Go Green in 18 Seconds

Today I was reading “Have Fun -Do Good” blog and came across a great new site called 18Seconds.org. The premise of the site is to encourage people to change out their old light bulbs with CFL’s ( Compact Florescent Bulbs). The site also lists various energy saving numbers for Cities and States as well as interesting facts about energy consumption.

Texas ranks 5th in energy efficiency, interestingly in 2005 the Texas State Energy Conservation office instituted a challenge to schools and other state agencies to become more energy efficient. It appears that the challenge worked. I think it would be great if other states followed suit and worked to set an example of energy efficiency. (Texas Energy Star)

CFL’s are energy efficient using 75 percent less energy than a standard bulb and saving $800,000 per year in energy costs. Amazingly, old light bulbs have an efficiency rate of only 10 percent! That is right only 10 percent of the energy used by a light bulb is emitted as light the other 90 percent is emitted as heat. The explains the weird burns on ceilings that are shapes similar to a light bulb.

I really love discovering articles like this because it shows that we can decrease our impact on the Earth by making small, gradual changes. You don’t have to trade in your SUV or buy a smaller home. Just use your energy wise.