1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,160 Here are two things that nobody wants to see increase. 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,560 Your power bill and pollution. 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:11,840 Boo! 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,600 We're going to show you a small step you can take that can turn these arrows the other 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:16,600 way. 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:18,080 Yay! 7 00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:21,800 We're focused on your friendly household light bulb, the incandescent kind. 8 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,640 The chances are there is one within a few feet of you right now. 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,840 Go ahead, look around. 10 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,120 That light bulb is not cool anymore. 11 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:33,920 It's the VCR of light bulbs and it's quickly becoming obsolete, and for good reason. 12 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,120 It's being replaced by a new kind of bulb. 13 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:40,360 It's called a compact fluorescent, or CFL, and it's an easy way for you to make a big 14 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:41,360 difference. 15 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:42,840 Here are two reasons why. 16 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,560 The real problem is coal, which is used to create over 50% of our electricity. 17 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,600 When you turn on a light bulb, most of the electricity that powers that bulb comes from 18 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,140 burning coal. 19 00:00:53,140 --> 00:00:57,520 When it's burned in power plants, CO2 and other pollution is released into the air. 20 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,160 More burning coal equals more pollution. 21 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,680 Not cool at all. 22 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,540 If that wasn't enough, coal also costs money. 23 00:01:04,540 --> 00:01:07,600 The more you burn for electricity, the higher your power bill. 24 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,920 So the ultimate goal is to burn less coal by using less electricity. 25 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,260 Here's why new light bulbs matter. 26 00:01:14,260 --> 00:01:18,400 If you replace that old light bulb with a new CFL, you can save money and help prevent 27 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,360 pollution at the same time. 28 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:22,120 Consider these three big points. 29 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,880 First, let's say you have a lamp in your house that you leave on for one full year, 30 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,000 You start with a 750 hour incandescent bulb. 31 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:32,520 That lasts about a month. 32 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:36,400 This means that over a year, you'll use about 12 bulbs for the lamp. 33 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,080 At 60 cents a bulb, that's about $7.20. 34 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,560 Now compare that to a single CFL that costs about $4. 35 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,600 A CFL in the exact same lamp will last 10,000 hours. 36 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,560 That's about the same as 13 regular light bulbs. 37 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:51,560 This should be clear. 38 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,360 Less hassle, less money. 39 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,840 But the last two points are the big ones. 40 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:01,160 Lighting accounts for, on average, about $20 of a $100 monthly power bill. 41 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,680 And CFLs use one quarter of the power compared to an incandescent bulb. 42 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:11,120 This means that using CFLs can lower a $100 power bill to $85 a month. 43 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:12,280 That's cool. 44 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:17,720 And finally, switching to CFLs can prevent hundreds of pounds of CO2 pollution each year. 45 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,720 That pollution is a cause of global warming. 46 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,520 So you can see the point. 47 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,000 CFLs are simply a smarter way to light your home. 48 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,680 If you're still not convinced, note that these aren't the buzzing blue tube lights 49 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,160 from the kitchen of your past. 50 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,400 CFLs have come a long way lately. 51 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,200 Popular Mechanics did a blinded study with new CFLs and participants preferred the CFL 52 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,040 light compared to incandescent bulbs. 53 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,180 And they fit in the same fixtures. 54 00:02:41,180 --> 00:02:44,720 The question to ask is, why not switch to CFLs? 55 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,280 The next time you're at the store, pick up a 4-pack of CFLs and replace the bulbs that 56 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:49,720 are on the most. 57 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,320 Maybe the porch lights. 58 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,760 Then ask your friends, why haven't you switched? 59 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,320 Are you still watching movies with a VCR? 60 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,640 I'm Lela Fever, and this has been New Lightbulbs in Plain English on the Common Craft Show.