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Posted by Pinky Bean
on October 10, 2008 5:42 AM
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Filed Under: Energy, Home |
Making eco-friendly improvements in your home doesn't mean you have to shell out a ton of money to buy new Energy Star appliances or insulation for your basement. Simply replacing your traditional light bulbs with energy efficient ones (CFLs) can consume 75 per cent less energy and as an added bonus, they last up to 10 times longer than a regular bulb.
Just to put it into further perspective for you, consider that a regular bulb operates at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and a CFL bulb operates at only 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you visit Home Depot's Eco Options website (after the jump), you can even calculate your amount of savings based on the number of bulbs you replace.
And yes, while CFLs do contain mercury which is toxic for the environment should they wind up in a landfill, Home Depot introduced a plan earlier this year that takes in these bulbs for recycling. So go ahead and make the switch, just ensure you handle the CFLs with proper care!
» Home Depot