The "GREEN" thread

Despite Republicans' efforts to equate efficient lighting with tyranny, the age of incandescent bulbs will be officially over as of Jan. 1. The best indication of this switch-over is not any one piece of legislation coming out of Washington, but a totally symbolic move: When the Times Square balls drops at midnight on New Year's Eve, its shining light will be emanating from 32,256 LED bulbs.

In summary: Bye-bye incandescents. We won't miss you.

Today’s Ball benefits from unmatched investment in LED technology, with its modules lasting about 30,000 hours and using just 22 watts of electricity. This is an 88% reduction in energy use and 573 tons less of CO2 then its previous lighting source.

Additional Times Square Ball Facts:
The Ball consumes the same amount of energy per hour as it takes to operate just two traditional home ovens. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy - Consumer Appliance Energy Use)
The Ball is lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs (light emitting diodes), each of which can be digitally controlled to create extraordinary effects.
The LED lighting in the Ball has a rated average life of 30,000 hours, compared to the roughly 1,000 hour life span of previous incandescent and halogen solutions.

Q. Dear Umbra,

A CFL that I’ve had for less than a year just burnt out. It’s happened to me numerous times before. We’re told that one of the money-saving benefits of CFLs is that they last much longer than incandescent bulbs, but that’s not been my experience. Am I buying the wrong brands? Has demand for cheap CFLs caused manufacturers to cut corners? What’s the deal?

A. I can’t say for sure why your bulbs are fading so fast, but I do adore this handy chart of CFL Killers from Seattle City Light, which also offers tips for getting the most from your bulbs.