A Bright Idea: Eco-Conscious Lighting
Sunday, December 30th, 2007
by Blake Frino
The use of incandescent bulbs has slowly faded since fluorescent lighting took to the socket in recent years. Their energy-saving power and lasting use creates less of an impact on landfills as well as consumers, where there isn’t much need to replace them.
I was thrilled when I bought my compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), which is Energy Star rated. I thought I was taking part in the green movement. And although they are a little pricier than incandescent bulbs, their longer lifespan and lower energy consumption allows you to reap the benefits. Unfortunately, they do contain mercury, which is not good for the environment when added to landfills.
However, as with anything, a better prelude to this has evolved in the last six years, and is gradually being brought to consumers’ attention. LEDs (light emitting diodes) are more energy-efficient and eco-friendly than the above. And so much of what we already use, for instance alarm clocks, encompasses this kind of lighting. (more…)