Military families, such as many of those living on Fort Benning, often forget about or overlook their energy use - after all, the bill is always taken care of. But as the issue of global warming becomes more and more apparent, everyone should try to do their part towards making the earth a more sustainable place for future generations.

One easy way to minimize your impact on the environment is by replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent lamps. They are not only more energy efficient, but save money and have less of a negative impact on the environment. Please take a few moments to look over the information here and the other links of interest. Hopefully you will be motivated to begin to integrate sustainable practices into your life!

Questions? You can contact me here and i'll be happy to assist you.

A compact fluorescent lamp is a light bulb that uses less energy than a standard bulb to provide the same amount of light. Those bearing the government’s ENERGY STAR label use about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, and save from $30 - $59 in energy costs over their lifetime. With the typical house containing 40 or more light sockets, the numbers add up quick.

• CFLs save money and last longer. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, cost relatively little up front, and provide a quick return on investment.
• CFLs help fight global warming. About half of our electricity nationwide comes for coal-burning power plants and another 20% from natural gas, both of which create carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Using less electricity lessens the amount of such pollutants that are let into the atmosphere (which are the source of global warming).
• CFLs cut other pollution, too. Power plant smokestacks release deadly particulate pollution, which contributes to tens of thousands of heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and premature deaths yearly. Using CFLs helps to reduce this pollution as well as other unhealthy byproducts (e.g. smog).
• CFLs are versatile. Compact fluorescents can be used practically anywhere that incandescents are currently utilized, to include recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures and porchlights. Now, there are also 3-way and dimming CFLs on the market.
• CFLs provide good quality light. Instead of the old "office," "cool white" light that older fluorescents used to give off, newer CFLs provide a warm light that can't be distinguished between incandescents. In addition, they don't flicker or hum as in the past.

• Start with one bulb. You don't want to switch out all of the bulbs in a room once. You should test one out and be sure that it gives off the kind of light you want. Generally, bulbs around 2700 degrees Kelvin are "warm white" and give off the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs.
• Match your lumens. Energy saving CFLs provide a lot more light per watt. Match the lumens of the CFL bulb to the incandescent being replaced. Lumens indicate the amount of light being generated - a watt just is a measure of energy use.
  
• Choose an appropriate shape and size. CFLs can be bigger than standard incandescent bulbs, so you'll want to take a look at your lamp shade/light cover and the socket to select a compact fluorescent that will fit. Fortunately, CFLs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes.
• Use only specified "dimming" bulbs. In order for a compact fluorescent to work in a dimmer, it must be specially designed for that purpose. Make sure you read the package before you buy a CFL for a dimmer-controlled lighting fixture.
• Dispose of them properly. CFLs contain mercury, but only an extremely small amount. Recycling is always the best way to dispose of compact fluorescents, but the closest recycling center is IKEA in Atlanta (96 miles from Fort Benning). Hopefully more local centers will be established in the near future, but in the mean time you should wrap the bulb in a plastic bag and dispose of it in the regular household garbage bin.

Have you been convinced? CFLs can be purchased at most all major retail stores, to include the Fort Benning Post Exchange, Commissary, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, K-Mart, and Target. By phasing out old incandescent light bulbs, you really are helping the environment and saving yourself money. Thanks! Please encourage friends and family to follow your lead, as our individual actions all contribute to the world in which we live.

• Energy Star: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Information
• Wikipedia: Compact Fluorescent Lamps - an in-depth look
• Popular Mechanics: "Best Fluorescent Light Bulb" Study
• General Electric: Energy Smart CFLs, FAQs, Savings Calculator
• EarthEasy: Energy-Efficient Lighting - describes the models and limitations of CFLs, but also looks at LED lighting as an alternative to incandescent bulbs
• 18seconds.org by Yahoo! - tracking the number of CFLs sold around the United States