Change The Way You Light up Your Life!

I always have a great time at the annual Green Homes Festival. This year the festival moved to the Missouri Botanical Gardens; we are so lucky to have such a remarkable natural setting in our city.

The Green Homes Festival is always a good way to see what is new in the “Green” world.

Solar technology is now being widely used in the commercial industry. There are rebates and incentives that help to make solar more affordable. I am sure we are not far away from the technology being more affordable for residential use.

At some point, there may be an expectation that a home utilize some form of alternative energy. Energy efficient lighting, alternative fuel vehicles, insulation choices, heating and air conditioning and healthy living tips were all on display.

While touring the booths and demonstrations, I was handed a free compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) from Metro Electric Supply Co. That prompted me to also visit the Ameren booth to see what our local electric utility was promoting.

Well, there is a new bulb in town, the LED. Actually not so new, but, just like so many newer technologies, the LED bulbs are becoming more affordable and offer another lighting alternative. These new bulbs along with the CFL’s are a great alternative to the incandescent light bulb that is probably seeing its final days as the leader of the pack.

Maybe not every bulb in your home is right for a change, but many are. Try one out and see if you like the light. There are several different quality of light options; Standard, Bright, Daylight, Soft light and even new Dimmable CFL’s and LED’s. See which works for you. The guidelines for choosing the right light go beyond the picking the right watt.

The hard part; what bulb do I choose?

The Watt rating is a power consumption rating and not necessarily a light output rating. Now, when buying a light bulb you should look at the Lumens rating. The Lumens will give you an idea of the amount of light output you will get from your bulb.

Take a look at the incandescent bulbs you are now using and find the Lumens rating on the package. Most likely, you will be happy with a new bulb that has a similar Lumens rating. I am sure you will be happy with the energy savings of these longer lasting bulbs.

You may also choose from different Kelvin ratings for the type of light that the bulb produces. This is where you will determine whether the light is similar to what you are accustomed to regarding warm/soft light, cool/bright light or natural/daylight lighting.  For example, a soft light might be labeled from 2700K – 3000K, a cool white light from 3500K-4100K and a daylight bulb may range from 5000K – 6500K.

Better for the Environment

According to Ameren, replacing just one incandescent light bulb in every American home with a CFL bulb would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. Find out more at their website www.ActOnEnergy.com.

Watts, Amount of light, Type of light; you have choices that may seem overwhelming but don’t worry, you will find the light you like best.

Maybe for your first purchase, buy a single bulb rather than the multi-bulb package. Try a few different bulbs to see what works best in different settings.

Don’t be guilty of just doing what you have always done. Make a change, try something new, find out what a difference you can make. Try something new that might just make a difference in preserving this planet in a way that is respectful and sustainable and save you some money every month.

Let me know what you do, I know I still have a lot to learn.