The Unbearable Brightness of Being
Recycled lightbulb ornament from 3R Living
(Part of my Green This House program.)
If you’re going to do just one thing for the planet, make it the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Although they cost several times more than regular incandescent light bulbs, they also last about 10 times longer, which means for that every CFL used, there are eight less incandescent light bulbs ending up in landfills. (That’s eight times the hub doesn’t have to pull out the ladder and then wrestle Chekhov for supremacy of the upper rungs.)
You also end up saving money in the long run, since replacing a 100-watt incandescent with a 32-watt CFL can save at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
Replacing one incandescent bulb with a CFL can reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by 500 pounds a year. Replacing 17 can have the same effect as taking one car off the road for a year. (Speaking of which, drivers can do one better by offsetting their cars’ emissions with TerraPass.)
Incandescents are so energy inefficient, we have people who think we should just ban the damn things.
Just one small catch (isn’t there always?): CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury that aren’t enough be hazardous to us, but could become a problem in landfills, where mercury from many bulbs could leach into the ground. (To find out where you can dispose of your bulbs safely, contact your local recycling or hazardous-waste disposal facility.)
If you haven’t already swapped out your bulbs, you’ll probably land up with a few used incandescents in the interim. You can’t put lightbulbs in with your glass recyclables, however, because they contain metal filaments that will contaminate the load. Incandescent bulbs may also contain lead at levels that exceed hazardous-waste limits. Because you usually toss them out with regular trash, used lightbulbs tend to end up in landfills. So, if you’re like me and find none of these avenues palatable, you might have built up a nice stash of dead incandescents.
Some creative types put on their smarty-pants, slapped on some paint and glitter on a few incandescents, and transformed their used bulbs into offbeat, whimsical ornaments. (You can even buy them ready-made at boutiques like 3R Living.) The glass surfaces are also excellent for découpage.
For added inspiration, check out handpainted ornaments such as those by the incomparable Angela Moore.
And, of course, I couldn’t resist linking to this.
Laurie said,
March 18, 2006 at 12:30 pm
What a great idea! I think that I might still have a few left of these. Next time I’ll save them (along with all the other junk that I plan to make art out of one day!).
aleta said,
March 18, 2006 at 9:48 pm
I recently discovered that compact flourescent bulbs have mercury in them, thus it’s unwise (and now illegal in California) to put them in the trash. I wonder how many people think they are doing wonderful things for the environment by switching to cf’s and then throw them in the trash and contribute to the contamination of groundwater, etc. I wish there wasn’t a tradeoff.
The Worsted Witch » It’s Getting Hot in Here said,
May 2, 2006 at 3:17 pm
[...] 3. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. [...]
The Worsted Witch » CitySol on Sunday said,
August 10, 2006 at 11:23 pm
[...] The last time we went, the hub and I picked up a pair of compact fluorescent bulbs for something like $4 apiece from a high-school-run biz called Tru Light. So far, we’ve replaced just about every bulb in our apartment, except for the bathroom and hallway, which require smaller-fitting bulbs we’ll have to hunt for. Oh, some genius also painted over the light fixture in the office/guest room so we can forget about that one. (We have a CFL in the lamp in there instead.) If you’re in the area, check them out. CFLs can cost upwards of $7, so this is the place to stock up less expensively. [...]
The Worsted Witch » Bulbs for Birds said,
August 16, 2006 at 1:33 pm
[...] The genius of artist Rosemary Mosco’s concept is staggering: switch one or more light bulbs to a compact fluorescent, e-mail her, and Mosco will draw you a bird! [...]
The Worsted Witch » Scarier With The Lights On said,
October 26, 2006 at 6:12 pm
[...] Related articles: 1. The Unbearable Brightness of Being 2. Bulbs for Birds [...]
The Worsted Witch » 2007: A New Beginning, A Contest said,
January 2, 2007 at 12:04 pm
[...] HELLLOOOOO 2007! Pop some organic bubbly because we’re having our very first contest here at the Worsted Witch. Our mini family unit resolves to continue to pare down our consumption (and subsequent stress on environmental resources), cut down our waste production, as well as finally change those lingering two incandescent bulbs in our apartment to compact fluorescents (oy, it’s about time). [...]
Go Green Challenge - Day 4 « Half Pint Pixie said,
August 18, 2007 at 11:18 am
[...] Of course you can’t just chuck those old bulbs in with your glass recycling because they contain metal fibres, so what to do with them? [...]