For the most part whenever a public service announcement comes on my eyes glaze over as I passively agree with its sentiment. (Yes, yes, click it or ticket. Good, good, give blood, give life.) Still it's the rare PSA that makes me get off my ass and actually do something. This weekend, thanks to Natalie Portman, Kyra Sedgwick and Chloe Sevigny, the figurative (and literal) light bulb finally went on over my head.
National Geographic had the bright idea of having Natalie, Kyra and Chloe tell us all about the benefits of compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs, for short). These energy-efficient lights use about 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than your standard incandescent bulbs. But don't let me bore you with the numbers, instead check it out for yourself (for better quality video, click here):
I think the most stunning and convincing fact from that entire clip was this quote: “If everyone in America replaced just one light bulb in their house with this little guy it would be like taking a million cars off the road over the course of a year.” Wow. That alone made me finally go out and buy a bunch of CFLs for my home. I had planned on replacing them as my old incandescents burned out, but after hearing that I thought, “Why wait when acting is as simple as changing a light bulb?”
The clip itself is fantastic, too. Coupling the gorgeous National Geographic footage (Baby seals! Polar bears!) with three gorgeous actresses was a stroke of PSA genius. Setting the tone for the whole thing is Aimee Mann's infinitely hummable “The Great Beyond.”
Now, I know some people love to complain about celebrity do-goodery. There are those who are violently opposed to stars sticking their noses in affairs of state and the world. (If you think I'm kidding about the violent part, just ask the Dixie Chicks.) Personally, I have no problem with famous folks voicing their opinions as long as they are informed opinions. In fact, I would much rather my favorite actors and actresses dabble in little activism than, well, all the other stuff they could potentially dabble in.
As for the CFLs themselves, they're pretty darn nifty, too. The new ones give off a pleasant warm light that is as bright and quick-starting as traditional bulbs (older models had lag time, but newer ones are at full power almost instantly). Yes, they cost a little more up front, but when you consider how long they last (5 to 10 years) and the amount they save on your energy bill ($30 or more over the life of each bulb) you actually come out ahead in the end. Plus, the bulb's interesting swirl makes it kind of look like a cone of soft-serve ice cream. And who doesn't love ice cream? And, you know, the planet.
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I wish I've waited...
Save from one or two, pretty much all bulbs at my place are CFLs... Now I wish I've waited, so Natalie could change the regulars into the CFLs ;)
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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)
Okay, when I first looked at
Okay, when I first looked at the pic of Natalie Portman I thought she was holding some sort of nifty ice cream cone. Seriously need to get my eyes checked.
I'm liking the fact that the bulbs are at full power almost instantly. The bulbs we have just now take a few minutes to get there and it's not always the most fun stumbling over things in the semi-darkness :P
Been There Done That
National geographic, spreading the GOOD WORD
This quote “If everyone in America replaced just one light bulb in their house with this little guy it would be like taking a million cars off the road over the course of a year.” pretty much says every things
What are the rest of you waiting for.?
cfl's are pretty sweet, I
Not with Dimmer Lighting
Thank god for celebrities
I agree
Some more CFL info
Actually, according to NPR, CFLs are even better to use in older homes. Today, they come in an array of different sizes/shapes/styles that can be used for all sorts of light sockets. Just make sure you find the right one:
Also, there are a few CFL varieties that work with dimmers, but they are considerably more expensive than the regular CFLs (about $15 compared to $3-$5). And if you don’t like the looks of the swirl-cone shape, some bulbs even come covered like the more familiar incandescents.
The only real downside is that they contain a small amount of mercury and need to be recycled when they burn out. Stores like IKEA accept used bulbs for free and you can find out where else to recycle them here.
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Kyra
Oh yeah.
Kyra is my mistress and I do as she says. ;)
Recycle!!
CFLs are great...their only downfall being that they contain small amounts of mercury. That's not a huge problem... until you get a lot of them sitting in landfills, seeping toxins into the soil and water. So make sure you recycle them. Either by bringing them to a local recycling facility or by bringing them back to the store where you purchased them. (A lot, but not all, stores are beginning to participate in this recycling project.)
OK, so that's my continuation of the PSA. Ya think maybe next time Natalie, Kyra and Chloe will let me get in on the action? ;-)
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3 years and counting
I replaced all of my old bulbs with CFLs 3 years ago. I was part of a pilot program and the city came around door-to-door with freebies. So far, I've only had to replace one of the CFLs. I even use them outside in my carport.
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MELKOR: Got the shinies!
UNGOLIANT: Not enough shiny. Want more shiny!
MELKOR: You can't have 'em.
UNGOLIANT: Grar.
MELKOR: Eeek! *runs*
FEANOR AND SONS: We're gettin' our shinies back.
They're alright.
it's about friggin time.
Our house is filled with these things.
...Light bulbs, that is, not celebrities and wild animals. The bulbs themselves are great, but I'm guessing we have the older model, because they flicker before they come on. I call it our serial killer lighting, because I've seen countless movies where the lights flicker right before someone's slashed to death. Despite that, though, they're definitely worth it.
On a side note, I absolutely adore Natalie Portman.
And I don't understand why some people are so hostile to the idea that celebrities want to become activists. They're using their fame for a good cause, and as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with that at all. Besides, at least they're doing something. What have you accomplished in the way of bettering the world lately? I'm tired of watching people drag their feet and do the isn't-that-just-too-bad-but-I'm-not-going-to-do-anything-about-it bullshit routine. Get passionate about something. Don't just leave it to a select few to change things.