the planet due to the amount of CO2 gases going into the atmosphere on an hourly, daily and yearly basis. Even IF you don't agree that this is a problem, you can agree that saving energy will save you $$$. Most people can get behind saving money. My daughter reduced her PG&E bill from $600 a month to $150 by just replacing all of her lightbulbs and putting timers on lights at her home. She now has enough left over to buy groceries for almost a month with the savings. Another engineer friend documented his PG&E bill reduced by 71% due to changing all of the lightbulbs in their home. This recessionary time has a potentially positive affect of having us examine what we spend money on, without thinking. And this is a good thing. We may come out of this more thoughtful about our spending allowing us to have reserves and savings.
For disposal of the CFL's which contain a small amount of mercury our local garbage company recycles. you should check your area for recycling information. ("CFL Light Bulbs are considered Hazardous Waste. If you live in Concord, you can drop them off at Central Sanitation, located in Martinez, at 5019 Imhoff Lane. If you live in Pittsburg, Antioch, etc, you can take them to Delta Diablo Sanitation in Antioch 2500 Pittsburg-Antioch Highway. Both are free drop offs.") The energy savings still overcome the affects of the recycling. Save money and save a tree. Change a lightbulb.
OH how did I save 13 tons of CO2? After my talk, I gave them each a lightbulb to start their efforts. It felt good. AND, the Dollar Store has the PGE bulbs for $1 each. Everyone can afford to change a lightbulb or two now.
Wow! That certainly sounds a significant $$ savings to me Terrylynn. And now if the cost of the bulb itself it down too there is no reason not to switch out the bulbs. Thanks for the information. I did not realize the cost savings was that significant. (Clever idea giving everyone in the group one to start with.)
I quite Toastmasters otherwise I would steal the idea of your talk for myself. I love the idea of giving everyone a bulb!
Terrylynn, good for you! What a great idea to give away the bulbs after the talk. You are definitely moving us toward a greener planet!
Terrylynn, you are being impactful with your ideas. Your daughter's savings are incredible and your giving out the new generation lightbulbs really makes a difference.
Terrylynn, Those savings ARE incredible especially at a time we all need to cut back. And I do believe we've been feeling the effects of global warming for some time, this is such a simple thing to do to help our lovely earth.
There was an article in our local paper this morning about how electric utility usage rates are down, I think it was close to 6%. Could it be those lightbulbs are making a difference! :-)
Great information! I think Amy's electric bill going down so drastically was enough to convince me... I have the bulbs and was just replacing my old kind when one burnt out, but may have to do the whole house right away.
Terrylynn, thanks for this very informative post about energy savings. It shows that we can all help reduce not only our own energy costs, but help the environment be switching to the CFL bulbs. I didn't know you could find them at the Dollar Store for only $1 -- I'll have to check that out!
Hi Terrylynn....PG& E is an electric company on the West Coast. What brand of light bulbs were you recommending? (Or specifically, what KIND of lightbulb..I didn't see it named above.) Thanks! Regards-Kathleen G
Terrylynn ~ I just recently started changing my bulbs out to CFL's. I probably won't see much savings until next year, but I figure every little bit helps!
Michele, I know if it was just hearsay I would not repeat it but it's my daughter and I have seen the pge bill and know what she did to get there. They have three little boys and leaving lights on all over the 3000 square foot house was just out of hand. They have rewards for turning lights off and the CFL's made a huge difference. SO give a try...
Terrylynn, we changed out our bulbs last year. It's a simple change that can save us money and energy.
It always kills me to see trees taken down intentionally, they serve so many great purposes. Of course when IKE came through we had no choice, it took out almost as many that are in our national forests.
Love the idea of giving the CFL's away Terrylynn. I buy them for staging jobs every time that I'm in the Dollar Tree and now I think I'll start replacing incandescants in clients homes for Redesigns. ! Somewhere recently I saw that they're now available in 3-way but probably not for $1.
Thanks for sharing your stats and information. Very helpful
I'm starting the transition to CFLs, too, but I'm having trouble getting used to their slow start-up. Sometimes I want light immediately, and the CFLs just take their own sweet time. Still, I feel very thrifty and responsible when I turn one on. We tried to use CFLs in a light at our most recent staging, but the light was on a dimmer switch, and wouldn't turn on at all until we changed the bulbs back to incandescents. Ah, well. We'll put those bulbs somewhere else.
Great idea, and thoughtful too, Terrylynn. I've used the CFLs in my home for years and my utility bill only totals $83 per month for 1500 sq. ft. I also use CFLs in my lamps and uplights for staging. I believe it encourages the realtors and sellers to keep the lights on while helping to reduce global warming.
What a BRIGHT idea! I love it! We all need to do our part...and this is such an easy way to make a difference. Thanks for sharing! GBU~
Sandra, you steal away, it's a good topic and worth repeating. Thanks for commenting.
Terrylynn,
Just fantastic! Changing out light bulbs can make such a difference. My electricity bill went down about $250. per month since replacing my bulbs with the compact fluorescents! If only everyone did this, what a difference it would make not only for our pocketbooks, but a great change for our world!
Annie, I know, it was great. thanks for reading and commenting.
Gary, just trying to do my part a little each day. Like you do.
Carole, you are so right, and I admit I am a late bloomer in this arena, my children have been urging for a long time, but better late than never, now I'm like the smoker who quit...just let me know if I go too far and you need me to give it a rest. BUt...I have grandkids I want to leave a better world...and the way we're going...we need an intervention. So a lightbulb is my small part.
Bethany, it is almost such a big deal that it's hard to believe until you do it yourself.
Chris, I wouldn't wait, do it now. Every new CFL bulb saves $$$.
Maureen, I know, it's great isn't it? PGE is subsidizing the bulbs to get everyone to change. It's a great deal, because in the store aisles it is still $3-$10 per bulb.
Kathleen, you are so right, they ARE our utility company here and I did post this on localism. The bulb I bought says "subsidized by PGE" so perhaps your electric company is doing that too. Just give a call, they'll tell I am sure and you might find it on their website.
Terrylynn,
Nice approach for you to take and a great way to get others to follow.....we have a few however not all and I need to address that.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Terrylynn, good for you. If we all just changed the light bulbs in our own homes it would help save not only the planet but save everyone money with their electric bill. Don't understand what the hold-up is...so simple! Glad to hear that you took a pro-active approach.
Terrylynn, I changed mine out a while back, and my electric bill is reflecting it (and my new super efficient central air. Little stuff does add up.
Kathy, Donna, me too, good for us, I actually joined the BillionBulb.com club...thought it was a good thing to do.
Cindy, ouch. It's knowing the statistics that makes it hit home, not that it didn't for you folks. Of course it was devastating and the voluntary removing of trees is the tragedy, leaving no reserves when nature takes them too. Hope you are all recovering in full.
Ginger, me too...it you find the three ways let me know, not seen them for $1 yet myself, but I'll keep you posted should that happen. Hope you are well, planning next year's expos, hope to see you at one...
Laurie, yes, not perfect, but getting closer. I actually think the ones I put into my can lights in the kitchen are lighter and brighter when I am in there, but every now and then they take a minute or two to kick in fully.
Jane, you are so right. I remember being in your home and didn't even notice, so it's not anything big as far as an adjustment, but huge for the planet. Welcome to AR...haven't seen you for a while.
Terrylynn,
Solid info on light bulbs most of us don't know about. As everyone is lookking to cut fixed costs here is one good way to do it. And very simple and easy way.
Elizabeth, BRIGHT idea alright. Thanks for acknowledging me.
Michelle, thanks for your statistic, it's always so dramatic that I think people don't actually believe it. It's amazing and worth it for the budget and a bonus for the planet.
Dan, I'm with you, have not quite all done, what am I waiting for?
Gena, thanks for the kind words, I don't know what the hold up is either, but we are getting the word out with our classes, etc.
We just changed all of our bulbs - I cant wait to see the next electric bill and compare to last year at this time. Although we also had to start the tank heater so the horses water doesn't freeze--should still be able to compare to last year though!
For $25, our local electricity cooperative will replace every bulb in your house with CFL bulbs. Think about it, I'll bet you have 100 light bulbs in your house... So you might try asking your power company if they have any such program.
Even if someone isn't worried about the environment the money savings should be enough to get them motivated.
Tami, I'll bet you'll be pleasantly surprized. Hopefully so. Let us have an update.
Tim, good point and worth the price of a phone call. That's an amazing service. We have subsidized bulbs.. you can get them for $1 at the dollar store or longs and it says PG&E subsidized on it. However, Wallmart has them for .83cents.
Possibly I am the only person out here who hates them, hates them, hates them!!! The color of the light is ugly. I recently read an article on the New York Times site which says the main reason people fail to switch to CFL's is because of the color of the light. They also went on to say that the reason they don't have better color is because it costs more to create that type of bulb ... so the pressure to provide cheap bulbs is what keeps that color not looking so good. I have actually done the model home for a LEED certified project where the developer specifically asked me to use halogen lights if at all possible because the ultra-efficient-whiz-bang fixtures put out the most sickly cold light. Although I'm the only one who has commented here that I hate CFL's, I'm sure I am not that unique. I do hope that technology will finally put out a CFL or some kind of efficient light that actually looks good and is affordable.
For now I will do my best to be sustainable and eco friendly in other ways. Hope I won't get banned from this group :0}
Wow sounds likes you gave a great speech as well as something to take home with them. Hopefully, you encouraged all of them change out even more bulbs.