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Cheaper than a Shrink

OK, maybe you - like me - suffer occasionally from the summer doldrums (people think I'm nuts, but honestly, while spring and fall rock my world, summer can make me consider bridge jumps).

Fortunately, however, I have come up with a cure for what ails me.  This summer, every day, I am going to try to do one thing that makes me feel like I'm making a little change for myself and the world (sounds suspiciously like the mission of this company, doesn't it?)

Seriously, though - it's bizarre.  What shopping therapy does for some, "green therapy" does for me. I can't explain to you how great I feel when I fill up my SIGG bottle or put in a faucet filter instead of buying a bottle of water.  I love saying "Oh no, I don't need a bag" at the drugstore.  I get completely weird satisfaction from putting my used ink cartridges in the mail and sending them back to the manufacturers.   I feel all warm and fuzzy when I look around my bathroom and realize that - with a few exceptions - I have a nearly paraben-free beauty habit. 

But I gotta say - changing those CFL bulbs takes the cake.

Try it. CHANGE at least ONE of your lightbulbs to a CFL version.  (Then go to Environmental Defense and let them know you did it - they are keeping track). It's amazing how good it makes you feel.  You unscrew the one, screw in the CFL version, turn it on (waiting that caught-breath half-a-beat waiting time that it takes the CFL to light up), and... drum roll...

Viola!  Instant feel-good.

They might be more expensive than regular lightbulbs - but think of it this way: even putting aside the fact that they pay for themselves in energy savings:

They are a LOT cheaper than therapy.

-Heather... off to thin the blossoms off my heirloom tomatoes...

Posted by: jboulden on 06/25/2006
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Jim Cox  on October 10, 2007 at 04:55 PM 41
Keep your eye on LCD technology. CFLs will go down as the Betamax of lighting in the near future.
Jim Cox  on October 10, 2007 at 05:00 PM 42
Correction to my last of October 10, 2007 at 4:55 PM: LCD should have been written "LED" (light emitting diode).
Ashley  on November 07, 2007 at 03:15 PM 43
I have been replacing my incandescent light bulbs at home with CFLs and I have been very pleased. Over the past few months I have changed most of them and already have seen a decrease in my electric bill! The brand I bought was called n:vision. They have a site: http://www.nvisioncfl.com/ and they also have an energy saving calculator so you can compare: http://www.nvisioncfl.com/savings-calculator.aspx
Lynn  on November 09, 2007 at 11:16 PM 44
I have always hated fluorescent lights, the buzz, the flickers, actually feel nauseated when I'm around them very long. One of my friends has a severe sensitivity and can't go in buildings with fluorescent (yes, that's very limniting), her son gets very hyperactive around fluorescent. Since I can't wait to get away from them when I visit someone with them it's very doubtful I'll ever bring them into my home on purpose!!!
Dave Atkins  on November 10, 2007 at 06:19 AM 45
I wanted to do a quick update here. The newer, and name-branded versions of the CFLs, including ones that specifically say they can be used for track lighting, appear to work well. I think my problems with bulbs burning out after a short period of time, were due to quality issues of the cheap bulbs I had. And with respect to the last comment here...CFLs do not buzz or flicker, but they are a colder light. But they save money and energy, especially when you can buy them with rebates and all.
Leslie Johnson  on November 26, 2007 at 12:42 PM 46
I'm all for CFLs and have replaced many "can" lights at home with them. But I'm noticing many/most are manufactured in China which raises some side issues: transportation, handling of waste in China, labor practices, support of US industries. Shouldn't we be encouraging purchase of domestic CFLs when we promote this change? Leslie Johnson Waste Reduction Specialist Clark County Washington
Scott  on January 17, 2008 at 03:18 AM 47
I live where the temperatures get down to -20F to -30F often during the winter. I have yet to see any that will work down in that temperature range. I have never had a CFB last more than 1.75 years. I had one in my kitchen get really hot and filled the room with smoke. Probably would have caught fire if I hadn't caught it in time. For me, closest recycling center for these is easily 500+ miles. Everyone I know in my town just throws them in the trash so they are not being recycled. Sending them to the factory for replacement is not worth it as the cost of shipping makes it prohibitive. I have followed every recommendation I can find to baby these bulbs into a longer life but it just doesn't work. I still buy them because I am trying to help the energy situation and environment but I am also beginning to think they are a waste.
Brandy  on January 18, 2008 at 09:29 PM 48
I bought CFL's and replaced most of the fixtures in my home with these. My home has wireing from 1965 which is aluminum. One day 3 rooms of my home had no electricity so after pulling down every light fixture to see if I could find live wires, the last light fixture I pulled down had all burnt wires in it. This light fixture was less then a year old. Also my light fixtures that had CFL bulbs would flicker when used for extended periods of time. It sounded too good to be true and it was! I now have to replace a main electrical line back to my electrical box.
Beth  on January 19, 2008 at 08:01 PM 49
CFLs I have purchased have lasted a very short time and one caught fire on me as soon as I put it in my lamp, burning out the switch. The mercury content also makes me highly nervous. People do not realize how extremely toxic they are. As far as I know there is no special way to dispose of them......so does all that mercury end up in landfills - eventually leaching out into the environment?
John  on April 30, 2008 at 01:24 PM 50
I've tried to adopt CFLs, but like Barbara and some others, but I find that I'm spending way too much money replacing burned-out bulbs. I have recessed cans in approximately 1500 sq ft of my home. I've now tried three generations of CFLs... the first were standard twisties; the second were an early reflector type; the latest are reflectors specifically designed for recessed fixtures. I've seen very poor life from all these types. Most expire after just 2-5 months of use at 4-6 hrs a day. I've looked at LEDs, but they're far too expensive for now. I can't imagine that the energy I'm supposed to save can make up for the high acquisition, replacement and disposal costs. Sorry, but I'm going back to incandescents for now.
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