Archive for September, 2010

The appliance of science!

Monday, September 27th, 2010

We all know that replacing the light bulbs in our homes is cost effective and plays a tiny part in slowing down global warming.  Whether or not you find taking about light bulbs dull or an absolute joy, sometimes understanding the mechanics, makes it easier to appreciate how we can save both money and help the environment.

So…energy saving lightbulbs.  For a given light output, energy saving bulbs use 20-33 percent of the power of equivalent incandescent lamps. Around 10% of UK household carbon emissions come from light bulbs so the environmental benefit of these bulbs could be enormously significant.

Energy saving bulbs are produced for both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) input. DC energy saving bulbs are often used in recreational vehicles as well as in households. Interestingly, they can also be operated using solar powered street lights, using solar panels located on the top or sides of a pole and luminaries that are specially wired to use the lamps. This makes them an even more eco-friendly feature.

Although incandescent bulbs reach full brightness a fraction of a second after being switched on, e[nergy saving bulbs manufactured after 2009 also turn on within a second, but they do still take time to warm up to full brightness. Some Energy saving bulbs are marketed as “instant on” and have no noticeable warm-up time scale, but others can take up to 60 seconds to reach full brightness or longer in very low temperatures.

No matter what kind of energy saving light bulb you choose for your home, you can be sure that you are doing your bit and playing your part in saving the planet!

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Low Energy Light Bulbs

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Many of you would probably be able to relate to this but a while back I got retrenched. After many failed job applications I still haven’t been able to find a steady job. We’re currently digging into our savings and we’re living frugally off my wife’s earnings. It’s tough times as we have two young boys and we’ve always provided them with a very comfortable life.

As expected we’ve had to cut back on all sorts of everyday luxuries. We’ve not had a holiday this year but instead decided to make use of the scenic walks along Hadrian’s Wall and go on camping holidays. We’ve had to be creative with two young ones who are full of energy and always demanding the best from us. It has however made us change our perspective on things.

Our recent cut backs have included shorter shower times; less time spent on the phone and eating out has become a monthly and not weekly activity. We have found very cost effective and sustainable ways to save on money. We’ve lowered the main water pressure so that we don’t waste unnecessary water in the sinks. It all started when our son suggested we changed our light bulbs to Energy Saving Light bulbs.

Changing our ordinary bulbs to Energy Efficient Bulbs should have been something we did a long time ago and it is our regret that it took a pay cut to realise that helping the environment also helps us.

I couldn’t believe how easy it was to do and an energy saver for every one of our lamps in the house. It was so easy to get locally as we just went online and not only was there all the necessary information but help on what light we might need and how to fit them.

Energy Saving Bulbs has led to an energy saving lifestyle. It’s not just about doing our bit for the conservation of the environment, but doing our bit for the conservation of our wallets. For a fraction of the price more, we save a lot more on the headache of having to pay our previously hefty bills.

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The Light of your Life

Monday, September 13th, 2010

How many light bulbs do you use regularly in your house? Including lamps? I just counted and I reckon I use 10 bubs for about 4 hours a day (we like mood lighting) and those figures go up substantially in the winter. Most of my bulbs were 100w bulbs and I pay about 10p per Kw/per hr for my electricity. I worked out that if I swapped my light bulbs for the equivalent energy efficient light bulbs, I would save over £120 per year. That is not to be sniffed at.

The cost of changing those 10 bulbs will give me plenty of change from £20 so what am I waiting for? I honestly don’t know. People are strange. I am writing this article to make me change my light bulbs – if I say I will do it that will make me do it. I have been meaning to for ages, but then the weekend comes and it gets put off, time and time again. But no more. This weekend is the weekend for me and some energy saving bulbs. I have already ordered them from the internet, they are in the post, I have no excuses left.

I wonder how many of you reading this are in the same boat. Keep on meaning to do it, but never finding the time? In the last couple of years when a light bulb has blown I’ve replaced it with an energy saving light bulb.

Its basic common sense – I will save money and I will help the environment, there is absolutely no reason for me not to do it and the fact that I haven’t yet has frustrated me to the point of writing about my frustrations. When I have spoken to my friends about this they all say the same thing “oh yeah, must get round to that.” I think it’s about time we just did it. This lethargy isn’t doing anyone any good.

We all want to help the world, we all want to ‘do our bit’ and we all want to save a little money…go on, change your light bulbs!  You won’t regret it.

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Low Energy Light Bulbs

Monday, September 6th, 2010

It’s important that we all play a part in trying to reduce our own carbon emissions.  Every little bit we do, even if it’s as simple as changing a light bulb contributes towards slowing down global warming and protecting our future.

A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), more commonly referred to as an energy saving light bulb (ESB) is a type of fluorescent lamp. The energy saving light bulb has been created to substitute for the standard incandescent lamp that many people still use. They fit into exactly the same standard light fixtures as incandescent light bulbs so you needn’t have to spend on new fittings to accommodate them.

Energy saving bulbs emits the same amount of visible light but use less power to do so, plus they have a longer rated life. While the purchase price of an energy saving bulb is typically a more than that of an equivalent incandescent lamp, the extended lifetime and lower energy use will more than compensate for the higher initial cost. For example, energy saving bulbs can save approximately twenty pounds in electricity costs over the course of a year.  The average rated life of a these bulbs is up to 15 times more than that of an incandescent bulb. Energy saving bulbs typically have a rated lifespan of between 6,000 and 15,000 hours, whereas incandescent lamps are usually expected to have a lifespan of 750 hours or 1,000 hours.

So you see, making a small change like swapping the light bulbs throughout your home can have a positive impact on your pocket and the environment.

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