Comments on: Saving energy in Iraq

By: lindsay

lindsay — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:34:03 +0000

Count your lucky CFLs, Ben. After we conquer the wives, we’ll move on to replace energy-wasting stars all over the universe.

By: Ben Z.

Ben Z. — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:28:24 +0000

Jay and Lisa both have great points. I’ve got cfl in every fixture they’ll fit in, my wife thinks it’s just fine, and I don’t have to suffer like the Iraqis. I’m suddenly counting my lucky stars.

I’m wondering though - about Deborah’s mentioning of full spectrum lights - Full spectrum flourescents are some of the brightest, most color-balanced bulbs available. They use them medically in sunlight replacement therapies for people with SAD. I wonder if there aren’t full spectrum cfls out there somewhere? Has anybody seen them?

By: deborahbyrd

deborahbyrd — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:24:43 +0000

Well, you know, Jay has a point. Light bulbs. It’s that “small steps” thing in trying to be environmentally sensitive. How important are the small steps? I’m not trying to be ironic here … I really wonder about that.

We did just record a radio show today about residential and commercial buildings being over 40% of the U.S. carbon footprint. And a big part of that is lighting.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 16 May 2007 20:15:40 +0000

I think the issue is, they need to go to Iraq. Then they can relax about the whole light bulb thing.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 16 May 2007 20:08:51 +0000

I think BOTH of them have issues. They just need to relax.

By: lindsay

lindsay — Wed, 16 May 2007 18:56:25 +0000

I didn’t expect so much sympathy with the wife! She sounds like a whiner. Then again, I’m not married… but I will be installing CFLs at my house, independent of male influence.

By: eimster

eimster — Wed, 16 May 2007 15:24:51 +0000

Maybe the husband is a nagging jerk. Maybe if we saw the full spectrum of his personality his “green” wouldn’t seem so great.

By: deborahbyrd

deborahbyrd — Wed, 16 May 2007 12:20:25 +0000

Wow. I hate to say this, but I’m like one of the wives in that Washington Post article that got mad when her husband began sneaking compact florescent light bulbs into the house. My partner and I have had this same issue (although he hasn’t gone so far as to start sneaking them in yet … I don’t think!). Before this, I was just really in love with full spectrum lighting, which mimics sunlight. Now I’m just torn.

Maybe I’ll start going to bed at sundown.

Deborah