In order to cut greenhouse emissions, fight climate change and save energy, 27 countries in the European Union (EU) are gradually phasing out traditional light bulbs.  As of September 1st, 2009, 100-watt and frosted incandescent light bulbs can no longer be manufactured or imported, although stores can sell their remaining stock.  

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But it’s not about the decor — it’s what they carry that makes this place special.  Plan Toys.  HaPe.  Schylling.  Plastic toys made from recycled milk jugs.  Non-toxic wooden toys.  Toys intended to enrich the mind and body of your children, not just feed into consumerism and branding.

And for me, it is a local store, within driving distance, right here in Atlantic Canada.  Unfortunately for my American friends reading this, while they do take online orders, Hot Toads only delivers within Canada.  Sorry, eh?

One of the many cool items they have is a line of large toy cars called E-Racers, from HaPe’s Bamboo Collection.  I had a nice chat with the fellow working there, and learned that apparently these were the first toys to be made from bamboo.  I was surprised that, while bamboo has been used for clothes, cutlery and dinnerware, flooring and even wallpaper for some time, the idea of bamboo toys was still relatively new.

He also filled me in on a fact I had previously been unaware of.  Of course, bamboo is the new golden child of the eco movement: it grows easily and quickly without pesticides, and is therefore a readily renewable resource with low environmental impact.  Bamboo wood is attractive and sturdy, and bamboo cloth is soft and has natural antibacterial properties.  As worldwide consumer demand for bamboo has increased dramatically in recent years, some companies have taken to clear-cutting hardwood forests in order to make room for bamboo plantations.  And despite bamboo’s rapid growth, difficulty in seed propagation combined with over-harvesting has even threatened some species to near-extinction.

Ugh.

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Incandescent lamps have illuminated residents for over a hundred years. While energy efficient fluorescents have shined in industry since the ‘40s, only recently have they brought claim flicker less illumination to homes. A new dawn is coming with many bright ideas to reduce global energy. More efficient LEDs are already on the market and plasma lamps show astonishing performance in the lab. These new lights will change the architecture, construction and the decor of our homes and will greatly reduce the demand for electrical energy.

While incandescent bulbs are extremely inefficient, only 10% of the energy they consumes is given off as light, they have been the main residential lighting for over a hundred years.

While the much more efficient florescent light was invented soon after the incandescent and has been in industry for almost 70-years; its harsh flicker created by the electrical alternating frequency, has discouraged its use in the home.

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First, the EU banned incandescent light bulbs.  Now, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is distributing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to its 1.2 million households, citywide. Oh, and for free! What’s next?

As we all know, CFLs come with many energy-saving advantages compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. A CFL last 10-times longer when compared to an incandescent. Also, CFLs operate at lower temperatures, which can reduce air conditioning use. A big plus for a city like LA!

Go Into The Light, Carol Anne

The program projects a savings of up to 240 GWh of energy and 131,000 metric tons of CO₂ each year—the equivalent of taking approximately 24,000 cars off the road or enough energy to power 40,000 homes for a year. The savings will equate to about  $61.3 million in fuel costs for generating electricity.

LADWP sponsored teams will distribute the two free bulbs door-to-door over several months. Included with the two CFLs are other energy saving materials.

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GE’s new website, What’s Your Lighting Style?, will help you to figure that out. After a fun (if a bit cheesy) eight-question “getting to know you” quiz, you’re given a lighting style for each room in your house. Based on each style, a “tip sheet” tells you how to create just the right atmosphere you want for the room, including furniture, colors, and – of course – lighting. Recommendations include each GE Energy Smart bulb that might be useful in your room, including dimmable bulbs and spotlights.

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The battle between CFL and LED bulbs may finally be over thanks to researchers at Cambridge University who have developed a $3 LED bulb that lasts for 60 years. The bulb, which is smaller than a penny, is 12 times more efficient than tungsten bulbs and three times more efficient than fluorescent bulbs.

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Concerns now being expressed do not relate to the issue of the tiny quantities of mercury in the bulbs that was raised a year or two ago (largely misguidedly - while in environmental terms far more mercury is released into the environment by the manufacture of traditional bulbs). Instead they focus on potential difficulties for partially-sighted people.

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As you might imagine, we had a lot to say about that gas thing… but didn’t take a vacation from covering a wide range of topics.

July 2008

• Chad Crawford, our minister in residence, reviewed The Green Bible.
• Raz Godelnik of Eco-Libris dug into another book: Paper Trails.
• Robin Shreeves reported on a small town that found an innovative solution to big traffic problems: bike sharing.
• Birgitte Rasine of LUCITA sent up a flare for paper shredders clogged with junk mail.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/12/27/the-twelve-days-of-sustainablog-bibles-high-gas-prices-and-tent-based-traumas/feed/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/12/20/new-york-city-to-get-led-street-lighting/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/12/20/new-york-city-to-get-led-street-lighting/#comments Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:50:39 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/12/20/new-york-city-to-get-led-street-lighting/

New York City’s Department of Transportation has tapped the Office for Visual Interaction for testing LED street lighting around the Big Apple. If successful, all of the city’s 300,000 street lamps could one day be made up of LEDs.

Of course, LEDs are just plain awesome! Their power consumption is much lower than that of standard bulbs. Heck, even lower than that of CFLs.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/12/20/new-york-city-to-get-led-street-lighting/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/12/ge-launches-incandescent-shaped-cfl-bulb/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/12/ge-launches-incandescent-shaped-cfl-bulb/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:15:38 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/12/ge-launches-incandescent-shaped-cfl-bulb/

Do you like the environmental friendliness of CFL bulbs but also enjoy the shape of incandescent bulbs? GE has a solution — the world’s first incandescent-shaped CFL bulb. The 8,000-hour CFL is guaranteed for 5 years based on 4 hours of daily use.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/12/ge-launches-incandescent-shaped-cfl-bulb/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/02/ge-ends-development-of-incandescent-bulbs-focuses-on-leds/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/02/ge-ends-development-of-incandescent-bulbs-focuses-on-leds/#comments Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:55:33 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/02/ge-ends-development-of-incandescent-bulbs-focuses-on-leds/ According to Clean Break, General Electric has dumped all plans for revitalizing their century-old incandescent lightbulb. Instead, it plans to focus on light-emitting diodes (LED) and its organic counterpart — the OLED.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/02/ge-ends-development-of-incandescent-bulbs-focuses-on-leds/feed/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/10/31/new-report-suggests-cfls-could-cut-global-lighting-energy-demand-by-40/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/10/31/new-report-suggests-cfls-could-cut-global-lighting-energy-demand-by-40/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:29:54 +0000 Timothy B. Hurst http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/10/31/new-report-suggests-cfls-could-cut-global-lighting-energy-demand-by-40/

A new report suggests that with an aggressive replacement program, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) could drastically cut global lighting demand and begin reducing greenhouse gas emissions immediately. Fresh off the recent announcement that the European Union had banned incandescent light bulbs, the report, prepared by the Worldwatch Institute, suggests that replacing incandescents with compact fluorescents could reduce global lighting energy demand by 40%.

By 2030, these savings would add up to 16.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide — more than twice the amount released in the United States every year.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/10/31/new-report-suggests-cfls-could-cut-global-lighting-energy-demand-by-40/feed/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/10/24/green-pumpkins-with-ready-made/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/10/24/green-pumpkins-with-ready-made/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:30:34 +0000 Kelly Rand http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/10/24/green-pumpkins-with-ready-made/ We sure are excited about the upcoming Halloween holiday here at Crafting a Green World. Do you have your costume ready? What about decorations?

Ready Made Magazine has this great refresher course on pumpkin-carving how to; including a clever CFL template to carve into your pumpkin! What a perfect idea to not only make your own costume for Halloween, but carve your green ideals for all the trick-or-treaters to see.

You could carve other environmental symbols into pumpkins and have yourself a very Eco-Ween with many different green jack-o-lanterns. You could carve a Prius, the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle symbol, or even a Windmill.

Let us know some other fun ideas to make your Halloween truly green!

[Image courtesy: Ready Made] ]]> http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/10/24/green-pumpkins-with-ready-made/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/23/new-led-light-bulb-lasts-30-years/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/23/new-led-light-bulb-lasts-30-years/#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:48:18 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/23/new-led-light-bulb-lasts-30-years/

Looking for an energy-efficient yet attractive alternative to CFL light bulbs? Check out Frog Design’s innovative LED bulb. It’s shaped like a regular bulb instead of a LED— and best of all, it lasts for 30 years.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/23/new-led-light-bulb-lasts-30-years/feed/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/10/18/rolling-blackouts-to-benefit-south-africa/ http://ecoworldly.com/2008/10/18/rolling-blackouts-to-benefit-south-africa/#comments Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:41:54 +0000 Dave Harcourt http://ecoworldly.com/2008/10/18/rolling-blackouts-to-benefit-south-africa/ The rolling blackouts in South Africa have roused the country and no doubt damaged the economy. But could they also be putting South Africa on a road to a more sustainable and environmentally acceptable energy infrastructure, which should support long term growth?

In the 1980’s, South Africa invested strongly in coal-fired power stations for cheap electricity. The very low energy cost made alternate energy too expensive. The excess generating capacity lead Eskom (the national, government-owned electricity generator) to focus heavily on promoting electricity as the energy of choice. Its apparently strong position with coal energy meant Eskom did not encourage off grid or alternate energy supplies.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2008/10/18/rolling-blackouts-to-benefit-south-africa/feed/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/11/eu-bans-incandescent-light-bulbs/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/11/eu-bans-incandescent-light-bulbs/#comments Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:52:34 +0000 Timothy B. Hurst http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/11/eu-bans-incandescent-light-bulbs/ EU energy ministers meeting last week in Luxembourg have given final approval to an EU-wide ban on incandescent light bulbs that would begin in 2010. The switch to energy-saving bulbs, first ordered at last year’s Brussels summit as part of an aggressive energy policy to fight climate change, was approved at the negotiations leading up to a meeting of European heads of state, being held next week.

>>More on European energy policy at RG&B

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/11/eu-bans-incandescent-light-bulbs/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/19/new-yorks-grand-central-station-a-model-of-energy-efficiency/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/19/new-yorks-grand-central-station-a-model-of-energy-efficiency/#comments Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:25:23 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/19/new-yorks-grand-central-station-a-model-of-energy-efficiency/

At first glance, the nearly hundred year old Grand Central Station doesn’t look particularly energy efficient—after all, the station does contain 60,000 lightbulbs. But New York City officials are doing their best to make sure the terminal sets an example for other public buildings in the city.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/19/new-yorks-grand-central-station-a-model-of-energy-efficiency/feed/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/08/13/the-environmental-impotence-of-the-religious-right/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/08/13/the-environmental-impotence-of-the-religious-right/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:19:55 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/08/13/the-environmental-impotence-of-the-religious-right/ And once again I find myself both amused and completely horror-struck by the evangelical cult that resides within the GOP. They’re consistently bested by their faith, and to the point of absurdity. This is especially true with regards to the climate crisis. And quite frankly, I blame Jesus.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s comments about House Speaker Pelosi brought the issue to the front of the line. In her current bout of political tourettes, she had this to say:

“[Pelosi] is committed to her global warming fanaticism to the point where she has said that she’s just trying to save the planet,” Bachmann told news site OneNewsNow. “We all know that someone did that over 2,000 years ago, they saved the planet — we didn’t need Nancy Pelosi to do that.”

Yes, folks…stop recycling, throwout your reusable bags and just let your cars run all day long. For Jesus, yes the one and only Jesus, has already fixed that whole global warming thingamabob.

Mind you, this lady is notorious for her hair-brained explanations. For example, did you know that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is now 100% wildlife free? Yep, same great taste but less filling. And this is why the Democrats favor high gas prices:

“They want Americans to take transit and move to the inner cities. They want Americans to move to the urban core, live in tenements, [and] take light rail to their government jobs. That’s their vision for America.”

Yes, Al Gore, dressed a la Dr. Evil, is trying to scare us all in to using light rail. Oh the horror of it all! It’s just too convenient. I mean all of it, if the planet is all saved thanks to Super Jesus then why do I keep getting copies of the Watchtower? Just let the guy do his job, already - no one likes to be micromanaged.

But that’s the rub. We’re not saved. He did not save us. None of it is okay. We must stop denying it like that mom in the jaw-dropping Jesus Camp movie?  We cannot lend ourselves to distractions like the plight of the incandescent bulb. There is no time. Accountability is our only salvation, not Jesus.

So I pray. I pray for Congresswoman Bachmann. I also pray for that crazy mom in the movie. I pray that for whatever bulb they choose, they themselves won’t remain perpetually dim.

Related Posts:

Saving More Than Souls: Religious Groups Seek “Renewal” for the Environment
You’re Either with Us, or You’re with the CFLs : Red, Green, and Blue
Jesus Unplugged: Religious Groups Participate in Earth Hour 2008

Image source: Asemta at Flickr

]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/08/13/the-environmental-impotence-of-the-religious-right/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/01/new-lighting-technology-offers-alternative-to-cfls-and-leds/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/01/new-lighting-technology-offers-alternative-to-cfls-and-leds/#comments Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:42:13 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/01/new-lighting-technology-offers-alternative-to-cfls-and-leds/
Residential Lighting reports that a new energy-efficient lighting technology, dubbed ESL (electron-stimulated luminescence) was patented in June by a startup company called Vu1.

The technology works by using accelerated electrons to stimulate a phosphor coating on the inside of the glass bulb. In contrast, incandescent bulbs run a current through a filament inside the bulbs, and LEDs stimulate semiconductors to create light.

The first ESL prototype is expected to output 40 lumens per watt with a 6,000 hour lifetime.

So why is the ESL bulb any better than CFLs or LEDs?

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/01/new-lighting-technology-offers-alternative-to-cfls-and-leds/feed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/20/look-into-the-light-the-cfl/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/20/look-into-the-light-the-cfl/#comments Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:05:30 +0000 Simran Sethi http://sustainablog.org/2008/07/20/look-into-the-light-the-cfl/ If you ask Simran about compact florescent light bulbs, she may crack one open and cut you. Not really, that would scatter mercury, but she is loca for the light bulbs. Check Monday’s Huffington Post for the full version of this post.

People give you this whole rap about how easy saving the planet is. Change a light bulb and save the world. Yes and no. How about we consider it a start rather than an end destination?

Lighting accounts for about 20% of our electric bills. Traditional bulbs burn heat rather than light, so are extremely inefficient. Compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) are 80% more efficient and can last up to 10 times longer than a traditional bulb. Last December, Congress voted to phase out the inefficient incandescent. By 2012, the 100-watt bulb will be history.

In the interim, environmentally-minded folks of all ilks are heralding the bulb. The virtual Stop Global Warming march reminds us swapping out three incandescent bulbs for CFLs will save us 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $60 a year. The Coalition On the Environment and Jewish Life suggests installing CFLs for Hanukkah as a way to redefine “energy-stretching light” and reflect environmental stewardship. Students in Pennsylvania sell light bulbs instead of candy to raise money for their schools. (Simran prefers candy.)

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