Don't get depressed about global warming.
Do something about it. This is the first entry in a series. Let's start with something anyone can do - change a light bulb. No, really, this is important. Read on.
Those who do not own a home bear with me - I think this page is so cool that I want to mention it first -
if you own a home, go to the Department of Energy's
Home Energy Saver page and enter information about your home to get a long list of potential energy efficiency upgrades with costs analyses, tips, and links for further information. Many of these upgrades pay for themselves with energy savings in four or five years - and save you even more over their life-time. They may improve the resale value of your home. The quickest pay-back comes from changing your lighting from traditional incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. They fit in the same fixtures (new models are smaller than they used to be). Here is how they assess the cost and benefit:
Replace high use incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps
Economic Benefits
Estimated Annual Bill Savings: $85
Estimated Lifetime Energy Cost Savings: $425
Upgrade Cost: $96
Return on Investment: 84%
Upgrade pays for itself in: 1 year
A report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) out today emphasizes how switching to more efficient lighting can cut electricity use. I don't know about you, but where I live most of the electricity comes from burning coal. I switched the majority of my lights to CFLs several years ago and was surprised how visible the impact was on my electricity bills. Environmental Defense (ED) is pushing the issue - go ahead and log your switch with them so they can push politicians with their numbers.
Those of you who bought in early may have gotten inferior bulbs - I know I got a few - that gave a pale pinkish glow when you first turned them on. Their light was inadequate for almost any task for several minutes. The CFLs have improved, but you still should be careful. Buy one first and test it out to make sure you have a good brand. Go to ED's How to Pick a Better Bulb for more information.
How can this have any impact? Citing a Rocky Mountain Institute analysis, ED says "if every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with CFLs, we would reduce as much pollution as if we took 3.5 million cars off the roads!" I have already replaced 10 bulbs, and plan on phasing in more. You think "every household" won't do this? I'm with you on that, but the folks at The New American Dream have some encouraging numbers for you today: 94% of respondents agree that "Global warming is becoming a major threat to our country and the world." 77% strongly agree. To put this in perspective, it is more than the percentage of Americans who think Bush is an idiot!
One company is offering a discounted bulb for ED's CFL push, but you can also buy them at your local hardware store or other places online. My local hardware store sometimes has sales on CFLs.