What's the most creative way to inspire your friends and family to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs?

Question

What's the most creative way to inspire your friends and family to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs?

Answer 1

give as gifts, once they have them they will love them and most likely buy them next time.

Answer 2

Give them an incentive to try them, Buy one and get one free always works for me, my friends and our families.

Answer 3

,I have been the centre of our groups jokes ever since i changed all my Bulbs in the house to the twisted little bulbs, a year and a half ago.

the ( expensive little gimmicks) as my friends laughingly called them. .

three weeks ago i presented them with all my electric bills for last year and compared it with this last six months with the new bulbs.

HARD TO BELIEVE IT BUT,

I saved over 10 dollars per bulb since i changed them for a total of $ 350.00 Canadian difference for just half the year . the cost of the change over is covered by the savings in just 6 months and from now on i will save a lot more.

If you would present the same proof to your group i feel they would consider it

Answer 4

Ok, for the most part, I believe all this global warming is a bunch of BS, but Ironically, I use these bulbs in most sockets throughout my home.



WHY? Because they benefit me.



Our power quality sucks and incandescents burn out within a couple of months due to surges. With the spirals, I barely ever have to climb a ladder. I don't mind the savings either.



Here's a lesson: If you enviro-religious want to effect change, why don't you make it work for the consumer instead of producing multi-million dollar BS guilt trip movies?

Answer 5

Use them yourself and lead by example... I would like to address pusherhorn. if you burn electricity you create pollution plain as that. the coal burner you tap into has to emit the same amount of CO2 into the environment no matter what your usage is. the only way a person can be contaminate free is to run off the grid. ie. solar, wind, hydroelectric. oh and the eco-friendly light bulbs are called CFL's before you speak pusher you might want to know your facts.

Answer 6

Show them the difference in the bill. I switched to them and saw a difference right away. I too try and get people to switch and I just tell them. If not for yourself, for you children and your children's children.

Think about our world on its own. We are draining and killing it, we all need to do our part.

And dont be shy, speak your peace. The more people like your and I the better chance the earth has.

Thanks For Doing Your Part :-)

Answer 7

I would put all my saved money from using eco-friendly globes into a party for my friends and family and then at the end of it I would would explain that it was all paid for by the cost savings of switching to the eco-frinedly globes. This way they can really see how much money they are saving.



I would also give them a fact sheet on switching with a globe for them to test. Hopefully by doing this it will encourage them to pass on the information to their own friends and family so the message will be spread.



Many people aren't affected to change their behaviour to help the environment unless they can see a real and immediate benefit.



Eco-friendly light bulbs are cheaper than regular incandescent bulb. Using a 60w incandescent vs. an 11w energy saver the running costs are $36 vs. $6.60 over 6000 hours use.



For the practical minded who don't want to have to change globes continuously you are looking at 1000 hours vs. 6000 hours life expectancy.



For those who actually do care about the environment it is 342kg vs. 62.7kg of greenhouse emissions.



Back to costs again - Although the cost of an incandescent is $6 (for 6 bulbs) vs. $6.98 for for 1 eco-friendly bulb, the total cost of purchase and running is $42.00 vs. $13.58. over 6000 hours. That is an enormous saving for both your wallet and the environment.



Also, schools could promote and sell bulbs the same way that they have chocolate fundraisers. The schools provide the children with a special box of chocolates that they sell to family, friends, neighbours etc and these fundraisers make $1000s for schools. This is a good idea because you are able to use children to help spread the word to all the different people they come in contact with.

Answer 8

I don't know if this was creative, but I go through light bulbs like candy in my house. My buddy tells me he got these lights that last 5 years, easy, and use less energy. I figured cool because I have an all electric house. 99% of my household lights are now Eco-friendly fluorescent bulbs, The only ones not are my vanity lights in my bathrooms.

Answer 9

I think the best way is by setting an example! When my friends and family see the way I try to conserve energy or reduce waste in my home and how I have made it a part of my routine, they usually incorporate some kind of conservation into their lives. I don't hit them over the head with it, I just try to set an example. Also, I have bought those bulbs or biodegradeable garbage bags or recycling bins and given them as gifts, asking friends or family to try them for a while and see if it makes a difference. If it works for them, great, and if it doesn't then they aren't out of pocket. I think people are hesitant because they are bombarded with info on how to do this or that with just a little investment and all the little investments add up with little results so that can be frustrating and disappointing. You are doing a great thing by being eco-friendly! Bravo!

Answer 10

It would be great if people choose to do good because of the well-being of humanity, or the long term benefits to the biosphere, but of course most of us think in a much smaller scale, and need more immediate effects of our actions... and it's ok, that's the way humans are.



Considering that eco-friendly light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, while they last 10 times longer.

Considering that they're so efficient that they only release a small fraction of the heat given by traditional light bulbs, providing 'cold' light.... Considering this, they should be selling themselves!



In fact we use them at home :-) and we know that once you try them, you won't go back to the 'old' type. It's simply a better investment. Therefore, the trick is to get people to try these light bulbs at home for the first time.



One creative way would be hosting a reunion and giving each of the guests one or a small set of eco-friendly light bulbs. Each bulb should have a small label with, for instance, a smilie face and the date, just like party souvenirs.

The date thingy is important, so that they are aware of how long these light bulbs will last!



Frankly, I don' t think it's a matter of being creative, but rational. Education is all it takes (and yes, I know that it's no small feat) to make everyone realize that conservation benefits us all.

Answer 11

The bulb's connector fit into the fixture like an incandescent bulb, but the base of the bulb does not (referring to the large white piece where the bulb connects). This usually creates a tight fit inside of the fixture, if the bulb will fit at all (I could not even get the bulbs into my ceiling fan). Also, I replaced my outdoor bulbs (porch and driveway lights) with the new bulbs, and found that bulb is so tall that it extends into the top of the fixture. This causes the white base to be the visible part, while the bulb itself extends into the top of the fixture, blocking the light. It was to be the standard bulb by the year 2010 in which your standard incandescent bulbs were to be fazed out. Due to corporate pressure and other issues, this deadline will soon pass and will not be met but eventually the compact fluorescents will be the standard.

In 1992 an average cost of a compact was around $20. Now you can buy a 6pack for around $10 at Home Depot.

As for a creative way for people to switch, Just show your energy bill before and after YOU started using compact fluorescents. That will open some eyes. I have saved close to $30 per month. A savings of $260 a year. Some people have more savings.

Answer 12

I actually just had a discussion with a friend about the eco-friendly light bulbs. He wasn't about to buy them, so I explained my experience with them.



I purchased some of the first compact fluorescent light bulbs when a rebate was offered. The problem with the original compacts was that they took awhile to "warm up" or produce the full amount of light. The way I solved the problem was to turn the compacts on before anybody showed up. Now with the newer compacts I rarely do that because I show people the difference. Today's light bulbs turn on instantly and produce maximum light right away. I also explained that the older ones were a larger than the new ones.



The thing I really like about the compact fluorescent is the longevity. I just replaced my first compact. It lasted about 5 years. I have other originals that are 5-6 yrs. old.



The only draw back to compact is the look. I informed my friend that really doesn't matter. My condo has 90-95% compacts. Majority of my lighting has concealed light bulbs so you don't notice the compacts. When I am looking for new light fixtures I try to purchase a fixture that will conceal the compact. The only incandescents I have are over a kitchen table because they look better plus it's a switch that adjusts the brightness. I don't think you can use compacts with that kind of set up. I am also putting in some pendant lighting which will be incandescent. With the kitchen table light and the pendants they will rarely be on. Those lights are lights just for certain tasks. They are not lights like the ones in a living room that need to be on all the time.



So to answer the question. I was honest. I told him the pros and cons. He didn't say if he would buy any, but I think he is a little more educated and has a better view of them. One other point he brought up was cost. I informed him you can purchase a 15W=60W for $0.99 that lasts for 5+ years. It also saves you money on the electric bill.



Here's a tip for people who have compacts. Out of my approx. 25 compacts 2 or 3 only lasted for a year or two. I called the company to inform them of the problem. They sent me new light bulbs.

Answer 13

I personally use EnergyStar bulbs. But in reality, I haven't noticed a lower electric bill, I haven't noticed longevity of the bulbs, or any other benefit claimed.



I think that alternate forms of lighting for the masses is a great goal, but until the product has actually been improved, getting people to use it is pointless.



For example, someone might say that a new cell phone has been invented that has the longest lasting battery and it outlasts every battery by four times. But what if that phone has poor reception, poor voice quality relay, and poor features? No one will care that phone has a long battery life.



The same is true for these new bulbs. The only thing that has improved is the reduced waste of energy. The product as a whole is not better, even assuming one likes the light quality that it produces.



What manufacturers need to be doing is trying to produce a light bulb that doesn't have to coil, that can have clear glass, that can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and that isn't ten times more expensive than other brands, and if possible will give off the same yellow light that old bulbs produce. Not the blue-white light that the EnergyStar bulbs produce.

Answer 14

Congress and/or President Bush could do the same. Stores could do this without waiting.



This is the one really fast way to make an immediate dent in CO2 production and global heating.



Would also lower the national electric power consumption, lower electric bills, lower incidence of fires.



The densest people are not going to move on this until stores are selling only LED and Compact Florescent lights.



Compact Florescent lights are already cheap.



IWhen everyone starts switching, LED Bulbs which use even less power will become cheaper as well.



Some small bulbs will not phase out for a while: Little ones for chandeliers, candalabras (or whatever they're called) and Christmas tree lights.



But a different solution for the latter may eventually appear.



I think Light Panels are also in the near future -- within 10 years.



I have tried to help with a Weather and Housing Blog dedicated to preparedness and energy efficiency. It offers lots of help in several areas, including light bulbs.



But it is likely to be seen only by the computer literate (the computer adept who can also read).

Answer 15

It was to be the standard bulb by the year 2010 in which your standard incandescent bulbs were to be fazed out. Due to corporate pressure and other issues, this deadline will soon pass and will not be met but eventually the compact fluorescents will be the standard.

In 1992 an average cost of a compact was around $20. Now you can buy a 6pack for around $10 at Home Depot.

As for a creative way for people to switch, Just show your energy bill before and after YOU started using compact fluorescents. That will open some eyes. I have saved close to $30 per month. A savings of $260 a year. Some people have more savings.

Answer 16

People buy products for two main reasons, quality and price. To help the enviroment is just a nice little extra that can help push people over that edge to make the switch. Firstly there is a real mercury hazard if these bulbs happen to break in your home, and proper disposal methods are dubious at best. You and I both know that without a "deposit" system, that well over half of these will end up in our landfills, just like other florescent lamps have since they were first invented. Back to quality and price. When first introduced, compact flourencents were more than $10 each and the color tempurature was a horrible bluish green that decayed into an ugly weak pink color, so you had neither good quality nor a good price. Now these products have drasticly improved, they no longer buzz, they retain their brightness much longer, and most importantly, they cost so much less and are even more efficient than when they were first introduced. Light bulbs are rated by their lumens, and that is the actual light output, not the wattage, which is more about the energy consumed. So, a 15 Watt flourescent light bulb can produce the same lumens as a 60 Watt incandecent, and it will save you money to boot. The way to convert your friends and family to these bulbs is simple, do it yourself in your own home. Show them the quality, then show them the price of the bulbs and their life expectancy. Then show them the decrease in your power bill and estimate your total savings over the life of the bulb. Of course if you think it will help, brag about how the energy you are saving is keeping us from having to build new power plants, and might even be contributing to global cooling. Set the example and invite people over to see the difference and savings.

Answer 17

We have a lot of creative ways already, most importantly a creative price as these bulb cost up too $11.00 as compared to standard bulbs. They can't be that expensive as I buy Sunbeam eco Lights at the Dollarama chain store for a $1.00 each. So why is everyone else charging so much??



We know the answer to this



The following Text may or may not be completely relevant to the above question. But its true



TV, Radio and Media are our greatest tools as the majority of mankind watch TV.



Yet this issue has been a talked about before lightly on TV, years ago and still less than is should be today, Create awareness, on a global scale.



A TV & Radio Show explaining the effects of the damage, who is doing what to resolve specific areas, and who is not helping making things worse. This will help everyone understand right and wrong. Exlpain the products that help and benifit specific areas. Show how they works and save. How do other countries do things differently ? What can be done differently? What is working for those places?



A show like this should not be geared toward a sales tactics, it shoudl not be promoted in this way.



Lots of people Watch TV, and everyone who drives to work listens to the Radio.



Generate Awareness



We all see a repitition of affairs on War and other incidents year after year. But this is a serious situation in which everyone is slowly learning & requires more attention if we want live in a better world tommorow.



Our old habits have to change to something new....soon

Answer 18

I actually think this is going to be a tough sell.

You can buy a 4 pack of 60 watt A-19 light bulbs for $.98. The new EnergyStar 13 watt 3 pack sells for $9.98.

Even though the EnergyStar bulbs last longer, the intial sticker shock is high.

The next problem is the EnergyStar bulbs only come in a few different sizes, but do not have any different shapes or glass casings.

Many people have lighting fixtures in their homes that demand a clear bulb with some kind of interesting shape.

The EnergyStar bulbs take away variety.



Additionally, many people do not like the kind of light that the EnergyStar bulbs produce. I know many people who suffer migraines from this type of lighting.



I personally use EnergyStar bulbs. But in reality, I haven't noticed a lower electric bill, I haven't noticed longevity of the bulbs, or any other benefit claimed.



I think that alternate forms of lighting for the masses is a great goal, but until the product has actually been improved, getting people to use it is pointless.



For example, someone might say that a new cell phone has been invented that has the longest lasting battery and it outlasts every battery by four times. But what if that phone has poor reception, poor voice quality relay, and poor features? No one will care that phone has a long battery life.



The same is true for these new bulbs. The only thing that has improved is the reduced waste of energy. The product as a whole is not better, even assuming one likes the light quality that it produces.



What manufacturers need to be doing is trying to produce a light bulb that doesn't have to coil, that can have clear glass, that can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and that isn't ten times more expensive than other brands, and if possible will give off the same yellow light that old bulbs produce. Not the blue-white light that the EnergyStar bulbs produce.



Companies like Sylvania and GE have their work cut out for them.



And as a personal end note... Legislation is not the way to change people's usage of products. Product Development, Sales, and Marketing are the way to change people's usage. So, California legislators, knock it off... you can't force people to use products that they don't like.

Answer 19

Ok first off let me ask all of you a question. Where is the proof that global warming is even real? Other the a bunch of people getting together and coming to a consensus there is no proof. Second I will never use the silly things. I like my light bulbs to put out light. A 14 watt eco-friendly bulb will never ever no matter how hard you want it to put out as much light as a 60 watt regular bulb. Also there have been reports from some scientists that they contain mercury. Remember that stuff. So as asked where is the proof. The earth goes through numerous warming/cooling cycles. If you all pay attention to all these reports that you tout about global warming you will find that the temp of the earth had raised a whopping 1 degree in the last 100 years. Plus if you all had not noticed for the last month you have not heard much about global warming cuz of all the cold weather. It is just a bunch of BS.

Answer 20

My wife and I have been using eco-friendly (flourescent) light bulbs for 14-15 years. What we have noticed about them that bothers us is -



1) the pricing. Some brands and stores are very expensive and some are cheap - even on the same brands. To offset the cost of the bulb, they specify a longer than incandescent life span. Which brings the second point.



2) The "guarantee" on the life span of compact flourescent is listed as many times longer than standard bulbs, with the disclaimer of "continuous burning". Most people nowdays do not leave the lights on full time and turn them off when leaving a room. I find that, on the avereage, the pricy compact flourescent bulbs last about the same length of time - except in a few cases (seems that the earlier bulbs last longer). A case in point is that we got some flourescent bulbs 15 years ago at an "eco-expo" in Los Angeles that are still operating - while name-brand bulbs bought recently fail more often. And trying to use the "guarantee" typically cost as much as buying a new bulb. Now the third point:



3) The cost of the bulbs. I do not think I need to elaborate on this. the compact flourescent bulbs are more expensing than incandesent.



4) Last point. We have applications where the flourescent bulbs just do not work. The reasons being that they are either physically too large, or continuously flicker when turned on. The eco bulbs should be designed where they will work in all applications.



My creative way to get people to purchase the product is to address these issues and advertise the progress of coming to terms with them.

Answer 21

People shouldn't need inspiration, because it just makes sense. I can see some reasons why people might not want to switch:



1. The earlier bulbs used to be larger and didn't always fit in place of an incandescant light bulb. People might not realize that the new bulbs are about the same size.

2. The earlier bulbs usually had a short but annoying delay in lighting after they were turned on. People may not realize that the newer bulbs go on right away.

3. These bulbs used to generally cost around $6-$10 each. Even though they claim to last a lot longer than a regular bulb, from my experience this frequently wasn't true. So spending that much on a bulb that may be a dud was pretty risky. Now you can get them for about $2-$3 if you're a good shopper and know where to get them cheap or buy them on sale. The longer life makes them a lot cheaper than regular bulbs, and now that prices are a lot lower, getting a bad bulb isn't as big of a tragedy.

4. Some people may want a higher wattage bulb. There may be a 3 way bulb now, but it is expensive. I haven't seen any regular bulbs rated at over 100 watts.

5. Some people may need a different shape of bulb. My brother's house has ceiling bulbs that fit snugly into the hole set for it. Replacing these with the new bulbs might not look right, plus the bulbs may be recessed too far into the ceiling and not give off as much light.



These are my suggestions:

1. A national advertising campaign to convince people that they should replace their regular light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, and explaining why it is such a good idea (see reasons 1-3 above).

2. Develop non-standard size and higher wattage fluorescent bulbs, so other light bulbs can be replaced with similar types of bulbs.

3. Impose a heavy tax on incandescant bulbs, perhaps $1.00 per bulb. The tax could be used to fund the advertising campaign, help develop non-standard bulbs (so they can be sold at reasonable prices), and pay for government rebates on energy efficient bulbs. We can probably do all this and easily provide a $2.00 rebate per bulb, because right now more people use regular bulbs and they don't last as long.

4. Cap prices of energy efficient bulbs. There is no reason they can't be sold at $3.00 or less per bulb, and with a $2.00 rebate, they will be $1.00. The regular bulbs cost about $0.50 but they will be $1.50 with the tax. Eventually people will get the idea, and at some point there won't be any tax money coming in for the rebates, but by then just about everyone will have the energy efficient bulbs - and they don't need to be replaced that often. At some point we can then ban the regular bulbs, like they will be doing in Australia.

Answer 22

Compact fluorescents were the main topic of this act. It was to be the standard bulb by the year 2010 in which your standard incandescent bulbs were to be fazed out. Due to corporate pressure and other issues, this deadline will soon pass and will not be met but eventually the compact fluorescents will be the standard.

In 1992 an average cost of a compact was around $20. Now you can buy a 6pack for around $10 at Home Depot.

As for a creative way for people to switch, Just show your energy bill before and after YOU started using compact fluorescents. That will open some eyes. I have saved close to $30 per month. A savings of $260 a year. Some people have more savings.

Answer 23

Compact fluorescents were the main topic of this act. It was to be the standard bulb by the year 2010 in which your standard incandescent bulbs were to be fazed out. Due to corporate pressure and other issues, this deadline will soon pass and will not be met but eventually the compact fluorescents will be the standard. In 1992 an average cost of a compact was around $20. Now you can buy a 6pack for around $10 at Home Depot.As for a creative way for people to switch, Just show your energy bill before and after YOU started using compact fluorescents. That will open some eyes. I have saved close to $30 per month. A savings of $260 a year. Some people have more savings.

Answer 24

The Australian PM announced that Australia will be phasing out incandescent bulbs fast, but I do not know what time frame.



Congress and/or President Bush could do the same. Stores could do this without waiting.



This is the one really fast way to make an immediate dent in CO2 production and global heating.



Would also lower the national electric power consumption, lower electric bills, lower incidence of fires.



The densest people are not going to move on this until stores are selling only LED and Compact Florescent lights.



Compact Florescent lights are already cheap.



IWhen everyone starts switching, LED Bulbs which use even less power will become cheaper as well.



Some small bulbs will not phase out for a while: Little ones for chandeliers, candalabras (or whatever they're called) and Christmas tree lights.



But a different solution for the latter may eventually appear.



I think Light Panels are also in the near future -- within 10 years.



I have tried to help with a Weather and Housing Blog dedicated to preparedness and energy efficiency. It offers lots of help in several areas, including light bulbs.



But it is likely to be seen only by the computer literate (the computer adept who can also read).



I also would like to know how to appeal to others.

Answer 25

I think the short and simple answer is enlightenment, no pun intended. I read an article in Fast Company (Sept.'06) featuring the compact fluorescent and it was very "enlightening". I think people would shell out the extra cash if they new the impact it would make.



Here's an excerpt from that article: What that means is that if every one of 110 million American households bought just one ice-cream-cone bulb, took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people. One bulb swapped out, enough electricity saved to power all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island. In terms of oil not burned, or greenhouse gases not exhausted into the atmosphere, one bulb is equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the roads.





Better yet, why not the government actually do something that could benefit EVERYONE by running TV ads...OR one way to surely raise awareness is to have some celebrity doing a TV commercial where they are replacing an incandescent with a compact fluorescent.



I can promise you that any replacement I get from now on will be a compact fluorescent.



Live for the now....but think about the future!

Answer 26

I CANNOT explain how many times I was disappointed or let down by these inferior florescent light products , I had to in the end look for the highest wattage fluorescent bulb to replace the poor and dimly lit bulbs where I once use 100 watt incandescent bulbs with at least a 33-35 watt fluorescent bulb , they do not save that much and I think my deteriorating eyesight is also a product of a poorly lit home , what is the real cost of these bulbs and how much do you value your vision I believe is the proper question to ask ?

About the only florescent bulbs I like are the ones they recently started selling as party bulbs , although the purple "black-light" bulb shines a very very dim purple and not worth the couple bucks in my own opinion , the best to me in this series of lamps are the red ,orange,yellow,green and blue, blue being the best on top of my favorite color, they make good accent light , but as for giving off enough light when you're reading a newspaper , forget it, florescent bulbs make my eyes go jittery .Aside from these neat novel florescent party bulbs , I can't stand them.

Perhaps even using half what the wattage of an incandescent bulb uses they might become more popular as long as they give off more and better quality lighting , but until then , good luck getting people to switch.{Love the pun there ..... switch ...}

Answer 27

1. One reason I use eco-friendly light bulbs is I can use a "100 watt" replacement ("using only 23 watts) in confined lights like door entrances lamps and hallway lamps that say they can only take a (dim) 60 watt bulb (without the danger of fire from heat build up in a confined area). A big safety issue on several fronts.

2. While costing more up front, the due last MUCH longer.

3. On thing the manufacturers can do is, a little more honesty. The "100 watt" replacement are really at best typically as bright as a 75 watt regular bulb. So, maybe a "125" or "150" replacement (still way below 60 watt) would, by giving what the 100 watt person is looking for, be more desirable since full light would be available (a big plus in "reading" situations).

Answer 28

This isn't a "creative" way more than it is a functional way, but the most important way that I have seen to encourage the use of the fluorescent bulbs would be to change the design of light fixtures to be better suited to use the bulbs. Wanting to save money on electric bills, I shelled out the higher cost for the "eco-friendly" bulbs and found that I encountered two problems:



1) The bulb's connector fit into the fixture like an incandescent bulb, but the base of the bulb does not (referring to the large white piece where the bulb connects). This usually creates a tight fit inside of the fixture, if the bulb will fit at all (I could not even get the bulbs into my ceiling fan). Also, I replaced my outdoor bulbs (porch and driveway lights) with the new bulbs, and found that bulb is so tall that it extends into the top of the fixture. This causes the white base to be the visible part, while the bulb itself extends into the top of the fixture, blocking the light.



2) Decorative fixtures are not made for the eco-friendly bulbs. Since they tend to be longer than incandescent bulbs and thus stick out past the globe that holds it. Thus, they're unsightly because they detract from the home decor.



Bottom line, fixtures need to be better suited to use the new bulbs before they will become more popular.

Answer 29

Well, honestly, old habits die hard. You can talk to people all you want about the eco-friendly light bulbs and that they should use them. More then likely though, that wont happen. They'll either A) Think the eco-friendly light bulbs are far to expensive and just buy cheaper ones. B) Don't care what happens to the planet and will use the light bulbs they've always used. Or C) Actually start using the eco-friendly light bulbs.



That's just stating the facts right there and how the majority of our population thinks. So, before we try telling them to use these light bulbs, people need to actually know what's happening to our planet. That isn't an easy thing to do, but something that needs to be done regardless.



Anyways, if you want to start a vast majority of people, you need to reach out to everyone. All spectrums of the population, you must consider everyone has a different lifestyle. A news channel could possibly broadcast something. Have maybe a special report on eco-friendly things, not just lightbulbs but other eco-friendly stuff as well. Commercials having to do with the light bulb, maybe even stream some into popular radio stations. Internet advertisments, bulliten boards, or even as simple as putting a poster into a cafe or something along those lines.



Okay, I am done rambling even though it had nothing to do with inspiring your frinds and family to start using eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 30

Congress introduced the Energy Act back in 19992 which outlined the switch to more economical energy resources. Compact fluorescents were the main topic of this act. It was to be the standard bulb by the year 2010 in which your standard incandescent bulbs were to be fazed out. Due to corporate pressure and other issues, this deadline will soon pass and will not be met but eventually the compact fluorescents will be the standard.

In 1992 an average cost of a compact was around $20. Now you can buy a 6pack for around $10 at Home Depot.

As for a creative way for people to switch, Just show your energy bill before and after YOU started using compact fluorescents. That will open some eyes. I have saved close to $30 per month. A savings of $260 a year. Some people have more savings.

Answer 31

I know that when I changed the type of bulb I used a couple of years ago, it made a big different in my electric bill, along with all the positive changes. Since the cost of the eco-friendly bulbs do cost more, most people will use the old regular bulbs. It will take more than creativity to get people to change. As much as I don't like goverment involvement in everything, this is a good place. If a tax was added onto non-eco friendly bulbs, enough to equal out the price between the bulb types, it would be an incentive. Then use the taxes collected to inform the public as to eco-friendly preferences, and some to protect the enviroment. An easier and very simple effective way, is to just not sell them anymore. Then as a light burns out, they would have to be replaced by an eco-friendly bulb.

Answer 32

We could try to educate people which would make a small dent but we should all know by now that "spreading the word" methods fall on many deaf ears. Even when the information is readily available most people will neglect to pursue it, and out of even those that do take the time to listen or read about it we can expect that only a small percentage will change their buying habits.



We see this all too often. As an example, most everyone knows about global and what it is yet few people actually take steps to change. Granted there have been some improvements but spreading the word has shown again and again to be a very slow process, and unfortunately it can sometimes be too slow and then ultimately too late.



I think in order to make any serious difference we'd have to get light bulb producing companies to manufacture and sell mostly or only eco friendly bulbs. Depending on the consumer to change his or her buying habits will only move us forward at a snail's pace, but change what's available and the consumer will buy what's there.



So the real focus should be on educating the companies that produce the products that harm our environment. This is the only way to make any real difference. Otherwise consumers will continue to buy what's most convenient and most inexpensive.

Answer 33

I think this is more about control and less about your concern for the environment. The Socialist and Communist in this country have found a new home with the environmentalist! How much stock do you presently own in the company producing these bulbs? This scare tactic is just another way to waste our tax dollars and control our daily lives. Keep turning up the heat on global warming so you can waste these tax dollars in your life time. It is my personal opinion that you so called climatology experts can build a case for an ice age, a melt down, an atmospheric depletion or a meteor that has a 1/42,000 of a chance of striking earth in a decade. Explain to everyone why the temperature on Mars has increased at the same rate as the temperature of the Earth? Is this unknown civilization on Mars using these horrible CO2 light bulbs as well? Last time I checked there were no SUV's on Mars. Maybe we ought to purchase a new Earth friendly Sun? Again this is about control. I will keep my self informed under my Edison style 60 watt soft white CO2 bulb.

Answer 34

When first introduced, compact flourencents were more than $10 each and the color tempurature was a horrible bluish green that decayed into an ugly weak pink color, so you had neither good quality nor a good price. Now these products have drasticly improved, they no longer buzz, they retain their brightness much longer, and most importantly, they cost so much less and are even more efficient than when they were first introduced. Light bulbs are rated by their lumens, and that is the actual light output, not the wattage, which is more about the energy consumed. So, a 15 Watt flourescent light bulb can produce the same lumens as a 60 Watt incandecent, and it will save you money to boot. The way to convert your friends and family to these bulbs is simple, do it yourself in your own home. Show them the quality, then show them the price of the bulbs and their life

Answer 35

Many people are skeptical about new things until they try them and see that they work. You could start by buying a package of these compact flourescent bulbs for your friends and letting them try them.



If they are skeptical, you could point out that they probably work under full size flourescent bulbs all day at work and they seem to work well, so why not try the smaller version at home? You do have to buy bulbs that are rated a little higher in output than an comparable incandescent bulb, because the light is softer.



I find that a 60 watt output bulb(that uses the energy of a 15 watt incandescent) is good for basic lighting, but for reading I use a 120 watt output bulb(that uses the energy of a 42 watt incandescent). When in doubt, buy a higher output bulb than you think is necessary. The energy use is still less than an incandescent.



You can give these bulbs as part of birthday or Christmas presents, or just as a "try something new gift." That is how I got started.



And you could point out that although these bulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs, they also last 10 times longer. And they reduce one's electric usage and therefore reduce one's electric bill.

Answer 36

I am a conservative and I have some thoughts on this:



All the eco-nonsense and the nonsense of the "inconvenient truth" only makes me laugh because it takes away from the essential points that actually matter:

- They are super cheap

- Give good quality light

- They last thousands of hours between changes.



Only a jerk would keep running the old bulbs around the house now that they actually have the bugs worked out. By comparison the old bulbs look yellow and dingy.



In the old days they flickered, were expensive, and gave people with glasses headaches. Now I can pickup florescents for about a buck each and they last thousands of hours. We should realize that there are specific needs for regular bulbs, like photography and certain people will be bothered by the flicker/frequency, so to get behind the state to outlaw bulbs is just another tyrannical move by the eco-tyranny when the free market will solving the problem anyway.



In the future we will probably all go LED and there is a lot to like about them on the merits, but the key here isn't hysterical eco-religiosity, but MERIT. Anyway LED's last for almost ever look great and use so little power its mind boggling. I think there are some more bugs to work out with them but it wont be long before grocery stores start switching to them. When that happens then they will hit a scale of production to make switching practical. And then at that time they will become ubiquitous. If you want to really encourage someone to switch to assuage your eco-guilt then explain to someone that they are spending a ton of money. i got a giant pack at Costco for about $6 cause PGE was giving a rebate on them.

Answer 37

I bought two of these light bulbs to try and be better to the environment last week. I spent 12 or so dollars. Not bad, I thought, for being eco-friendly. However, I went home, switched out my light bulbs and 1 hour later both of my lamps broke. The light bulb made funny noises and then just cut off. I was extremely mad, those lamps were gorgeous and, I mean, what kind of karma is that? I realize now that my lamps may have not been capable of using those types of light bulbs, but still, how unfair. Just make sure you get the wattage right before you use them. Also, global warming is listed as the number one most likely cause for the end of the world. Think about that. Every little bit helps. Save your environment!

Answer 38

After using them for 20+ years....

The best way is to show people how much they save per year in the one lamp that is left on the longest.

A rule of thumb is that there are about 9000 hours in a year. At 11 cents a kilowatt hour, one watt would cost about a dollar a year. People can understand that a 100 watt bulb, used 8 hours a day would cost 100/3 = $33 a year. if that bulb is replaced by a 25 watt CFL it would save 75watts/3 = 25 a year. The bulbs cost about $2 at Costco, so they are paid for in just a few hours a day of use.

When people start to realize the cost of a watt, it makes sense. That little 7 watt night light is on for 12 hours a day so one half of 7 is $3.50 a year... LED night lights use pennies a year.

The outdoor flood lights that many people leave on all night are 150 watt x 2 = 300 watts. 12 hours a day is $150 a year. It does not seem that much at $12 a month to light up the outdoors and attract all those bugs. . . A low pressure sodium light uses 1/4 the electricity, like a cfl, but the yellow colors does not attract as many bugs and does not give off as much light polution. That is the stars are not as obscured in a city that uses Sodiums instead of the the whiter street lights. ( or people can use motion lights outside )

Creative way? Maybe like to anti smoking commercials, "knowledge is contagious."

Or, at least I hope for the world's sake, it is.

Answer 39

Give the light bulbs as gifts. An extra gift for the holidays or a gift for no occassion. Many people do not buy them because they cost more but will use them if they already have them. Once they realize how much longer they last they may buy more. They are best used in locations where the lights are on for long periods (saves more $$). Because the bulbs take several seconds to reach full brightness they may be annoying in lamps that are turned on and off frequently. Explain these aspects in a gift card so the user gets the most out of the eco friendly bulbs and is more likely to embrace the benefits.

Answer 40

Actually for every burned out bulb the government should give a dollar toward the newer more eco friendly bulbs. They should also encourage companies making the old bulbs to change over to the newer less energy consuming bulbs. But before all that does take place I saw a news flash on the CBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that revealed that the newer bulbs are more energy efficient in conserving power but are actually more energy wasteful to make and to get rid of after they expire, so what is really the saving here? Until all of the quirks are worked out maybe the new bulbs need to be refined even further. Toyota can now produce a car and the amount of waste in its production is no more than the weight of a box of table salt that weighs less than a pound. In time we will be recycling everything from light bulbs to automobiles but before we start yelling out Eureka, let's make sure that it really is the real thing and I am not talking about Coca Cola.

Answer 41

This is a no-brainer. Life is expensive in the year 2007. We have both parents out working to make a life for our children and families. We dont do it so we can spend a lot of money on things we percieve to be weird and unnecessary. We also absolutely resist new ideas and anything preachy. Your preaching about the environment makes people turn you off, much as we would the religious missionary at our door, or a salesman when were only browsing. It actually makes people fight you in their heads. Sorry if I step on your toes, but really, I am the average public. I would buy them if you could get them into Wal-Mart, right next to the regular old fashioned light bulbs, and they were cheaper. Bottom line. If they will help our world in the long run, why is someone profiting so highly from them? Shouldnt the government be giving them away? I live in a community where the Hummer is the most prevalent vehicle on the road...literally. People are selfish beings. They know sugar and fats are bad for them, yet they drive through McDonalds daily. Your eco-friendly preaching is quickly drowned out by peoples selfish needs. You cant change that. You need the government to step in and make the product available to the masses for very little money. Thats the only time that they will use it. Preaching isnt going to get you anywhere.

Answer 42

I would say that the best way would be to show them all the great benefits. Energy-saver light bulbs which can reduce lighting power bills by between 75 and 80 per cent. Phillips Energy Savers also last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs which means on average, they don't have to be replaced for 10,000 hours (i.e. every three-and-a-half years). Phillips Energy Savers are available in four shapes and range from nine watts to 23. The bulbs also come with a 12 month warranty which entitles users to a free replacement if a bulb should blow unexpectedly.

Also point fact that not only do they not have to buy light bulbs as often, which saves them money but the less energy the use the smaller their bill is.

Answer 43

CFL's Should not be Mandated. You should be Free to chose them but know the facts.



Especially, address The fraud of Global Warming which is nothing but another vailed attempt to place an international tax on the entire planet under the auspices of the UN.



The whole solar system is heating up. As it sometimes does at the bottom of the Solar Cycle. The polar caps are melting on other planets and moons too. And they have no population.



CFl's Contain Mercury 5mg in each one.



You are supposed to open windows and ventilate a room if you break one.



They produce Ultraviolet Light in a harmful spectrum.



They cause interference to ir receivers on tv's and computers.



They should never be used with electronic timers , dimmers or switchers. Yes some can be used that way but those are rf ballast types which then cause radio interference.



All that so called efficiency doesn't include the total eco costs of the capacitors wire, biphenels, plastic, arsenic in the transistors and diodes the epoxys ect.contained inside.



Light bulbs are easilly recycled these things are almost hazardeous waste.



Don't be fooled. For years we recycled our computers only to find out later they were shipping them to china in barges and burning them in open pits to get the metals out.



Don't believe anything I write here do your own research.

Answer 44

I would not recommend anyone to use these dim bulbs. I think this is more about control and less about your concern for the environment. The Socialist and Communist in this country have found a new home with the environmentalist! How much stock do you presently own in the company producing these bulbs? This scare tactic is just another way to waste our tax dollars and control our daily lives. Keep turning up the heat on global warming so you can waste these tax dollars in your life time. It is my personal opinion that you so called climatology experts can build a case for an ice age, a melt down, an atmospheric depletion or a meteor that has a 1/42,000 of a chance of striking earth in a decade. Explain to everyone why the temperature on Mars has increased at the same rate as the temperature of the Earth? Is this unknown civilization on Mars using these horrible CO2 light bulbs as well? Last time I checked there were no SUV's on Mars. Maybe we ought to purchase a new Earth friendly Sun? Again this is about control. I will keep my self informed under my Edison style 60 watt soft white CO2 bulb.

Answer 45

I rent an apartment in an area where electricity is very cheap but I still installed florescent bulbs throughout. I liked the idea of saving where I can. I found multi-packs for under $10. The biggest thing that I thought about was for every 60-100 watt light, I was only using 15. And if those lights are on for very long each day, it really adds up! That and I can't tell the difference in the light quality. The initial investment is what stops people. When you can buy a 2pk of regular bulbs for a dollar. Just think long run and how much you will save over a couple years.

Answer 46

Have Realtors combine ecofriendly light bulbs with setback thermostats to create financially observable benefits



I thought it might be nifty if realtors when telling people how much house they could afford would suggest wrapping a few hundred dollar energy savings upgrade package onto the house cost. My thought was that setback thermostats save 7 or 10 pt of energy depending on location ecofriendly bulbs are an item as well; move both those past a FVM (future value of money) calculator and it turns out to be a bunch of money (based on the setback thermostat) enough to reduce a mortgage. That's pretty amazing considering the setback thermostat is cheap. There's motivation to actually learn to use the thing as well.



Photovoltaics is an energy technology on a continuum with conservation. Pump up the realtors with moving a costlier house at a reduced mortgage with energy technology then see if it'll stretch all the way to photovoltaics. I think the dubious FVM hint here is that anything with a return better than the mortgage might be effective. I say dubious as a 15 year vs a 30 year makes these technologies look highly attractive Hmmm.

Answer 47

Intimidation? Force? insults? yikes, most of you people must be young, innocent & naive whilst being mis-informed and highly opinionated.

Flourescent lights have been around for a long time (decades and decades). They give off a shade of light that many people do not like, they flicker (even if some do not notice it). The materials inside the tube are a hazard to the environment. You want energy efficiency? Long ago factories have switched away from flourescent lights and into mercury vapor or sodium vapor lights because flourescent light uses too much energy per output of light. They are much more energy efficient than flourescent.



You all are being sold a bill of goods. Just as soon as everyone switches to these expensive, high profit margin flourescent lights you will then start to hear about how innefficient flourescent is and that you should switch to the next kind at yet a higher price.



Your incadescent lights dont last long enough compared to flourescent? Just put a voltage reducer on your light so that the incadescent light of say 60 watts only puts out 40 watts. The incadescent light bulb will last for years and years, even outdoors! And, you will save money on your bill also!!! That's because you are producing less light!!!Try putting a flourescent light outdoors in the winter!



Most of you posters remind me of lambs being led to slaughter with all this ridiculous hype about how great flourescent lamps are. For your sake, I hope the bridge salesman doesnt get a hold of ya!!

Answer 48

I think the key is education too... And I don't just mean telling people how they save energy and such, but also how to buy the right ones. Most people ARE aware of CFLs but have a bad impression of them. The number 1 complaint is the non traditional colour of the light. Look on the packaging before you buy, and ignore the manufacturer's own classification (ie "Daylight", "Clear White") because this varies between brands... Look for these markings on the packaging: 2700k - closely mimics the colour of incandescent bulbs, 4100k+ is your bright white/blue colour. It's usually on the back, in very small print, so look closely; if you use these classifications, you'll never buy the wrong colour again! Also a common complaint is that they flicker when starting cold; which although true, doesn't apply to EVERY brand. I've found some brands flicker, and some don't flicker but take 5-10 seconds to reach maximum brightness. It's all preference and from my own experience Phillips brand CFL's do not flicker like earlier generations did, while Noma and GE bulbs still tend to flicker. People need to know HOW to buy the CFLs that fit their needs because they do exist! They don't all flicker and they don't all give off a bright blue light! If you replace only your most heavily used bulbs, you'll notice a huge difference.

Answer 49

Bottom Line is Save Money, Energy & make a positive impact on the Envoirenment. I recently switched over many of the most heavilly used lights in our household to energy saving CFL's. The momentary delay (milliseconds) that occurs when you switch it on is easy to get used to when you realize the savings. I must admit I am probably the only one aware of the delay as none of the others have mentioned it. In comparison to regular "Incandecent Bulbs" of the same rating the Light Output (Lunens) is marginally lower but very acceptable.



I must give the province of Ontario credit for their efforts. They ran a program that offered an instant Cash Discount on your purchsae, NOT ONE OF THOSE "Mail In Rebates" that take forever and sometimes get forgotten or misplaced. The end result was the CFL bulbs were nearly as inexpensive as Quality Regular Incandecent ones.



As the one who pays the monthly Hydro Bill I seen a noticible decrease in Electricity Consumption. It is a little hard to gauge the exact savings since at the same time I started using them we also replaced our Furnace with a new Direct Vent model with a DC motor. I estimate the savings from the bulbs alone to be about 15 - 20% This can realyy add up in a busy household where lights are often left on in an empty room.



I encourage every one I know and talk to about Energy Conservation to make the Switch.

Answer 50

In my opinion, the only way to resolve this issue is to create an incentive for the government to pass a law of some kind that will require EVERYONE to switch from the regular bulbs, that many of us still use today, to new, environment friendly fluorescent bulbs. Off course the counter argument would be that hundreds if not thousands of people will loose their jobs. Not exactly. If government implements such a law, they will also require to halt the production of old bulbs and replace them with new ones.



I believe that this is a possible solution since the government keeps getting pressured on the issue of global warming. This is their chance to make a favorable change in our society.



Here are some interesting stats:



If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.



Use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer.



Save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime

Generate 70 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.



In addition to other quality requirements, must turn on instantly, produce no sound, and fall within a warm color range or be otherwise labeled as providing cooler color tones.



Are available in different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture, for indoors and outdoors.

Answer 51

Compact Fluorescent lamps are useful not only for the environment but also in energy conservation. You have more lumen output utilizing a compact fluorescent at half the wattage that you get from a typical A19 (Standard bulb). Depending on how you use the fixture where the lamp is being placed, whether it be on/off or even dimming, you get a return after a couple of years when you get your electric bill. Five years ago, concerns with fluorescent being too white, was an issue. Now, fluorescents, CFL's in particular, have color corrected results. You can request a warm color or a cool color CFL. But be warned that if the effect is your highest priority, the color shifts between manufacturers, lamp types, and even how you apply dimming ballasts to the fixtures. But there are ways to reduce wattage without having to use fluorescent with the use of LED. But that's a whole other topic. Just tell your friends that with CFL's they're see that they've reduced their energy bill. Help the environment, save money!!!



litespeed007

IESNA, Assoc. IALD

Answer 52

Cost vs benefits. Communicate the facts in advertisements. Yeah, the bulb costs more but it's worth it. Here's why: last longer, cool to the touch, saves money on your electric bill. And it's better for the environment. Do a break even analysis and tell them how long it will take the bulb to pay for itself.



Maybe tell them some reasons why the old school light bulb is outdated. Get some celebrity endorsements and some rappers too! Like man you still using ol' yella! Get with the new light.



Another thing, it looks different from a regular bulb. So include "replace your old bulb with this one" so people know it's the same thing.

Answer 53

The government or industry should sponsor an innovation prize that would encourage ordinary people to redesign the bulbs. The goal should be to make the bulbs: 1) Fit in normal light sockets, 2) Come on instantly rather than after a couple of seconds 3) be as bright as regular bulbs. An additional prize could be awarded for even more innovative ideas such as bulbs that act as smoke detectors, o2 sensors, or do something that no one else has thought of yet.

I have these bulbs in all my light fixtures - except the ones they won't fit into. I like how far they have come in recent years, but there is Plenty of room for improvement. I hope that LED technology will soon replace fluorescent bulbs.

Answer 54

My idea is give the big companies an incentive, a tax break , a discount , something. I believe they are the biggest wasters of all. I know when I am at my full time job I can save a liitle electricity since i am the only one here, so every night after everyone leaves I run around and turn all the xtra lights off. I believe we shouldnt need an incentive to do this , but some people need the nudge. I always try to reclye all I can when I am at home. My recycle bin is always full before my trash can. I prob should upgrade to a larger recycle bin so others dont get lazy and throw stuff in the trash! Other then that, make it so they dont have a choice, phase out the other bulbs.

Answer 55

The easiest way to start with, is show the difference on the hydro bill. The second way is to show how bright they can make a room. The third way is to drop the price by about two thirds. I know, I just made the share holders cringe, face it folks, light bulbs costing this much, on average of 5 dollars each, no matter how long they last, will NOT become popular. I am certainly concerned about the environment and doing what I can to help. I have 4 of these bulbs installed in my fixtures, and they are good, but I spent 20 dollars for them, and they better last like promised. Why, because I can buy a lifetime worth of incandescent bulbs for that amount.

Answer 56

MAKE THEM CHEAPER!



I think the major hurdle to cross is the illumination provided by these bulbs. As someone who's a photographer the eco-friendly light bulbs I've tried give off a blue hue and not enough or the full spectrum of light, where regular bulbs provide a larger range. This effects photos especially digital camera's (yes I know about setting to adjust, but this never compensates enough)! Second which bulb should we buy? They are all a little more expensive, but I've had those 3 to 5 years burn out in a year (same rate as my 65watt standard bulbs) why change? Bad lighting, hard on eyes, etc. If I had an answer to those I might give it another try.

Answer 57

I'm a marketing major at the University of Texas at San Antonio. I am only a junior so I've only had about two marketing classes thus far. but this is what I suggest.



run a series of adds on TV focused on MONEY not the bulb, getting across these concepts.



If you actively and creatively demonstrate the amount of money saved you can attract a large number of penny pincher's.



But then go for the larger market of people looking to save lots of money by CREATIVELY and REALISTICLY multiplying the amount saved...

in a 24 hour period, in a week, in a month, and lastly in one year buy the avg amount of light bulbs per house.



Demonstrate how quickly people can make the money they spent on the bulb back.



demonstrate the avg life as apposed to the cost of replacing a single bulb.



Also run a serious of adds with the light bulb around happy trees or lush ares of green grass. have flowers pop up with blooming bulbs and bulbs growing off the trees like apples. Followed with a nature friend slogan "making the world that much brighter" or something. Possibly have a guy get an idea with a regular light bulb above his head and start drawing the previously described scenarios and end with the new light bulb above his head.



Convincing the less fortunate who don't really understand the concept of investing and can't understand why they would pay 6 dollars for 3 bulbs vs. one dollar for 6 is going to be a challenge.



I would run an adds focused on Hispanics, lets say in a little town with children playing soccer on a dirt road focused on two families, One family has the new light bulbs floating on their heads and the other family has the old ones. the family that have the new light bulb do everything better. and end it with "it's more then just a bright idea". Maybe at the end they pull the bulbs that are flotting around their heads off and plug them in.



well I don't know who's reading this but you can always let me know if you like my ideas by sending me an email at hobojonny16

Answer 58

I have tried to inspire my family, but their response is always- "the light from those bulbs is so harsh and ugly." I guess change takes time and older people, or more accurately, my parents don't accept change very readily.



If companies could be more creative in producing and marketing the bulbs- that is the best way to encourage people, I think. If they make the light the bulbs give off a little more subtle and soft, they might be more appealing. Most eco-friendly bulbs I use are so harsh looking, they just aren't as warm as regular bulbs, but they are great and I still use them in most of the rooms of my house. Companies should try making them in different colors and shaped more appealing as well to suit different lighting situations, such as a dining room or fancy bathroom fixture where bulbs are more noticeable.



Perhaps a tax or energy bill credit as well as the extra savings would help- like they are now offering to people who drive hybrids.

Ok- so maybe I am not that creative with my own solutions, but I think these are good ones for the companies to consider. thanks.

Answer 59

I personally use the eco-friendly light bulbs because I hate to change light bulbs, by using bulbs that last for a very long time I have to change them less and this makes me happy. I do not do it because it is saving me $7 per year in kilowatt usage.



I'm not sure about creative, but their are simple ways to get everyone to convert to these light bulbs. As electricity becomes more and more expensive it will force people to find was of saving electricity. They will do this by seeking out more effective and efficient lighting solutions as well as many other new and innovative solutions. This is true for all eco-friendly items, they will not ever reach main stream popularity until they are economically feasible. Luckily for the environment and our pocketbooks, becoming eco-friendly is now becoming the norm, rather than the exception.



It will most likely not be possible to start a grass roots movement to get light bulbs changed to the new eco-friendly style, until people can see the direct economic feasibility. This is true in everything eco-friendly. When it makes a direct impact on the pocketbook, then it will have unparalleled popularity. Until then the initial high prices of the light bulbs are going to turn consumers away.

Answer 60

Unfortunately, the average American is driven by the almighty dollar. If you want to encourage friends and family, heck, the entire country, two things need to happen.



First. The American people need to be educated on the energy savings and the monetary savings. Whether its broken down over a monthly electric bill, their yearly savings, or the savings they will get for the life of the bulb (ie. GE states that their Energy Saver light bulbs have a life span of 8000 hours - used 4 hours per day year round).



Secondly, and probably will be the most influential, the bulbs need to become less expensive. Most people, unfortunately, are living in the here and now. When people stand in front of the display at their local grocery store or the national chain super-store, they are not thinking about how these bulbs will impact their energy bills (whether monthly, or yearly, etc.). People are thinking, hmm...should I buy the 70 cent bulbs or the $7 bulbs. It will eventually happen, these bulbs will eventually become more cost effective for the average American to purchase. But, eventually may be too late. It needs to happen sooner than later.

Answer 61

You have to create a buzz. Perhaps even spread rumors that the special light waves emitted by eco-friendly bulbs cure cancer, wrinkles and lumbago. We need a celebrity spokesperson. What's Leonard Nimoy up to these days? Is that Ready Kilowatt character still working? Product placement is the new paradigm. Can we get a compact fluorescent into a CSI episode or Family Guy? Scented CF bulbs! Cool color changing CFs. Grow the product. Publicity stunts like having the giant search lights at the Oscars use CF bulbs the size of a Volkswagen. Entertainment Tonight could cover the screwing in of the ceremonial bulb.

Answer 62

First let me say that using compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) is the quickest and easiest way to save energy (and lamp expense) as well as contributing an overall positive environmental impact. These lamps have come a long way since their inception and many if not all of the kinks have been worked out. You can easily calculate energy $ savings by comparing the wattage of the CFL to the wattage of the incandescent lamp being replaced. Without getting into a engineering explanation use the following formula for each lamp type: operating hours (this can be daily or whatever time period) X watts / 1000 X cost per kilowatt hour (kwh) (your energy company can provide this or, calculate it yourself from your electric bill). It is typical for a CFL to be 4 to 5 times more cost efficient than incandescents.Overall, typical incandescent lamps usually have a 750 hour life span with CFL's exceeding 10,000 hours. So even with the higher first cost of the lamp CFL's are much more cost efficient. A couple of things to keep in mind when switching to CFL's; 1) Make sure the lamp will fit in fixtures using shades or enclosures and 2) Do not use on a dimming circuit unless the lamp is specifically designed for this. There is a lot more info available on CFL's from various web sites. It's a wonder that power companies don't hand these out for free!

Answer 63

Make them work is what I say, they cost way too much and really do not last any longer than a conventional bulb, so where is the savings? We have been there done that, they last no longer, and we spent alot of money converting to these useless things.And anyone knows that all types of florescent bulbs use less energy once burning, but take 100 times the energy to get started burning, to the point where they are only cheaper to use if you never turn them off. Realistically the whole idea is a sales-pitch for an overpriced light bulb, nothing more.

Answer 64

When they have no more bulbs in stock and one of them finally blows out, tell them you will help them stock up enough to last a few years. Go out and buy an eco-friendly bulb and install it. THEN start telling them how the bulb will last a few years and how they save space in storage and how they will save money on their next electric bill. Continue doing it until the whole house has eco-friendly lighting.

The way I figure it, people are lazy. If you do the footwork, they will probably be ok. If you try to make them change all at once, they get overwhelmed with the cost and won't do it. But changing one bulb at a time will let them see the money difference in the bills so they will slowly ease into buying those bulbs. Finally, when one of those bulbs blow out after a few years, they will notice two things: 1) since the whole house is using spiral bulbs, it would look weird if they bought a round one, and 2) they saved so much money by that time, they wouldn't mind continuing the trend, since by then they will be thinking "I'm helping the environment afterall."

Answer 65

First, instead of blindly listening to the media about the THEORY of global warming, try doing some research. You'll quickly realize that global warming is NOT a proven fact, as so many 'experts' keep touting, including Igor, I mean Al Gore.... :)



Second, do some research to confirm that these lightbulbs are in FACT better for the environment. Sure, they may use less energy, but how much environmental damage is done making them? Also, once they burn out, is there any harm to the environment, once this bulb hits the local landfill? Has anyone checked into these (and more) questions before you swap out all your lightblubs?



Don't be a mindless lemming! I'm all for conservation, but let's make sure the solution is in FACT better.



PS - Hybrids, like the Prius, are NOT environmentally friendly! They still require gasoline, don't get much better mileage than a Corrolla, and have a highly toxic battery that needs to be replaced in less than 8 years! Again, think people!

Answer 66

Make them REALLY eco-friendly. I heard an article on the radio the other day, which stated that these bulbs cannot be discarded in the trash - they must be recycled - because they contain mercury. This is actually written on the package the bulbs come in, just in very small print, and it's not anything the promoters talk about. The makers of the bulbs are working with WalMart to come up with a recycling partnership, but so far, only Ikea will accept the bulbs for recycling. How can these bulbs be eco-friendly if there's no easy way to discard them?

Answer 67

I purchased some of the first compact fluorescent light bulbs when a rebate was offered. The problem with the original compacts was that they took awhile to "warm up" or produce the full amount of light. The way I solved the problem was to turn the compacts on before anybody showed up. Now with the newer compacts I rarely do that because I show people the difference. Today's light bulbs turn on instantly and produce maximum light right away. I also explained that the older ones were a larger than the new ones.

Answer 68

At my school, I watched "An Inconvenient Truth", and it's an amazing documentary! It really woke me up! I almost cried during it. I started asking my parents about low-flow shower heads, switching to wind energy, etc. I would hold a "Movie Night" and invite everyone I know to come see "An Inconvenient Truth". I would ask them to ask their friends, too.



Another thing to do would be to start a "chain". For example, I would buy 10 copies of the movie and send it to 10 people. Then they would watch it, buy 10 copies, and each send them to 10 more people. So many people would watch it this way! You could also just buy a bunch of copies, send them to a lot of people, and ask them to send the DVD to someone else when their done watching it. Pass along a note with the DVD that has a list of ways to help stop global warming.



1) Switch to wind energy

2) Use low-flow showerheads

3) Drive a hybrid

4) Use eco-friendly lightbulbs

5) Turn off the lights when you're not in the house

6) Dry your clothes outside to save energy



Etc....there are more listed at the very end of the movie, too. Global warming needs to be stopped and any way that we can get that will help will make a big difference, such as having everyone use eco-friendly light bulbs.



You can also give them out for free. Buy some and give them to friends. Also go to an event and give them out for free. Maybe at your "table" where you're giving out the bulbs, also have available more bulbs to buy plus a donation jar to which people can donate money to help stop global warming.



If possible, team up with a major light bulb company and try to work something out that will promote the eco-friendly bulbs (although it should also promote the company, if you want a good deal), such as having the company manufacture and advertise them, or having the company run an add for "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" lightbulbs from them.



Maybe also on April Fools Day this year, secretly buy a bunch of eco-friendly light bulbs. Then change them in the middle of the night when no one is watching. If you're a student, you could also work something out with your school. You could ask permission to change the lightbulbs in your classroom (or each classroom) by staying after school. (Of course you would have supervision and the add of a professional, such as the janitor). I know a lot of schools might say "No", but it's always worth a try! You could even make an announcment at Assembly saying that all the light bulbs in the classrooms were eco-friendly. You could even get a press release in the local paper because of it. Before you know it, a small thing can lead to something very big!

Answer 69

The "guarantee" on the life span of compact flourescent is listed as many times longer than standard bulbs, with the disclaimer of "continuous burning". Most people nowdays do not leave the lights on full time and turn them off when leaving a room. I find that, on the avereage, the pricy compact flourescent bulbs last about the same length of time - except in a few cases (seems that the earlier bulbs last longer). A case in point is that we got some flourescent bulbs 15 years ago at an "eco-expo" in Los Angeles that are still operating - while name-brand bulbs bought recently fail more often. And trying to use the "guarantee" typically cost as much as buying a new bulb. Now the third point:

Answer 70

Give the bulbs as gifts to friends and family (birthdays, holidays, gag gifts). Include a little note about the amount of money you personally saved on your utility bill by switching to an environmentally friendlier light bulb (my friend says he's saved $300 in the past year by switching all his lights to eco friendly bulbs), and the fact that the bulbs last longer than the bulbs they may now use. Or you could be the eccentric guest who brings one to your next dinner party or gathering and puts it in a lamp (I once had a guest who brought me garlic with instructions on how to eat it to improve a cold). If nothing else, it would be an ice breaker that improves the environment. After everyone is gone, the light will still be there. Once it burns out, the host or hostess may have come to appreciate the brighter light it provides. I think the shift in thinking is always quicker with a financial incentive. The government could further increase incentive by giving out a tax break of up to $300 per year to get people to switch over and gradually phase out the allowance over time as people adapt to the change.

Answer 71

About the only florescent bulbs I like are the ones they recently started selling as party bulbs , although the purple "black-light" bulb shines a very very dim purple and not worth the couple bucks in my own opinion , the best to me in this series of lamps are the red ,orange,yellow,green and blue, blue being the best on top of my favorite color, they make good accent light , but as for giving off enough light when you're reading a newspaper , forget it, florescent bulbs make my eyes go jittery .Aside from these neat novel florescent party bulbs , I can't stand them.

Perhaps even using half what the wattage of an incandescent bulb uses they might become more popular as long as they give off more and better quality lighting , but until then , good luck getting people to switch.{Love the pun there ..... switch ...}

Answer 72

1. Lead by example. Replace your own first.



2. Buy the light bulbs for them. Perhaps as holiday gifts. Perhaps no occasion. Either way, a personal note of appreciation for switching would be a nice touch. Depending on the recipient, you might include a postcard about where the bulbs were purchased and a request to do the same for their own friends.



3. Do not just emphasize the environmental benefit. I have replaced several lights with these over the years and they never seem to burn out. The cost difference is going down greatly. So, the selfish reason of practicality has a lot of substance.

Answer 73

I was at the store last night and seen a display showing how you can save with energy bulbs. It got me thinking that if the energy company would send out volunteer groups house to house and exchange every regular bulb for an energy bulb and you only had to pay a little bit for it then that would be cool. I know a lot of people hate the idea of spending more and the energy saver bulbs cost about three times what a reg bulb cost. But in saying that I think that the energy companies should give a credit for every energy bulb you have in your house. I think if they had groups willing to do community service then they would get a lot further. It may cost the energy company but they could use that as a tax write off. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Answer 74

Inform people. Most people don't realize that CFL's are available in are types of wattage and colors, from daylight white to soft yellow. They are available for dimmer and three way lights, also in the floodlights. They even have the "anti-insect" lights. I never knew this until I actually went to Home Depot and looked at all the options. I wish someone would have told me sooner.



Every time I move I always leave the CFL's in and make it a point to let the landlord know in hopes he can use that as a selling point for the next tenent.



Also more countries should follow Australia's example and require their usage. California and some other states are debating it. All we have to do is stop making the old bulbs. We would all probably still be using leaded gasoline or asbestos if it were available and cheaper, right?

Answer 75

I've used CFL bulbs since they came out when I was 18(even when renting). The first ones had to warm up to get full brightness or took a few seconds to come on (which caused people to flick the switch on a off several times). But the new ones are light years ahead;). My biggest incentive is that I am a cheap-*** that also wants to help save the world. When I bought my house 11 years ago I put in 95% CFL bulbs and still have about 70% of those original bulbs. My electric bill is usually $20-$25 when not using AC. To top it off, some of the bulbs are really hard to get to but, with CFLs, I don't have to. Nowadays you can get 60w equivalent CFLs for $1 at ACO(need to warm up though) and I have seen 5 packs of better ones for $9.97. It really bothers me when people say they don't use them because the light color is wrong (they come in many colors, some "warmer" than incandescant) or my favorite: "They are too expensive". What part about saving money do they not understand? Do thay plan on not using an incandescant after it burns out or do they think they themselves won't live longer that the bulb? Maybe they are afraid of the CFL bandits....



Anyway, I think a creative way to get friends\people to use them is to take the number of bulbs in their house that they use regularly and multiply that by $40 and Write an IOU for that amount. then decide if they want to give that amount to the electric company after 5-8 years or give it to themselves for switching from the "Dark Side". I would think after the saved money, time, and hassle, it would be a no-brainer.



Oh, and to the ones that dont think switching to CFL is enough, If everone in the country just switched one bulb, it would be the same as getting 1 million cars off of the road. My house has 30. Imaging 30 million cars off of the road. I say that is definitly something.

Answer 76

A two step process:

1. Immediately ban the production/selling of non eco-friendly light bulbs.

2. Use some government eco funds to offer eco-friendly bulbs for each non-eco-friendly bulbs turned into a collection station.



Step 1 is important because it shows that the government considers this a serious intervention.



Step 2 is important because otherwise, stores will have clearance sales before the switchover date and a large population will be using the non-eco-friendly bulbs for several years. The cost in wasted energy could easily offset the cost of replacing the bulbs.

Answer 77

2 Things.

1) How about offer a guarantee on the time they will last. Just over a year ago I spent money replacing 27 incandescant bulbs in my house. Here it is 18 months later, all but 4 have burnt out and were replaced by traditional bulbs.



2) Create a CFL light that has an instant on light. Going in and out of a room with a CFL light was a pain due to the long startup time. This time might be measured in only seconds, it is still too long compared to a standard bulb

Answer 78

1) give those bulbs away for free as a form of government or corporation's incentive;

2) give tax breaks for the usage of those "green" bulbs;

3) increase the taxes for the not so friendly energy sources, so less people and companies would buy them;

4)everyone talks about how beneficial would be the usage of "green" bulbs, but not enough is done for their distribution to more people. They should be readily available and easely recognizable everywhere;

5) most people are skeptic about the benefits of the "green" bulbs usage; the media should be more active in showing how much would the average household save per year;

6) unfortunately almost nobody believes in the terrible consequences of the Global Warming and that won't change until something irreversable happens. Human nature.

Answer 79

I don't have a very good answer to this, because although I make efforts towards using less energy, more efficient light bulbs is not one of these areas. The reason for this is that I blow out light bulbs all the time -- I seem to have a strong electric field and when I turn on light switches, it often blows the bulb out. So if I were to buy the newer bulbs, which are much more expensive, this would be a huge cost for me. Maybe if they could make the more efficient bulbs also more affordable (not just in electricity savings) more people would buy them.

Answer 80

there is no such thing as an eco friendly bulb. Just use less energy. The lightbulb companies want you to buy a more expensive bulb, just like we now pay for tv, radio and internet. anyone remember that the internet is actually FREE!!!



as for confronting global warming, when I was your age, in the 70s it was global cooling. Let's stop pretending we are that important in the full magnitude of the earth, or that switching a lightbulb is going to make a difference!!!! read below



Global cooling in general can refer to a cooling of the Earth; more specifically, it is a theory positing an overall cooling of the Earth's surface and atmosphere along with a posited commencement of glaciation. This theory gained temporary popular attention due to press reporting following a better understanding of ice age cycles and a temporary downward trend of temperatures from the 1940s to the early 1970s. At present, the dominant theory amongst scientists is that Earth as a whole is not cooling, but rather is in a period of global warming attributed to human activity.[1]

Answer 81

1) A 17 watt bulb will never put out as much light as a 60 watt bulb. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed;



2) The screw in flourescents take about 15 times as much energy to start as an incandescent, so unless you leave the flourescent on for at least 10 minutes there will be no savings- a smart combination of flourescents and incandescents is best;



3) There are many more toxins in manufacturing and discarding flourescents including the presence of mercury. How much poisioning will we see because of children playing with or accidentally breaking bulbs? Most mercury is now gone from batteries but we have now added it to the mix with these bulbs.



Keep what you have and just use them more wisely.

Answer 82

It is all at the point of sale. As long as you can get 4 light bulbs for less than one of the other, most people will take the 4. Saving money down the road is all well and good, but I can save money now by getting the 4 bulbs. Most people only get bulbs when thy need one so set a one bulb price to match the four pack of 60watts. The point is to get one in the house so people can see the light, in more ways then one. Once thy see it lasts 6x longer than the old bulbs it's an easy sale on the rest.



Every one would love to save the earth and do there small part but most people are just getting by. Cost is the big thing in the change over to these bulbs! You have to let people see the money thy will save.

Answer 83

The only way to do it, creatively or not, is to make it inexpensive and convenient. People would switch over easily as long as those two criteria are met. Additionally, those curly bulbs are just ugly, so regular shaped bulbs with different hues would be nice (okay, there's the creative part). If they last a long time, are cheap and easy to come by -- switching wouldn't be a hassle. More expensive and hard to find -- well, while I like to do the "right thing", I won't run all over town looking for a particular light bulb if there are others to be had at the store I'm already in. It's kind of like recycling. If you give me bins to deposit the recycling in at my home -- I'm happy to do it and it will become a habit. If I have to go hunt down someplace to drop the recycling -- not likely to happen very often.

Answer 84

As a public marketing service, large retailers such as Lowe's, Homedepot, Walmart, etc..could offer a 4 pack of eco-friendly light bulbs to anyone who spends more than say $30 on specific dates. The stores would get more business on those days and it will help the environment without really costing the stores much after buying in bulk. In fact, the stores will make up the cost in the increased revenue. The only way to make a drastic change is to give people a few for free. If thousands of people went home and changed out 4 bulbs, this would help in any city. Most of those people will probably buy the eco-friendly bulbs again in the future. I am an idea guy, contact me to change the world. Thanks.

Answer 85

Is evolution , " bulb 2.0 ", you rater pay 80 cents for a bulb light that is a lasting 1 year maybe less or pay 3 dollars for eco- friendly bulb light that is lasting 10 years, the rate of money efficiency is improve with266% ,and is consuming four times less energy equal 75 % discount on light energy bill. Is also more sock resistant ,with the old type of light bulbs you have a chance to don't use it at all because the filament is so fragile.

Buy it with a simile on you face.

Have a good day and bright night

ovidiu008

Answer 86

I live in Connecticut and what got me to switch was simple. The utility company subsidizes the bulbs in the 40, 60, 75 and 100 watt equivalents to sell them at Walmart for $.76 each once a year. It's a brilliant idea. At that price, there is no reason not to buy them. They save the consumer money because they last 5-7 years and use 25-30% of the electicity of incandescents. The utility saves on investing in new capacity. The environment saves on greenhouse gases. They are really perfect for use in automatic garage door lights, lamposts and outdoor lights, lamps on timers, etc. I still use an incandescent as my main reading light, but most other lights in the house are now compact fluorescents. I can't wait until LED lighting gets cheaper and better as it is even more efficient than compact fluorescents.



Call your utility. If they don't have a similar program, go to ebay and buy them there. Plenty of people buy them with utility subsidies and resell them cheaply there.

Answer 87

Eco-friendly light bulbs are a wonderful idea, I first installed them in my house 4 years ago. But they're not all that they are cracked up to be , Eco-friendly light bulbs are much more expensive than regular light bulbs, and they don't last as long. Eco-friendly light bulbs claim to last 5+ years but if you read the fine print on the package it'll say " based on usage of 3 hours per day"... Either you pay a little less for electricity or you have to buy more light bulbs more often..So where is the savings?



I live In Texas where you have to run your AC about 9-10 months out of the year, so I don't really see any significant changes to my electric bill.. needless to say as those bulbs burned out I replaced them with regular ones..



I'm not knocking the idea of the eco-friendly light bulbs , something has to give in order to see any savings ie: the price has to go down on the bulbs or the electricity...



So It's kinda difficult to answer that question when I've done a thorough trial myself and I am stumped... I hoped this has helped, and if anyone knows where I can purchase eco-friendly light bulbs cheap please let me know :-)



P.S If you've purchased eco-friendly light bulbs, there is a foolproof way of making them last 5+ years..... Don't use them (haha)...

Answer 88

A. DO NOT MAKE THE HORRIBLE MISTAKE OF ASSUMING CARBON DIOXIDE IS CAUSING GLOBAL WARMING. There is a great amount of debate in the real scientific community whether temperatures on average are rising around the globe. For the folks that think it is, they're having a very hard time proving that human-produced carbon dioxide is causing the rise they are seeing.



B. Encourage others to do their own research on global warming and not rely on propaganda



C. Regardless of eco-concerns, people will use the bulbs they want to. Whether it be to lower their utility bill, or just that they like the light out of compact-fluorescents better than incandescents for example



D. Do NOT listen to politicians RE: global warming. Or the "scientists" that met in Paris a few weeks ago. It's enough to make a real scientist weep.

Answer 89

First I would like to say that I am for the light bulbs for the energy savings and have saved much money with them. But to people switch I would say to first make a better energy savings bulb.



On the package they claim 7 years or x amount of hours. Unfortunately I am not getting half of the claims. Although it still saves me money.



2 times I have replaced an energy saving bulb that has a melted casing. One such time had me running around the house looking for what spelled like an electrical fire. It was not a fire but the light bulb casing was melting. Although I feel if I would have changed the dead lightbulb sooner it may not have melted.



The energy savings alone should help people switch but there are also other concerns such as....They don't work with dimmers. I use dimmers in many areas of my house and cannot get energy saving bulbs as replacements. If there was something that could be developed to control the amount of light I believe that would help as well.

Answer 90

6 months ago I was taking an Enviromental science class and this topic had came up. What the teacher used was the data showing how much a regular light bulb takes in energy for so long and then how much energy an eco friendly light bulb takes up for that same amount of time. (Kwh) Kilowatt hour



He then took that data the lights gave, times what the power company was charging per watt hour and It all came out to showing us that the Eco Lights saved money compared to the regular lights.

Then he showed us the life span of the bulbs and explained that the eco friendly bulbs do not give off heat, inwhich the regular bulbs do. That heat is considered an energy waste or something like that.



He then went on to explain that if you show consumers that they can be saving money by switching, Then it is a good motivator.

Answer 91

I hate to burst the bubble of all you eco-religious, pagan earth worshippers but most people know that man-made 'Global Warming' is nothing but a ruse. But you may ask, why is the media trumpeting it to such extremes then? The answer should be painfully obvious. To bring the 'ignorant' citizens under the control of the rich and powerful elite (mankind has been doing this for decades). Why, they are already discussing a WORLD WIDE carbon tax. Imagine the money Al Gore and the UN would get if they were in charge of such a program. I'm sure the UN gets a real kick out of your ignorance (as it will fatten their wallets as never before). Hey will the cows be taxed too?



Also, the eco-religious HATE technology and progress. First it's 'eco-friendly' lightbulbs, next it's no power 'wasted' on light at all (let's all use 'natural' light, the sun! No more greedy light at night unless it involves candles). In other words, forget the ingenious creativity of mankind, let's all become like purposely ignorant, cavemen. If you want an example of 'eco-friendly' look to the poor in places like Afghanistan. Go live there if you're so concerned about the planet. I bet you wouldn't last one week. (And the earth isn't 'being saved' because some starving children and parents in the middle east doesn't have the money to afford electricity much less own a 'eco friendly lightbulb').



I look for my barf bag everytime some supposed 'I'm saving the planet' individual preaches 'eco friendly cars or lightbulbs etc...'. You can almost see the vile pride seeping from their pores. The eco-religious get a real high off their 'holier than thou' feeling from their snobbery of telling others how they believe in digging through their garbage and sorting it and using inferior technology all to 'save the planet'. Newsflash earth-worshippers, God created this planet and there is nothing you can do to 'save it'. We are to be good stewards of this planet but we are not to turn it into an idol of worship like the tree-huggers do. So, to all you earth worshippers, give up your phony quest to 'save the world' because Christ already did that by dying on the Cross. God created this planet and the laws of nature and His hand still guides and protects it. In Revelation it says He will destroy, that's right, DESTROY this planet you are so interested in 'saving' to create a New Earth. Does this explain how futile your efforts to use inferior 'eco-friendly' lightbubs are?



"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." Revelation 21:1



"The former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Isaiah 65:17

Answer 92

Make the bulbs suck less:



A. Light output is never as bright as claimed by the manufacturers (if you want the ACTUAL brightness equivalent of a 40 watt regular bulb, you'll need a compact florescent RATED at 75 watt equivalent),



B. Whatever output you do get you have to wait several minutes for (meanwhile you may as well light a match),



C. Bulb longevity claims are only valid for bulbs left on 24x7 - bulbs used in a normal household that are switched on and off several times a day last no longer than regular bulbs (if that - I've seen some fail in minutes, others in hours), and



D. Very few bulbs available for 3-way fixtures (and those that are available are very expensive).



Bottom line - they work OK for hotel hallway light fixtures that are left on all day, every day where light quality and quantity aren't an issue, but cost (and labor for bulb replacement) is. I've got them installed throughout my cottage wherever they can be installed, but they're not a reasonable alternative to regular bulbs (and Beautiful Wife(tm) hates them). Look at them the same way you'd look at purchasing a hybrid car - if it makes you feel better, go ahead, but realize you'll never get any actual savings overall vs purchasing existing proven technologies for equivalent performance and convenience..

Answer 93

I am more concerned with global cooling than I am with global warming. This winter weather has been brutal! Which is why I think all of us should leave our vehicles running at night, so that we can change the weather. An eco-friendly light bulb? The only eco-friendly light bulbs are the ones that are never made, and never switched on. If we really want to get serious about global warming, we should be talking about a gradual extinguishing of the sun. This is not as far-fetched as it sounds. A recent study suggests that sunlight reflected off of bodies of water on the earth and back towards the sun actually enhance the sun's coronal forces, making its surface temperatures 200-300 degrees centigrade hotter than if the earth were just a barren, waterless planet. The remedy is obvious; governments of the world must unite to solve this vexing problem. Resources from sales of hybrid vehicles and organic food could be used to fashion enormous ocean covers made from hemp.

Answer 94

There are so many answers to this question, my answer here is irrevelant, I know, but why is it ordinary people can ask these questions all day, and all they get are a bunch of flak, and weirdos putting them down? You get a "special person" or a celebrity to ask one of these questions, and hundreds turn out! There are always so many answers that the question is lost in the fray! What difference does it really do anyway? If a celebrity asks a question, and people answer it like good little pavlov's dogs, then no one does anything, and everything gets forgotten, what good is it?



I guess for the lightbulb situation, I would have to say, to inspire my friends and family to buy them, I would have to contact all the new light bulb makers and convince them to somehow lower the price. My family, friends and I are BROKE! I know that is a lame excuse, but when you go to the store, and you ONLY have five bucks to buy lightbulbs, and just one of the new eco friendly light bulbs is nearly ten bucks around here, what are YOU gonna buy? Especially so when nearly all the stores here don't sell them singly, they sell them in packs of three for $20.00. I don't have that kind of cash, I spend like a buck on a pack of three lightbulbs. I just went through this recently. I had to buy bulbs, I went to the store, and I REALLY wanted to buy the new eco friendly ones, but they were too expensive, and I didn't have enough money, so I had to resort to the old kind. None of these environment saving new devices and technology are going to solve the earth's problems unless everybody, even the poorest of the poor, can switch to using them, and still be able to buy food and medicine.

Answer 95

Aside from the electrical cost savings, long life, more environmentally friendly, less pollution from lower power generation needs, and being safer (less heat), these bulbs produce so much less heat that in mid-summer it is much more comfortable in your home to have fluorescent compact bulbs - as your home will be cooler!

(I learned this at 11 P.M. in Silicon Valley when it was 89F and I didn't have air conditioning! - I literally could not stand to have an incandescent bulb operating!)



For anyone not a believer, especially who reads in bed - try changing - it is a very inexpensive change, a pack of 6 costing under $10, the light quality is excellent, the ballasts (I've used) have been engineered to be perfectly quiet - and these s a comfort factor you will appreciate when you don't feel the heat produced by the lamp!



Finally - "Think Globally - Act Locally" - each small act makes a difference - Make a Difference - for your future and the future of the children of the world.

Answer 96

The state of CA has a measure pending that will ban incandecent light bulbs by 2012. Ontario Canada is also considering this measure. Australia has already done so. I think education is the key. I am amazed at how many bulbs you can have lit and it uses less energy than 1 light bulb combined. A 7Watt floresent that equals a 65Watt incandecent, amazing. We have already started to convert over and have done all of them we currently can, but have run into an issue. Some of the bulbs are not dim-able and I have many lights that, if not dimmed, would be way to bright. I am hoping they can iron some of these issues out. They do sell dim-able florescents,, but not available in the type of bulb I currently have in the ceiling canisters. THey are improving on the "green" effect so the light these bulbs are giving off are better than they used to be. I would prefer that the light in my house not look like a cheap Chinese restaurant. We can't wait to be able to convert them all. I love the idea of giving them as gifts! GET THE WORD OUT!

Answer 97

I am not sure if anyone has mentioned this but there is a vast problem with eco-friendly lights. They do not fit on lamps that have shades or recessed lighting that has a cover or the eco bulb protrudes out. Rather than forcing people to use lights that really make very little sense to use, I would encourage the industry to make better bulbs that fit or lamps that will fit the eco bulb. Right now you want people to fit the square bulb and use them on things that are round.



I bought a pack of eco bulbs and they are sitting in my garage. They do not fit in my recessed lighting and no lamp shade can go over them. My lighting outside the house with a cover also cannot close if I have that type of light. The only place I found for one is in the garage and the only way it fits is because I thought it looked somewhat ok to have a bulb in the garage without the cover that is suppose to go on it.



Very disappointing.

Answer 98

I think the way to encourage people to use eco-friendly light bulbs is if for the manufacture to make a 3 setting light bulb. And make ecofriendly lightbulbs that dim. Lots of people have dimmers on the light switches and you simply can't replace that bulb with those. Plus, my lamps say that it is dangerous to use a lightbulb that isn't 3way.



So! when the technology becomes better then I will switch all my lights. I have the ones I can switched now. But they arn't the ones I use most often.



I also think that if they were the same price as the other bulbs then it would be more likely for people to switch. Thats why most people I talk to that don't switch don't do it.

Answer 99

I have a problem with this. Fluorescent bulbs are not a perfect answer. I personally use them in certain rooms, but I get serious migraines from sitting around them after a long time (more than an hour) and I know of others who have epileptic seizures triggered from them. So what about us with medical issues? Are we going to be unable to have any alternatives? Back to oil lamps and candles?



ALSO, the lighting is not the same even though it claims to be (lumens/watts). The 100 watt equivalent fluorescent bulb sticks out of my bathroom fixture lamps much higher than the old ones ever did and look UGLY. I had to add an extra light to my bathroom to make up for the light lost from the fluorescent.



AND what about the chandelier fixtures/ceiling fans and such that they do not make alternative bulbs for? I have yet to find any 25 watt candle flame shape bulbs on the market.

Answer 100

In 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' Stanley Kowalski's wife Stella tells her sister Blanche about how Stanley went around the apartment smashing lightbulbs with his shoe on the night of their wedding. What was (or wasn't) done in the past may not always have bearing on how people deal with the present or future, but if anything, Tennesse William's did have a creative way to inspire a startlingly exciting honeymoon.

Still... Aggression and Environmentalism may otherwise seem mismatched, but if 'bulb-busting' became a traditional marriage ritual, then finally something other than families and guests could get smashed following weddings... for a change.

Besides, on a long enough timeline, regardless of divorce or production rates, or the actual or perceived state of natural, economic, or social environments, or whether a bright idea may obfuscate to be completely ironic, irrational, or merely counter-intuitive, eventually, it may be that eco-friendly bulbs are the only ones that end up getting busted or screwed in a selfish world where there is more to rejigging filaments than meets the eye.

Answer 101

Sounds great in theory...but it needs more work.



It would be really simple to motivate friends, family, and clients to switch...if the same amount of effort used to create the eco friendly light bulbs, was also used to create a light that didn't make everything look like it is washed out and pink.



If a color coating needs to be placed on the light tube, in order to create the color it currently has...why not take a little bit more time, and create a bulb that gives off a more pleasing source of light?



When considering that people spend thousands on their home furnishings and decor, how can they be expected to use a bulb that makes their home look like a flea market or a garage? Clothing stores, and furniture stores can't use them either, because it changes the color of the fabrics and wood tones, and the list goes on...



If it comes to the point of banning the old type of bulb before the new version is perfected...I'll simply import them from somewhere else, or stock up on about 10 years worth of bulbs so I can enjoy my home and workspace until things are looking prettier with eco friendly light bulbs.



Can't wait to make the switch when the better version is put on the market!! :-) Put on your thinking caps, bulb makers...



Peace.

Answer 102

I work for a lighting company and the best way to convert people is to simply use lam-en terms for example, a 4watt florescent produces the same light as a 25watt incandescent and last 10000 hours compared to a 25watt incandescent which may be rated for 5000 hours. So you see less power consumption and double the life with a florescent when compared to a standard 25watt light bulb at walmart. It is simply a no brainer. Also for all who are reading this and know little about florescents pay close attention to the K rating. This is the color of the light it puts out for example a 2700K florescent is yellowish in color when compared to a 4100K which is a brilliant white when compared side by side. So you don't need a 100watt florescent for more light just upgrade the color of the one you already have and you will be surprised at the difference. That is one reason people don't like florescents because of the dreaded yellowish light. I have now educated all on this subject and have provided enough info for you to decide. One other tip for all of us who have dimmers in our houses. They do make florescent bulbs that will dim just be sure to check that it is a dimmable type and enjoy.

Answer 103

Energy-saver light bulbs which can reduce lighting power bills by between 75 and 80 per cent. Phillips Energy Savers also last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs which means on average, they don't have to be replaced for 10,000 hours (i.e. every three-and-a-half years). Phillips Energy Savers are available in four shapes and range from nine watts to 23. The bulbs also come with a 12 month warranty which entitles users to a free replacement if a bulb should blow unexpectedly.

Answer 104

If there was a way to convince the government to give those who buy and use the light bulbs a tax-deduction I think the sales will increase. It is sad that you have to coax people into these thing by offering money, but that is the only way that some people will change.



Also, i think it would be great for television networks(CBS,NBC,ABC....) to air "An Inconvienant Truth". Although the movie may be a little borring it will catch the viewer and make them catch on.



Finally a great way to get people to findd out about Global Warming is to go to Stopglobalwarming.org (wow that sounded like an advertisment didnt it, its not) This website gives you all of the facts about global warming and how to stop it. To spread the word of this website, again i go back to TV because they are in the house of most americans, make comercials and show the people the devestating facts. When it comes to somthing like this they dont need to 'beat around the bush" they need to almost scare the poeple watching into doing somthing to help. I know that sounds bad but that may be the only way to get people to notice.

Answer 105

Global Warming is true... it's happening, but as of today no one has show prove that global warming is cause by men. The reason why I came to this question from the main page is because I though it was an article about saving fosil fuel because of the price. That said, I think that to conserve energy is one of the most important things we should do as a generation, second to paper re-cycling. But to try to stop Global Warming is as naive as to say that we need to stop a volcano from errupting, or a hurracain from strike any particular coast line. Manipulation of data like Al Gore's movie is not cientific nor responsible. We accept and know that it is happening, and if you accept that we don't know the cause we can work toghether into saving fosil fuel because of the price, and because is coming mostly enemy countries. We need to save the trees. That's why I don't buy the news paper anymore; because I know that at the rithm we are cutting trees, we are going to damage the climate even more than global warming. Earth is been warming up for millions of years. (Long before I bought my Hummer) We need to save the whales, and the dolphins, and the manaties... But if they disapear from the earth... So what! Human are not going to die, get sick, or hunger for it. We can always take good pictures, and DNA samples for future generations. After all we probably know more about dinosaurs than people that were eaten by them. In my opinion we should come out clean and help each other fight the right wars. Convincing others of a science problem as a fact when there are not cientific prove is not just wrong but also irresponsable regardless of how many people agree of it.

Answer 106

Using a 60 watt eco-friendly light bulb is comparable in energy consumption as using a regular 15 watt bulb. You cannot tell a lighting difference between a soft eco-friendly bulb and a standard bulb. You don't have to replace the eco-friendly bulb as often because they last for five years. They are now relatively inexpensive--we got ours at the hardware store for about $0.99 each. If we all use less energy, we can help in reducing global warming--we won't need all those coal energy plants and their emissions. I believe common sense and telling of a better, more efficient and less expensive way is the best way to inspire others.

Answer 107

In October 2006 I replaced all my incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs that I bought from Lowes. Between December 2006 and January 2007, 50% of the fluorescent bulbs failed. They were 3 times the cost and only lasted 1/20 of the stated life span on the package. Before I buy any more fluorescent bulbs I will have to wait until the product longevity improves significantly. I replaced the burned out fluorescent bulbs with incandescent bulbs.

Answer 108

My electric bill went from around $110 a month to $80 a month after beginning to switch. The cost savings are real, rapid, and it's instant money back in your pocket. I recommend phasing them in by buying various brightness bulbs in bulk (the bulk packs really bring the per item cost down). As the current bulbs burn out, replace them. It has become almost a ritual in my house as we "remove the old style lightbulb for the last time from this socket". The key to cut costs immediately was to completely replace ALL the bulbs that are used as 'always on' lamps or night lights. Those couldn't wait for a burn-out of the old bulbs. So you know- even floodlight varieties are available, and these outside lights were one of the primary energy hogs.



Again, don't buy individual bulbs, and if you give them away- only buy the large bulk packs. This way, the cost savings could be instantly seen within the next 2 electric bills.

Answer 109

Actually, I can not think of any unless this is an idea. From my point of view, CFC bulbs (and yes, we do use them some) give me a headache. I also like the yellow light from the incandescent better for most purposes. What I have found that works is to put one 100 watt incandescent and one (100) watt CFC in my fixture and the two outputs blend and I do not get a headache. So I am saving a bit, and do not have a problem with the head and eyes.



And with the longer period of daylight 'saving' time this year, we will be using the lights more this spring and next fall since we are early morning folks, so the minor savings may help.

Answer 110

You need a point of presense in the stores that carry your item. That can best be done with a display. Maybe something that gets right to the point, visually, about why everyone shopping there should buy the eco-friendly bulb vs. the traditional bulbs. Something that demonstrates how much time will pass before they have to buy another one or how many traditional light bulbs it will take to equal one eco-friendly bulb, or reduction in power usage...so on and so forth.



If you truely feel that word of mouth is the way to go...then make sure that your marketing plan shows about a 20 year timeline to hit it's optimum goal.



You need to change peoples minds at the time of purpose. Impulse them, in a sense. If the product is far superior than the competition, then you will have a great number of core return buyer along with a certain amount of 'churn' consumers.



If these ideas interest you, contact me at [e-mail]

Answer 111

1. Get even more publicity out on how much money they save on your monthly utility bill.



(They also make it easier to run your home on solar energy or wind power a bigger percentage of the time & can save you even more when you do that.)



2. Instead of banning the old incandescent bulbs, simply tax them a bit, perhaps 5%. But then increase the tax each year until it reaches at least 100 % & doubles their cost.



And, have every goverment in the country from Federal to Cities -- & every Utility -- subsidize the purchase of energy efficient lights.



3. Accelerate with venture capital & intial subsidies the development of the energy efficient light bulbs that make complete switching to them make sense.



As of now, LED light bulbs that may be better than compact fluorescents fo some uses are close to being available. Help make them available everywhere ASP.



Incandescent bulbs offer flood lights & bulbs that fit virtually all exisiting light fixtures & MANY different sizes.



They also fit lamps with 3 way, 3 levels of illumination, switches.



So far energy efficient light bulb makers do not.



So, speed up that change.



GE's compact fluoresents do now get to full illumination much faster than the ones I initially bought else where.



And, I understand you can now buy compact fluoresents that will work with dimmer switches.



If those kind of developments are dramatically speeded up & effectively sold to users, that will help a LOT.



4. Please forward my last answer to GE c/o their CEO. I've read that he has made increasing the number of green products they sell by Billions of dollars & such developments would be a natural for GE & sell well.



But I haven't time currently to do that.



Best Regards,



David Eller

Answer 112

The only way to get people to switch is to offer an advantage through switching: namely selling the eco-friendly bulbs at a lower price than the regular bulbs. Humans are voracious consumers and we have a consumer-driven society. As well meant as individuals are about global warming, few will ascribe to a altruistic, self sacrificing lifestyle, especially for a nebulous cause, such as global warming. This was seen last year during the gas price spike; enslaved by middle eastern oil and losing soldiers in brutal terrorist combat, americans faced with 3 dollars a gallon gas actually used MORE gas. You didnt see any environmentalists or war protesters walking. Personal desires and comfort are the driving force in our country, principles are hollow references conveniently presented during political debates. The selfishness of human nature will prevent anything tangible from ever saving our ecosystem. Although well meant, it will fail.

Answer 113

I feel like (1) bulb should be sent out via postal mail to people by the company as a demonstration bulb. I truly believe this would convert at least 75% or more people. I know that I kept staying with my General Electric 100wt. bulbs for years for their brightness because of the winter blues. I saw the new bulbs, but did not think there was enough difference in them to pay a little more and buy them because of so many other companies coming out with bulbs I have tried in the past claiming that they were brighter. However, my Daughter had these eco-friendly bulbs in her home when I walked in one evening. I could not believe what a difference! I felt a wonderful energetic feeling the whole time I was there and we had the best visit than we had had in a while! I made the statement in front of my Husband that I would love to have these bulbs through-out our home. Two days later he comes home with a bag full of bulbs to go through-out our entire home.

I wouldn't have anything else and am willing to purchase a few bulbs just for other relatives to try. I know if they could see and feel the difference, they would absoluty convert to these bulbs!!!

Answer 114

I'm not sure whether people realize it or not, but there are two problems which need to be corrected and then there would be no reason not to switch.....



First..... the existing technology does not allow for the bulbs to be controlled by a dimmer switch which I see as a major drawback.....



and Second..... I don't care what the small print says on the package..... the bulbs cause interference.



Fix those two issues and switching would be a no brainer.



Of course, in our capitalistic economy, once that happens, the consumer will see very little of the savings because the price will go up and the utilities will also adjust their rates to make up for the lessening of kilowatt hours charged on the average consumers bill.

Answer 115

I think the largest issue is the cost differential. I see in our local Wal-Mart and 3 pack of 60W bulbs for about $3, but 1 15W (60W equivalent) is about $3-$5. If the cost of the Eco friendly bulbs would be the same I think more would be willing to buy them.



I know that over time they will pay for themselves, but most average people are looking at the upfront cost.



I have started using some, but have been disappointed with the floods for outdoor lighting. When it is cold outside it takes 5-10 minutes for the gas to heat up and the light to bEcome bright.



I have a lot of recessed lighting in my basement and as the r20 bulbs burn out I am going to replace with eco friendly.



Just thought I would share my experiences. Hopefully some of the manufacturers of these receive these comments and make adjustments.

Answer 116

The Canadian Government up here is helping. Just before Christmas, they introduced a program, that with a coupon located with the bulbs, gave you 5 bucks off for any 3 pack of energy bulbs right at the point of sale. No mail ins etc. Canadian Tire also decided to sweeten the deal. They offered 50% off all 3 packs. You paid 7 bucks / 3, then took another 5 bucks off. So, for 2 bucks you got 3 fluorescent energy efficient bulbs. Do the stores in the USA do great things like this for their people?

Answer 117

Why in the world would I try to "inspire" anyone to use the compact light bulbs? They don't light the room well at all which will make me buy more lights which make me use more energy( Kinda like how the 1 gpf toilet now takes 2 flushes instead of one). Secondly, those lights are more expensive the the "Thomas Edison Light Bulbs". Lastly, since I am not a Communist or a Fascist I don't really care what kind of bulb they use. If they want a great light at a reasonable price and are willing to pay for the energy costs, I say more power to them. Light them away!!!

Answer 118

I live in the #2 State on the list that has been active in conserving and preserving our environment. The Stores that sell light bulbs like Home Depot & Wal-Mart in my neighbohood, keep them located in visible areas of the store, not hidden in some back ilse where you can't find them. All other stores should follow this example.

I have had 1(one) night light on 24/7 because of the area. I have not had to buy another one for 2.5 years. This can catch someones attention alone.

I do understand why people are hesitant to purchase these light bulbs. The cost is a bit more per bulb, and the proof of legitiment reasons to change out the "old fashion type" bulbs. Kind of like the old type of refrigerators etc.

I inspire my friends through my "actions".

I also have a patent to conserve water also.



One other way to is too have incentive programs in the schools. Offer these light bulbs to Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts and other Youth Organizations to sell, instead of, or with the cookies and candy that they sell to raise money.

Answer 119

The best way to get people to switch is to not do what Ontario Hydro did in 1991 and send people coupons in the mail and designating October as "power smart month" they promoted these bulbs that were new at the time and other products that could help save energy .And the next spring they announced that it worked ! Power consumption did go down because of their promotion.They said it worked so well that Ontario Hydro didn't make enough money and would have to raise their rates because of it .That was a real insult to the residents of Ontario who went out and did something positive for the environment and in return were penalized for it.Laws need to be enacted to prevent power companies from raising rates because people want to be eco-friendly.Now on a lighter note you could have an easter egg hunt and each one contains a compact fluorescent bulb!

Answer 120

There's most likely a lot of little things everyone can do to inspire those around them to use eco-friendly light bulbs that, when added up can make a much greater impact than just doing one thing:



The next time the topic comes up, just explain that you just purchased a bunch of eco-friendly light bulbs for only a dollar-fifty each !!!!!! (they are normally about 7 dollars each). And this is just to start the conversation (which you are more than welcome to start yourself). Even if you can't find them at that cheap of a price, the bulbs can be purchased from regular retailers at a discount using coupons that are usually available with the bulbs! Also explain how you can't remember the last time you had to change one of the new bulbs (they last for years).



You can also save articles about the bulbs from manufacturers, as well as magazine, newspaper, and printed internet articles, and leave or post them around the house, the refrigerator, coffee table, wherever you regularly sit and read, and message boards.



OK, that illuminates the house and educates your family. But how about your community? Again, there are probably a lot of little things you can do that, when added up, would probaly make a much greater impact than if you just did one thing. Here are only a few examples of what one person could do to make a big impact:



Find out when the next earth day celebration is, then find out if there will be reps from the manufacturers of eco-bulbs attending, and if not, find out why and see if you can encourage an exhibit to be shown if there isn't one already in place.



get a vanity plate for your car: ECOBULB

OK, that might be stretching it, unless you sell or manufacture the bulbs.



Invite an expert to have a workshop, conference, or booth, at your your local library, conference center, or next home show.



Show your friends your savings on your electric bill.



See if you can get your state or provincial government to ban the wasteful incandescent bulbs. Hey, it worked for Australia, right?



Find out how to properly dispose of the bulbs when they do, at long last, burn out. That might even convince those critics who say that the bulbs are harder to dispose of than incandescent. Does your community have a hazmat day?



These suggestions as well as all the great and sometimes funny ideas suggested here add up to a great way to get everyone to go in the right direction for our and our planet's future.

Answer 121

Well if you have the resources you can enlighten everybody by making an animated advertisement/commercial on the topic... usually the big cute eyes will be your focus, why? because the eyes can further distinguish what's good and not for its vision... a character can show an easily tired eyes during study activities and the other still having time to chat or answer puzzles.

Light green and pale white will be the good colors to use.

If it doesn't work well just show everybody the light consumption bills.

The problems on climate change is really a grave one, sadly but true, no sincere focus especially in government (I mean policies and implementations) has been uphold to a level that every individual's move would will have a dramatic impact for our younger generations future.

Answer 122

Personally, I believe that most people will not make the switch until the CFL's are cheaper than standard bulbs (through a tax on the standard ones or something), or The standard bulbs are no longer available. We've switched our entire house over and it was the best thing we have ever done... Granted, some of the bulbs were less than bright in the beginning, but the newer ones are much better and I feel like I'm helping make a difference.

Answer 123

build 2 houses identical one with bulbs of low energy use and one without.

Turn the lights on equal and let people see. Then get complicated with Bills prices and Energy use. My house is almost totally florescent now. My front pour ch light is not it takes to long to be come bright. but I replace all the inside lights dropped my bill some but there are so many other energy hogs like this PC monitor I'm using. People want to help but we all get lazy. Buy a friend one if your truly concerned. I have never replaced one yet in over a year. Every time an old one goes out I get an Energy saver. I dream of going green but it seems to complicated for the average person. When my electrician can just unplug me from the grid and plug me into something better I will be very happy.

Answer 124

Stop bugging them and point to the electric bill. If this doesn't help, then you've done all you can. Eco-friendly light bulbs aren't going to make much of a difference in the life of the planet anyway.



They're not so eco-friendly to make, especially because they require lots of manufacturing steps and come primarily from China where industrial heat comes primarily from low-grade coal. And residential lighting is about the smallest portion of an electric utility's load. Industrial lighting is already as efficient as it's going to get; most of our power goes for heating and cooling of buildings and the driving of machinery for industry. Both of these technologies are pretty much optimized by this time.



Oh: don't try to use compact fluorescents in touch lamps, or with light dimmers. They won't work well at all.

Answer 125

Mostly to save on energy bills that are extremely rediculous. Also save the environment, supposedly lasts longer, and they come in all wattage ranges for bright light to low light. They are also harder to break than regular bulbs, and i also think they are less of a fire hazard. I also like the designs, they should start making other colors, if they have not already. In the future they should be put in automobiles, so that the energy generated from the dome light does not feed off the battery as much. All around these bulbs are an A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Answer 126

I do not try to get anyone to use those light bulbs. They are a complete waste of money.. they say they last 5 years or 7 years.. 3 out of 5 i bought and put in my house stopped working after 3 months. That is a waste. I mean pay 3 to 7 bucks for the light that last 3 months so i get no savings. Or pay 1 buck for a 4 pack of normal bulbs and they last a year. Until the "Eco-friendly" bulbs last as long as they say i will not encourage or use them.

Answer 127

About a year ago I replaced six traditional light bulbs with the spiral florescent bulbs. They cost a lot more than traditional bulbs but claimed to last much longer. One year later I've had all but one of these eco-friendly bulbs stop working. In that same time I've only had to replace one traditional bulb.



In my experience the claims that eco-friendly bulbs last longer is deceptive and untrue. The bulbs I purchased did not last even half as long as all my traditional bulbs.



Perhaps if these bulbs were built in a way that they did last long enough to help compensate for their much higher cost people would start using them. I suspect many people will try them once like I did and then switch back to regular bulbs when the new type do not live up to their claims.

Answer 128

Well I'm not a Global warming nut, But I can tell you this. I switched to these lights on my two strips of track lights. These are very good on conserving energy, especially when you live in a Borough that is not regulated by a utility commission. The electricity rates these days along with oil prices are skyrocketing, and these bulbs do make a difference. In a country where we are paying an arm and a leg for utilites to keep us warm in the winter, getting the message across where it will matter to families the most, (in the checkbook) is definately the route you want to go!

Answer 129

Forget creativity folks. Imho, we need to be doing what is pragmatic and will work. Instead of waiting until it's the concensus 'cool' thing to do, JUST DO IT!



I would simply offer a taxbreak of some kind on the purchase of energy efficient bulbs... In perhaps 2-3 years, I would by law phase out the use of energy sapping light bulbs, and would eventually phase out the tax break, perhaps after another 2-3 years.



So, in say 5 years, America could have definitively altered the way we light things, saving ourselves billions a year in wasted money (and the resources it bought).. Pour back some of those savings into helping affected businesses adapt during the process, and that's about it.

Answer 130

The best way to inspire is to have some corporate have a promotional package, so that people can start choosing the eco-friendly light bulbs. Thus eliminating the use of the ordinary light bulbs. If not, then show-off. Tell friends, look how bright my home is and this is my low monthly bill because I use them. Something to that nature, therefore if they see benefits to them, they will begin using them. Perhaps to save money rather than the environment, yet the purpose is still being fulfilled, saving the environment for our future generations.

Answer 131

If the light bulb depicted is supposed to be more eco-friendly than a regular incandescent bulb, then whomever started this forum should be aware of the life cycle costs of disposal of fluorescent bulbs despite their energy savings. Do you know how harmful the inside contents of a fluorescent bulb can be? This is the same argument that we should return to atomic power---yes it consumes less in the way of fossil fuels which produce greenhouse gasses, but where do we put the waste? The US government hasn't found a place since the idea of containing it in Yucca Mountain was voted down years ago. Lower energy consumption has to be balanced with ecologically safe disposal costs for a true eco-friendly picture.

Answer 132

I know nothin' from creative, but if people realise an advantage by switching from incandescent bulbs to fluorescents --or even better -- lcd's, then everybody will 'switch'.



Same amount of lumens for less than half the energy cost is the promise of fluorescents (and fluorescents throw off way less heat -- a good thing in hot weather anyway). But to realise the savings is the answer to the problem of getting people to switch, and some of those $5 curly-cue bulbs I've purchased didn't even last a year, let alone five. Maybe the problem is quality control. Maybe fluorescents need a cleaner power source. Who knows? But the promised savings by using fluorescents instead of incandescent bulbs isn't a reality in my experience.



When it's obvious that buying fluorescents saves money everybody will buy them, but not until then.

Answer 133

I would love to use eco-friendly light bulbs in my home. However, they burn out too quickly. Upon purchasing my first home, I purchased eco-friendly bulbs for the entire house. They all burnt out within the first year, most within the first six months. If it could be demonstrated that these bulbs will last at least as long as incandescent bulbs AND that they will reduce energy consumption, then I would be inspired to give them another try.



Set up a bulb in a working location, such as a fire station, and burn it non-stop. Set up a website on which people will be able to view the burning bulb as well as its energy consumption compared to incandescent bulb. There is an incandescent bulb, that can be viewed online, which has been burning for over one hundred years. To duplicate such a feat is not practical, however, to duplicate the scenario is a cheap and creative way to demonstrate the longevity of the new technology.

Answer 134

A creative way is to appeal to their pocket book. When I changed to the eco friendly bulbs I noticed a drop in my electric bill and now that the cost of purchase has come down and they last so much longer it now is not only good for the environment but also makes economic sense to switch to the new bulbs. When I turn on my frequently used lights now it gives me a good feeling to know how little it is costing me. Once family and friends are clued into this I think they will feel a lot better about protecting the enviroment too.

Answer 135

I think first you have to explain the difference in energy usage of an incandescent versus the compact. The incandescent draws current all the time while the compact draws only half the time.

The biggest hurdle is that the compact puts out a softer "cooler" light and is a different color than an incandescent.

A major selling feature is that I can get 75 watt compact that uses the energy that a smaller wattage incandescent would use thus saving electricity.

I work for a nationwide homebuilder and allot of the homeowners are concerned about energy costs so I push the compacts. I am using one in the lamp in my room right now.

Answer 136

It's simple. Think of it this way, a normal Incandescent Light Bulb uses 90 percent of energy to produce 10 percent of light. However an Eco-friendly Light Bulb (such as an LED Light Bulb) uses 10 percent of energy to produce 90 percent of light. These Eco-friendly bulbs may seem expensive at initial cost, but they also last 100 times longer than a standard Incandescent Light Bulb or 10 times longer than a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb. In the long-run the LED Light Bulb costs less money to operate. Even if you can only afford to buy one at a time, you will eventually fill your home with them and save bundles valuable energy that our Earth needs as a whole.

Answer 137

I switched to eco friendly light bulbs about 5 to 6 years ago and I haven't had to change ANY light bulbs since. They last so long. Remember how you sometimes burned your fingers trying to change burned out incandescent bulbs? No more. These eco bulbs stay lukewarm even after hours of use.

And ecobulbs make me proud that I am now using only a fraction of electricity I've used before to light up my place. I get approximately 60 watts of brightness out of a 10-15 watt ecobulb. I get about 75 to100 watts of brightness out of a 20 - 30watt ecobulb. And these bulbs are getting smaller, hipper, more efficient all the time. You may not have the money to buy gasoline saving cars or install solar panels on your roof to save energy and reduce pollution, BUT you can get these bulbs at stores near you!

My parents and an uncle converted already.

Answer 138

I never took global warming seriously. In fact, I used to make jokes about earth day...bunch of tree-hugging freaks. Then, someone gave me Al Gore's, "An Inconvenient Truth". My God. Anyone that chooses not to face this problem is as much a fool as I used to be. The best way to convince friends and family to use these bulbs is to give them this incredibly informative documentary. The science is there. Our government worries about the economy, but within the lifetime of my children, there will be no economy.



I read an article not long ago about what would happen if the northern arctic ice melted. It was a bright story...just think of how much shipping time would decrease between Europe and Asia. I've never seen anything so ridiculous in my life. See "An Incovenient Truth", and DO SOMETHING, even if it's this small thing like converting to these bulbs. It may save your life.

Answer 139

There is no way to inspire people to use light source that is perhaps best economical way to go but the most harmfull for the eyes - we use eco bulbs at work at the end of the day I walk out blind and I see nothing except fog on the front of Me

all due to the way light is being generated it is unnatural to our eyes to look at something that has a certain frequency

all fluorescent lights and eco bulbs use some form of gas that

luminates when exposed to electrons running through it this creates a wave that has a certain frequency signature

eye gets irritated by this comparing at static conventional

bulbs that are much more human



perhaps smart approach to use a lot of windows in the buildings would be the way to go instead closing humans in bunkers

Answer 140

Well, we furnished light bulbs to them.....

When we made the switch we wanted to encourage family & friends to do the same.

My husband purchased a case of 100 eco-friendly light-bulbs (on ebay) and for Christmas we gave out bulbs, a dozen here, two dozen there. I wasn't sure what sort of response we would get (kind of an unorthodox gift I thought) but they were well received.

One person said it was the best & most useful gift they'd rec'd in a very long time. My sister went home & replaced every bulb in her house with the ones we gave her & then a couple of months later raved about how much her light bill went down & how she probably would have never switched on her own (being a single mom & the bulbs being more expensive than standard ones) but that we made a believer out of her. She won't ever switch back she says & has spread her story to her friends and says she feels good about taking an eco-friendly step.

This was 2 years ago & the same bulbs are still burning.

Answer 141

I have used these flourecent light bulbs before in my home and instantly noticed that they are NOT very bright. My grandfather loves them and has no standard bulbs left in his home. He also has a skylight in almost every room so of coarse that helps by providing natural lighting. Yes, I noticed a decrease in my monthly utilities bill, but frankly I'd rather be able to see what I'm doing around the house. I'm going to try the LED bulbs next and maybe they will provide sufficient light for me. I'm all for living a eco-friendly lifestyle, but not if I have to sacrifice a regular daily luxury, after all we're not living in caves eating dinner by torch light. Years ago when I had an apartment my monthly utilities bill never reached more than $55.00 a month! All I did was turn off the light when I left the room, and I had my tv/dvd player on a surge strip that I kept turned off when I wasn't watching tv. If I find an alternative eco-friendly way of lighting my way through life I would spread the word and show proof with savings on my utilities bill, (before and after). Everyone likes to save money in the long run.

Answer 142

Tell them about the even better eco-friendly light bulbs, LEDs. LED light bulbs save over 50% more than the compact fluorescent bulbs. It is hard to get the word out because all the big companies have their money invested in the compact fluorescents.



I happen to sell both of these products . I am very aware of how sales go in other countries, where they find reasons to buy these prodcuts. In the U.S., we find reason why not to buy them. The color is too white or too blue, not dimmable, etc. Financial savings will be the only effective way to change the majority. Global warming is not enough.

Answer 143

Without a doubt, leading by example is both effective and non-adversarial. Let's see these twisty bulbs in outside door lights and decorative lighting. Want to go a step further, brag or even post a note saying),



"If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars."



"ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs:



Use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer.



Save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime



Generate 70 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.



In addition to other quality requirements, must turn on instantly, produce no sound, and fall within a warm color range or be otherwise labeled as providing cooler color tones.



Are available in different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture, for indoors and outdoors. "

Answer 144

Sometimes the answer is just as simple as removing the problem. You have to force people to buy what is necessary. Remove the other light bulbs from the market. Just the same as you probably can't buy an eight track player new. As technology changes, old technology should disappear. The longer it is kept available, especially at a lesser cost, the longer it will continue to be used. Unfortunately, money runs this world. We make almost every choice based on its financial outcome. So, even though spending a little more might do less harm to the environment, it does more harm to our wallets. Sadly, this answer isn't all that creative, but it would solve the problem.

Answer 145

I switched to the spiral fluorescent bulbs 2 years ago and have been recommending them to everyone I know. When I tell them that the ones I bought 2 years ago are still working, they are amazed. When I compared the cost for the spiral bulbs, and what I was spending on replacement incandescent bulbs, I saved over 50%. That does not include the savings on my electric bill.

The other thing I really like about the spiral bulbs is the ones I put in my bedroom do not come on so glaringly bright that I have to squint when I first get up and turn them on. They gradually brighten, which is much easier on my eyes. I will never go back to incandescent bulbs. The fluorescent bulbs are worth every penny they cost.

Answer 146

Some people may need a different shape of bulb. My brother's house has ceiling bulbs that fit snugly into the hole set for it. Replacing these with the new bulbs might not look right, plus the bulbs may be recessed too far into the ceiling and not give off as much light.

Answer 147

Then there's the matter of CFs' greenish, blueish, or grayish light colors, which are unattractive. They often flicker, and I noticed when I tried CFs, that they don't usually last as long as the package says, particularly the less-expensive ones, which are still about $4 a bulb. I have a friend who has to replace the CF bulb in his kitchen every year or so, not every 5 years like the package says.

Answer 148

I have tried using these bulbs and they burn out just as fast if not faster than regular bulbs. I have an older house so I don't know if the wiring was the problem. I have chosen other means to reduce my 'footprint' on the climate and earth. I have found recycling is the easiest first step to getting others to think more environmentally. Where I lived before I promised to take the reclyclables of other families in my neighborhood to the recycling center when I take mine since we had no curbside.

I have recently moved and hope to start the same thing in my apartment building and perhaps eventually the entire complex.



Looking for a new car first...yep, looking at hybrids...

Answer 149

Perhaps you could show this to someone you would like to convince.



A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also known as a compact fluorescent light bulb or an energy saving lightbulb, is a type of fluorescent lamp that fits into a standard light bulb socket or plugs into a small lighting fixture.



In comparison to incandescent light bulbs, CFLs have a longer rated life and use less electricity. CFLs may save enough money in electricity costs to make up for their higher initial price within about 500 hours of use.

Answer 150

By making it an act of a larger community. Whether it is a challenge to a school, that each child bring in one eco-friendly light bulb package as a "ticket" to some event, or a pool party or other social activity that behind the activity suggests that, "we all feel this is a good thing to do", I think that change in isolation is difficult. If we only read about it in the paper or hear about it in the media, we are taught to be skeptics and therefore to make sweeping changes is viewed by some as hasty and ill advised.



There is a concern about waste disposal for these bulbs, I think there need to be adequate informational sites to answer FAQ's. We are now trying to clean up tire reefs around the world because a conservation idea was poorly thought out and is now costing us coral reef instead of building it. As a larger group I think that people hesitate to act, and hesitate to invest time to inform themselves. Making a group activity is one way to spread the word, and share information.

Answer 151

Australia has just implemented a new program in which they plan to phase in fluorescent bulbs within the next few years. Can we be that smart. I have purchased for each of my new homes, 3 in the last 6 years, fluorescent bulbs for the entire house(my wife balked at first till the first bill) and have seen on average a savings of 50% or more depending what part of the state I'm in. I also changed all the incandescent bulbs in both of my businesses which proved to be one of the biggest savings we managed. It cut out over 50% of our power bill on lights that were on 24/7. Less heat, less expenses, visibility the same what more could one want? Oh, I know you like giving the power company extra money....

Answer 152

I have recently made the move to switch to these eco-friendly bulbs, and for the most part am satisifed with their performance. However, living in the Colorado Rockies poses a bit of a problem with them as they will not start in the cold air in my garage, above the doorway outside, or in the unheated shed! The fluorescent nature of the bulb just will not ignite when cold. So far, I'm keeping the incandescent bulbs where the temperatures are near, or lower than, 35 degrees F.

Answer 153

First let me know how much money I'm saving annually for each bulb I swap out with an eco-friendly bulb - that will get my attention. Secondly - the most common issue with incandescent bulbs is that most people don't prefer the light they give off to that of a traditional bulb. They give off a very bright white synthetic type of light. Therefore, offer suggestions on best brands for both our Environment as well as quality of the light given off (so transition between light atmosphere is subtle as possible). For those who don't want to jump in by changing the lights in their main living areas, you should offer suggestions as to which bulbs in the house to start with... ie, Laundry room, closets, porch light. These may not be the lights that see the most action, but it's a start. And finally, tell me what good am I doing for the environment.

Answer 154

There are only 3 things you need to do to get the whole world using these bulbs:

1- Make them exactly the same size as traditional bulbs...as currently most antiques, and existing lamps do not accomodate them.

2- Why not have someone work on making them more visually appealing? People tend to use things that look great.

3- Once 1 and 2 are done, follow the Australian lead and phase out by law the availability of traditional bulbs so that people have no other choice ;-)

Answer 155

Guess that depends on what you mean by "eco-friendly". If we're going to limit conversation to compact fluorescent bulbs like the "corkscrew" variety used as illustration then ya gotta ask



What about the mercury? Municipalities, etc. are only starting to think about dealing with them - some of the recent lobbying efforts by GE, etc. to set up "national" recycling initiatives to handle the bulbs are good - but:



a. Call me a cynic, but when the sellers/producers offer to help you handle their product, it's usually in their best interest and not yours



b. Most people aren't even aware of the issue... a large portion of those who will read articles like this won't bother to do a little more research. Imagine the irony... they try and help the environment and wind up joining in yet more mismanagement...



Anyway... don't get me wrong - I have some of the compacts - industry has to continue improving the coatings, etc. so they can get closer to incandescent light. And they've got to work on the cycling issue so the folks who are sensitive to it won't wind up w/ the wicked headaches, eye irritation, etc.



Since I generally start w/ recycling in general when trying to get people to be more concientious it instantly plays into the pros and cons of the compact bulbs.



Pro - saves beaucoup bucks for the consumer, less draw from the grid and thus theoretically cost/eco efficient there as well...



Cons - contain highly toxic mercury, most just get dumped into landfills currently. They can trigger reactions in alot of folks, and even the coatings in the newest compacts just only moderate the "green" hue - they're ugly.

Answer 156

I suggest having them watch An Inconvenient Truth and then introduce them to the new CFB's (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs). The new bulbs don't give off the nasty, unflattering light as they used to and don't have the annoying hum anymore. I recommend the CFB's with the light diffusing shell around the coil, as they give the best soft white light. I have switched 60% of the bulbs in my home to CFB's and am quite happy with the light. As a compromise with myself I switched half of the bulbs in multi-bulb fixtures like the kitchen and hall lights and have them in alternating positions. Not only does this provide a reduced energy cost, it creates a nice blend of light that will appease the skeptic in almost anyone. Another advantage of the alternating fluorescent/incandescent bulb scenario is that you get the instant brightness from the incandescent while the fluorescent gradually brightens while it warms up.

Answer 157

I have used the new fluorescent bulbs in my kitchen. The amount of light supplied was substantially less than when we had 75 watt regular bulbs in place. We eventually changed back simply because we could not see well enough. I believe these bulbs were supplied at no cost from PG&E.

My answer is to provide a product that is actually comparable to what people are used to using. i feel that unless this can be achieved we will not make much progress in replacing regular incandescent bulbs.

Answer 158

That's a tough question. I have been using compact flourescent bulbs since the mid 1990s. I try to inspire by example. I tell my family and friends just how much longer the cfl bulbs really do last, I explain the difference between using ten 100 watt bulbs or ten cfl bulbs at about 20 watts each (1000 watts compared to 200 watts). Then I can show how much energy (and money) they will save in a years time. That's about all I can do.

Answer 159

This has nothing at all to do with inspiration. The answer is quite simple. By nature, people would love to automatically switch to the eco-friendly technology. None of us truely think "how can I mess the environment today". The problem is, as with most things, money!



You want people to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs, then just sell them at the same price as your average light bulb. When I go to my local walmat or supermarket and see an eco-light-bulb for 86cents for a pack of four, then I'm eco-friendly! Very simple.



As it stands, I can get that 86cent four pack, or I can buy a single eco-friendly light for $4. Even though the eco-light last four times longer, the 86cent four pack costs a quarter of the price. For people on a tight budget (which is a HUGE majority of people), $4 for a eco-friendly light bulb is just not financially sound.



It's horrible that money trumps environment, but society does not give us a choice.



That's my opinion.

Answer 160

All of my family and friends now use eco-friendly lighting. My dad was the hold out but when I pointed out that the compact fluorescent bulbs out today last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and didn't eat as much electricity, he tried some (every other light in the house), decided the quality of light was not only brighter but inoffensive, plus he loves that he doesn't have to climb on a ladder hardly ever to change the bulbs (he's 88). Everyone else is already eco-concerned and went to friendlier bulbs as soon as they became readily available without needing special plugs and cost-effective for the general public.

Answer 161

It would be great if people choose to do good because of the well-being of humanity, or the long term benefits to the biosphere, but of course most of us think in a much smaller scale, and need more immediate effects of our actions... and it's ok, that's the way humans are.



Considering that eco-friendly light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, while they last 10 times longer.

Considering that they're so efficient that they only release a small fraction of the heat given by traditional light bulbs, providing 'cold' light.... Considering this, they should be selling themselves!

Answer 162

The best way is to lead by example, switch to Eco friendly bulbs, and talk it up to everyone. However the best way would to have an out right ban on the Edison style bulbs. If Eco friendly bulbs use less energy and last longer, why shouldn't we all switch. Why shouldn't the government give subsidies to companies to help lower the cost of the bulbs??? People don't like change, but we all need to in every aspect of life

Answer 163

I saw a TV show called Kilowatt Ours. It showed me all the good things about using Compact Florescent Lights. The wife and I started the next week changing out the light bulbs in our house. After a month she told me the electricity bill was cheaper than it had been all the last year. We made the big switch in Jan in Ohio when it is usually the coldest and we use the most electricity of the year.



After lowering our power usage by almost 30% we have done part of our job. I have been looking at a wind turbine for our 5 acres.

Answer 164

I think just explaining the difference between the number of hours the eco-friendly light bulbs get compared to say a 60 watt bulb. My husband and I replaced every bulb in our house that we could with these new bulbs. Since they are a bit more expensive initially to buy, we only bought a few at a time instead of all at once. We made a point to buy a pack every time we went to the store and within a year they were all replaced.

Answer 165

Here's a way that everybody wins. I think most consumers would buy these bulbs if they weren't so expensive up front, even though they still save money over the long run. The power companies could buy them wholesale, sell them to the user, finance them by recouping the cost through finance charges in the power bills. The consumer would pay a lower bill, even after the financing of the bulb, and the power company would make an extra profit on the bulbs.

Answer 166

Do what Microsoft does. restructure the supplier side of the market by forcing companies to produce sockets for lamps housing etc that are only Compact floro compatible. Change the end of the compact floro bulb to this new "standard". Sell houses equipped with floros, provide discounts for these bulbs. Honestly it wont be that long without any of the previously stated ideas and with the current rate of people switching over I am guessing that by 2015 or sooner 90% of all houses will be mainly compact floro bulbs. Aggressive advertisement campaigns will help, just stress the benefits they save electricity and last forever longer than standard bulbs.



As for creative Ideas... make a funny *** video on Youtube for all the youtube fiends out there and put random compact floro adds in the end.. MTV music videos have 15-30 second adds in them ta da compact floros. Yahoo main page... compact floros. Do what every vitamin store in the world claims to do... just say the bulbs cure cancer

Answer 167

I have been using these lightbulbs since I came home from Iraq 4 months ago. The other day I went to my mom's and her hallway light was burned out - AGAIN! I go there almost everyday, so the next day I put one of my eco-friendly bulbs in the socket. We'll see how long it takes before she notices. I don't pay my electricity in my building - I can probably ask my landlord if she's noticed a difference in the electric bill. I'll let her know about it too. But I find word-of-mouth to be pretty effective, especially when I personally use the product I'm trying to promote.

Answer 168

The only real way to get people to use them is to make them cheaper than conventional light bulbs. It's true that they last longer and use less energy, balencing out the cost if not saving money, but people at the store generaly don't see it that way. There are really only two methods that I see, 1) more companies mass produce the energy saving light bulb, or 2) impose a tax on conventional light bulbs to make them more expensive. Both pose problems, people maybe reluctant to start up a buisness of creating light bulbs, and the public will not like a high tax imposed on something they need (just think of how annoyed you get when gas goes up).

Answer 169

Manufacture the bulbs so that they produce a warmer light. The present "eco-friendly" or fluorescent bulbs on the market produce a very cold light which makes them very unattractive unless your living room matches the decor of the production floor from where the very bulbs come. Additionally, there are those of us out here in the real world who have very real health issues associated with long periods of exposure to your so called "eco-friendly" bulbs. That might be another enhancement that the industry might wish to consider before sending the good ol' electric filament the way of the Dodo.

Answer 170

No offense but - CFL (compact florescent lamps) are a terrible waste of money - heres why - well they cost quite a bit more that traditional bulbs -- yet they still require a "starter" in them just like a traditional ballast starter - and these starters go bad quickly and cant be replaced (so you have to toss out the whole thing)- for example on a recent trip to the store i got these things for all over my place - but i had to buy more bulbs than i needed - since after 8 months of light use - some of the starters already went bad and the CFL bulbs dont work - If you really want to make a difference 1. dont buy the CF's and go with a LED (light emitting diode) bulb - they are even more expensive than the CF bulbs but have no starters or other parts to go bad. florescent (CF) bulbs are designed to not be tuned on and off often - which is why they florescents are used in commercial building - but for the average person who turns on/off the light as their going from room to room in their home puts terrible strain on the CFL's -- in contrast the LED bulbs (like the little lights inside your computer) are silicon and are use-to/designed for short term intermittent use - these bulbs are build as arrays of smaller bright leds that can be found in todays high performance ($$$) flashlights (much brighter than the ones in your computer) - and built to screw in standard light sockets -- there the most efficient and dont suddenly stop working like the CF bulbs ----HOWEVER - IF YOUR A TOTAL ECO PERSON GO SOLAR - even better and use 12v DC bulbs - you can even get a check for the energy you put back into the grid from your power company. And if your not willing to do that just yet LED bulbs are the best bet.

Answer 171

Dear Mr.Bender,

We use the eco friendly light bulbs all thru our house. I love them their great. We aren't rich people by any means and to top it off we live (get this) in a trailer park.LOL!!! I got my in-laws to switch to these bulbs when we installed a new ceiling fan in our living room. My mother-in-law couldn't believe what a difference they made in lighting up our living room. The old bulbs made it look like a tomb in there and they were never quite bright enough.

So seeing is believing in my case. The eco friendly bulbs aren't that much more expensive then the regular ones and they last alot longer. I was all the time replacing old bulbs in the kitchen and bathrooms. The eco bulbs last twice as long for us then the old ones and I save a little more each month on my power bill by using ecobulbs.

My suggestion is to just put them in your house and people will notice the difference when they come over to visit or u could drag your neighbor across the street to have alook see.LOL!!!

Jackie Woodard

Answer 172

Education would be great, but we live in a time where the (daily shows are more important) everyone only cares about instant gratification.



My idea is one that many municipalities have used for years and this one will start I feel all of us to the road of alternative usage.



You know they say “give and you shall receive” as they say, so give two bulbs to every home in the several of the highest usage areas of electricity that are not using this item currently. With this package enclose all need information along with other new and saving ideas. But the key is they must first bring all their toxic items to the local dump in exchange for the bulbs. Part of this if the right information comes across is that once the old is gone new items will need to be replaced if needed. I say this because as you know part of eco is why do we need so much?



It will work if you don’t think this will work! send me the all that’s needed to start and I will show you with a street team of volunteers and get it done.



This may seem to simple but I grow my own food, totally off the grid on a very large estate and use many sustainable items.





Good luck and email me anytime

Answer 173

Create them to give an incandescent type lighting. As many others I know, I absolutely HATE fluorescent lighting and would hate to be forced to use it in my home.



Additionally, I believe that the incandescent light bulb is one of the last things we need to be concerned with as a major ecological problem, considering all the other things that could be done first to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment. The development of alternatives to oil and natural gas, i.e., solar power for heating, and cars that are generated by something other than gasoline, would have a much greater impact. Additionally, we need to curb the development of open space worldwide, and protect our rain forests. The total disregard for ecological balance is the culprit. In my opinion, the light bulb has become the latest scape goat to ignore and postpone what we REALLY need to do to rescue and protect the environment, because too many big oil corporations are making a lot of money from the sale and use of oil.

Answer 174

I will strongly discourage people to do that because of the following:



1) those bulbs generates light with the spectrum intensity curve absolutely different from the natural light

2) It flickers 60 times a second

3) production and utilization is bad for the enviroment



The best choice would be a high intensity halogen light bulbs, because a color temperature close to the sunlight.



For relaxation you can use low-wattage standard bulbs, such as 10 to 15 watts.



If you want to save some enegry just increase a temperature sensor by 1 degree using your air conditioner.

Answer 175

This worked for me. I told my brother to buy and replace every lightbulb in his house with the new ecofriendly bulbs and use them normally for 1 month. At the end of the month we would get together and compare the electricity portion of his utility bill.



To make it more interesting, I asked him to add and additional 20% to the new electricity portion of the bill (using the new lights). I told him that if the new bill plus 20% was more than the previous month using the old bulbs that I would:

1) Reimburse the total cost of the new bulbs plus tax.

2) Let him keep the new bulbs.

3) I would give him an extra $50 dollars for his trouble.



I'm very happy to say that he now thinks I am his favorite older brother. He was amazed at how much money he had saved and the idea of him not losing anything and possibly gaining $50 plus a new set of bulbs was enough to get him interested.

Answer 176

The price of the new bulb will be a clincher because the difference between this and the old is huge - 68c v AUD$8-16.



Now while a lot of people will still say that's cheap, for pensioners and other people who are on the breadline, this is not affordable for them.



Cuba's Fidel Castro launched a similar program two years ago, sending youth brigades into homes and switching out regular bulbs for energy-saving ones to help battle electrical blackouts around the island. The idea was then embraced by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who announced his own programme to save energy and in recent months has given away millions of fluorescent bulbs in neighbourhoods nationwide.



Honestly, a lot of people don’t care for the fancy bullshit of advertising that is prevalent on tv screens and in magazines these days. If you want to introduce something that is good for the community, then you've got to introduce it via the community.



We have similar programmes in Australia for the installation of smoke alarms wherein you provide the smoke alarm and it will be installed for you free and we have a water saving programme where the Blue Van will come by and provide you with cheap alternatives to saving water and will install them for you free.



Bottom line: money talks.

Answer 177

A lttle late getting in, but I am a lightbulb rep for a local home improvement store. Every day I encourage folks to try and use CFL's.



I simply tell them to remember 4-4-4. A CFL wil last approximately 4 times longer, use 4 times less energy, and produce 4 times as much light per watt of power used.



I state facts and use myself as an example. I have replaced all possible light bulbs in my home with CFLs. (REMEMBER: you cannot use a CFL on any fixture on a dimmer switch or touch lamp that dims.) I have saved about $20 a month on my light bill and haven't had to change a CFL bulb in 2 years so far.



Fixtures are rated at a maximum wattage. For examle, a fixture rated at 40 watts MAX indicates the amount of power it can safely handle. But if you need more light, you can put a CFL that produces 100 watts of light because it only uses 23 watts of power - well under the MAX.



Switch to CFLs. More light, less energy, more savings!

Answer 178

I will tell you from experience we use them here at my house, but I can see why people don't switch or one of the reasons why if it had been up to me I would have left them as they were before.



The reason is they are funny looking If there was eco friendly lightbulbs that were shaped like the regulars ones people are more likely to switch, because you see I for one like to deorize my house alot, and I use those fixtures that you must put on a bulb for it to heat up and deorize the room. Well it just so happens those things cannot be put on a eco friendly bulb.



Also some lamps have the cones on them that were built to attatch to a regular bulb not those funny eco bulbs.



I know it don't seem like much but if you take into consideration maybe it would help.



Also as you have heard make them even more affortable than the regular ones. People don't just buy wasteful energy bulbs because they don't care they buy them because is all they can afford to buy. Trust me it was very expensive to make this house bulb friendly.

Answer 179

Make them cheaper on the onset (the 100w equivalent bulbs cost about $6 a piece), and create bulbs that can be utilised with dimmer switches without that incessant buzzing and flickering! I just replaced 6 bulbs with the spiraled flourescent bulbs that purportedly were "soft" light but I still feel like I'm in a factory. And, as stated before, the dimmers do not function properly with these bulbs. So, I don't think it's about people wanting to not be eco-friendly, it's about having a new product that suitably replaces the old.

Answer 180

Well it is pretty damn simple, make them the more cost efficient option! If you can not make the production cost cheaper, then you might need to put a tax on the old style bulb. The money for the tax should go to environmental friendly structure projects. The tax would be phased in. That way you are not forcing people to change but rewarding then if they do!





Don't be fascists and force the change, be capitalists!



Don't waste time and money on some campaign that will just annoy us all!



Just set it up so by 2010 the cost of the old bulbs is outweighed the new.

Answer 181

It's probably safe to assume that most people won't buy these bulbs simply on the merits of cost effectiveness because the initial cost is higher than a standard bulb, and the cost savings is only realized long term. What is nice about these is that they are much more durable, and require much less frequent changing. I have been using these for about a year in a harsh environment that would have required a standard filament bulb to have been changed at least 4 times. Less power consumption and far greater longevity make this item highly desireable.

Answer 182

The most creative way I can think of is to tell them how to be lazy and save money. I run the maintenance departments for many hotels in Alaska. I talked our management company to convert all our lighting to florescent. The bulb cost is more at the start up but I have had bulbs last 3 to 5 years with out being changed (Lazy factor). The energy savings was enormous (money factor)

With the many different color renderings you can get with florescent lighting there is a right bulb for every person from full spectrum (like sun light) to a warm white (yellow or soft color)

Answer 183

I think the government should give bulb manufacturers a cash incentive to make the bulbs and fixtures more attractive so not only the environmentally conscious will be tempted to buy them. If you cant get regular bulbs you have no choice but to switch. The companies get a cash incentive and in return make more money on the eco friendly bulbs and can offer a rebate to the customers.

I guess what I'm saying is start at the top it will be faster!

Answer 184

I switched to the Eco-friendly bulbs about 2 years ago, after taking the advise of a friend. We have children that are constantly leaving lights on throughout the house. With these bulbs, we still are finding an average of $10 savings every month. I would recommend these to anyone! The 60 W bulbs we got on EBay around 2 years ago, they are still going strong, and we paid an average of $3 a piece. We bought a dozen and put them in ceiling fans, basement outlets and even the porch light. Paid for themselves in about 4 months!

Answer 185

Well first off I think they would get more people to use them if the light bulbs where cheaper. So what I'm saying is we need the stors to help more people to use them. If the company would have a sale day and give like half-off coupons.



Never the less tell you friends about these bulbs will last for so long and would work GREAT in the very hard areas to get too. Alot of homes have it where in some areas you have to climb a latter just to change a light buld.

Answer 186

There's only a few things that motivate the masses - two being fear and greed. If using non-eco-friendly light bulbs causes harm that can be measured or saves money / makes money then you will see a swing in the purchasing habits of the masses. It'd be great to put restrictions on manufacturing in general to make products that are more eco-friendly. One would then ask - why do we still allow cigarettes to be made? - my guess - greed.



There are a few of us that will spend the extra buck or go the extra mile to do the right thing, but that doesn't go for all.



The best way to inspire your fiends is to use eco-friendly light bulbs in your house and tell all your friends how much money you save.



They will spend the extra buck to save $2.

Answer 187

ok, well i have a better way of inspiring not only friends but everyone to switch. If these light bulbs are better on the environment because it doesn't use nearly as much energy. And if you save money then answer is simply. The government goes and makes a law banning the "other" light bulbs. Therefore stores cannot sell them. Therfore manufactures dont make them. Then stores stock the new light bulbs. Then if your bulb burn out you go to the store and get a light bulb. In this case the "new" light bulbs. Plain and simple. Whether you have inspired people or not it does not matter. I'm not one of these hard core environmentalists but if its better for the environment and you save $ then i say wtf, make it a law and be done with it. Especially in this day of age its not difficult. Boom bang done, more on.....next issue?????

Answer 188

That is a hard sell in my book.



I see what is going on with our planet, I have watched all of the shows and movies about global warming. It is a great concern.



So 9 months ago I went around and changed all of the bulbs in my home to eco-friendly bulbs. Just to try to do my part to do something to help this planet.



Now here is the turn off that I am experiencing that would be hard for me to convince others to switch. The new bulbs that I am using are burning out quicker than regular bulbs. It's frustrating especially since I am spending more money for these bulbs. Some started burning out w/in one month of switching them.



Input on why that is happening would be greatly appreciated!!

Answer 189

I say, "that the government should stop production of the old light bulbs that use alot of energy and start making companies produce nothing but eco-friendly ones instead." Even though my opinion is not an inspiration to people it would make more sense to make eco-friendly light bulbs the only ones to choose from than other different light bulbs that use up more energy. Instead of trying to convince over 10 million people in the U.S.A to switch and waste money on the situation when they can save it.

Answer 190

1. the fastest way is to give them a whole box of Eco-friendly light bulbs as a gift. who would want that?



2. tell them how much $$ they would SAVE by using the bulbs. Money is almost everything, saving some would mean a big thing.



3. tell them how much they would help the environment, at least those who are nature lovers would agree to this idea.



4. Be an example and use the bulbs yourself... yet it would take years for them to notice that you were trying to be an example (hehehe).



5. Go directly to your friend's place as soon as possible and discuss the whole issue concerning eco-friendly light bulbs. After your done for sure they would think that you've "lost it".

Answer 191

There are many ways to address the energy problem...



As simple of an idea as "energy efficient" light bulbs seems to be, it is a very effective one.



Education is the key, light "brightness" is measured in lumen not wattage.



An average 60 watt incandescent light bulb has about the same lumen output (or "brightness") as a 25 watt compact flourescent light bulb.



Also, break the stigma of old office flourescent light that gave people head ache.



The new "eco-friendly" light bulbs have a much more apealing color tonality than the old generation.



Education is the key, don't dumb down, educate...

Answer 192

Ok - I admit this isn't very creative - but if the goal is to get people to switch to CF bulbs, the formula is as old as time. Get the CF bulbs competitive in price to incandecant. Or at least make the benefit of having the bulbs more obvious. If I switch out a couple of bulbs in my house to CF - I have to wait a month to see a dollar's worth of difference on my electric bill. The electric bill fluctuates so much from month to month that a dollar difference can't be noticed. In this instant gratification world, you will have to make a VERY noticable impact on a persons monthly electric bill to motivate them.



Or you could go down a VERY BAD road - and pass a law and force everyone to swtich. Also not creative, but the OTHER old as time method for making people do stuff.



My most creative suggestion is that you encase these CF bulbs in traditional covers - so they look like regular bulbs. I know some people that don't want cork screw flourecent bulbs in their fancy light fixtures.



I hope that helps.

Answer 193

The biggest problem with flourescent bulbs are the fact that they take a long time to produce accurate light. For instance, bulbs are changed in the bathroom vanity. It takes around 3 to 5 minutes to get the full lumans out of the energy savers. This does not work well for those on a time schedule. Also, these lamps will not work on dimmers. Incandescent bulbs provide fast light, dimming ability, and "pleasing" light. Until a energy saver can do this, good luck getting everyone to switch.

Answer 194

I do not think that I can when considering that I have to work around the following disadvantages.



1. The current products do not hold up in moist atmospheres

2. The current products do not take much abuse to environmental conditions.

3. The current products light spectrum is less than adequate when compared to incandescent bulbs.

4. The current products have a hign high incident of defects.

5. The current eco friendly bulbs being many more times in cost create higher theft incident possibilties and thus will result in much higher costs and frustrations.

6, Eco friendy bulbs do not fuction well in cold temps.





It will be hard!







Bob

Answer 195

I have changed my whole house over and I must say the brands are not all the same in quality. I have had probably 15 go bad in 3 years, but mostly lights of America brand. The best and fastest to light are the home depot specials in the plastic case with the green label, commercial electric. These bulbs have no delay on start up so they are the least different from incandescent. cost is 6 for 10 bucks. It will save you probably 15 to 20 a month in electricity. Best of luck to all.

Answer 196

It's always about the look as well as everything else with consumers but even more so here. They just don't go with lamps and certain other traditional setups. The answer must come in the manufacturing of the bulbs. Put a different casing on them and they'll be good to go. Or, just start putting the bulbs in with the lamps from the beginning. People will think it has to be and so it will. Then from there the other traditional setups should follow. Next time I'm charging!!

Answer 197

Everyone that has had success should share thier experience. That will be everyone that has replaced even just half the bulbs in thier house.



Here's mine.



For us that was 14 of 22 so far and we save about 10$ a month. Thats 120$ a year. (minimum, as I intend to do the rest now that I see a difference.) That's almost one months bill! And they have already paid for themselves twice over.



They do cost more than regular bulbs, but can be found in large quantities ( as opposed to the usual 3-4 a pckg, i buy 8 at a time) at Sam's Club.

Answer 198

I think that if the eco-friendly light bulbs produced a more natural light, there would not be a problem getting people to switch. I replaced all the incandescents in my home with fluorescents, but had to switch back in the bathroom where my daughter and I apply our makeup. Way too much yellow in the light from the fluorescents. Also, my dining room lights are on a dimmer, and the fluorescents do not work there, either, they make a really annoying buzzing sound that gets louder if you try to dim them.

Answer 199

People need some sort of monetary incentive; unfortunate, but true. Maybe electric power supply companies could work with their customers in the following ways. First, people who do buy the light bulbs could send in their receipt(s) and the power company could give them a $3.50 credit for every bulb bought. Second a bulb typically cost between 7 and 12 dollars (depending on where you buy them). So say someone buys two bulbs and sends their receipts with their monthly bill - right away one bulb would be paid for, and the other would pay for itself within a few months. All the while a customer uses less electricity, and (if everyone would participate) it would alleviate the high stresses of power grids already working at full capacity - so everybody wins!

Answer 200

I think one way to help people change is to standardize these light bulbs more than they are at this time. I tried to replace all my bulbs throughout my house a couple years ago with these energy saving ones and have had problem after problem finding ones that fit. The only recourse I have had is to purchase new fixtures to accommodate the bulbs. This has come at a price of time and an outlay of money. Luckily for me, I am skilled enough to be dangerous with electricity and can replace my fixtures myself as I get the funds and time to do so. Many cannot do this due to lack of funds and skill. Although allowing for reimbursement to homeowners/renters for taking on such a project seems to be unseemly, it would be nice to offer something like this as either a tax break or even a rebate style check from the electricity supply companies would encourage more and more people take on the initial outlay of costs to convert older homes to more conservative measures. It only takes a receipt from the homeowner/renter to prove the costs and they get a percentage in return.

Answer 201

I've already started switching over. I would probably do more, but it seems the variety of CF bulbs is limited compared to standard bulbs.



I usually am shopping with an impatient toddler or husband. It takes too much time to hunt for the right type...I need clearer information about which CF bulbs provide lighting equivalent to my usual 60, 75, or 3-way bulbs.



With the higher cost of these bulbs, the last thing I want is to find out when I install it that it is too bright or too dim (I have one I bought several years ago that's MUCH too dim for anything).



I'm not sure if these are available yet in more attractive styles...several lights in my home have exposed bulbs, and I need/want something other than the CF styles that are currently available in my stores.

Answer 202

I have always wanted to use them but up until a few months ago they were just too expensive. They have come down in price now to the point where they will save you money in the long run over a conventional light bulb. The way I figured it for my 2 bedroom house in the northeast of the US, I will save about $100 per year on my electrical costs by switching. Since I got the bulbs on sale for about $2 per bulb, this was kind of a no brainer. So I did 8 lights in the house for a total cost of under $20 dollars.

One drawback, they produce less heat so my cat no longer wants to sleep on my desk under the lamp while I study for medical school. Oh well, saving energy, money and the environment has its costs.

Answer 203

Unfortunately the people of this world are more likely to respond to the word "Free" rather than "It is better for the environment". I think with a little time and energy you can get what you are looking for. Maybe if you were to offer a "Buy on get one free" with out the need of a mail in coupon, people would be inclined to try it. You can box them up in sets of two and only charge for one.

I my self use these "non-bulb lights" in all but one socket in my home and I have noticed a drop in kWh units. A well noticed drop in the bill amount by the next billing cycle. I am not concerned if you choose to try these eco-friendly light bulbs or not. I am only telling of my experience.

Answer 204

Why try? Let everyone decide on his own, and stop forcing your lame ideas on others. If you honestly believe that using a fluorescent lightbulb will counteract "global warming" you are as loopy as the Environmentalist Wackos that started this whole thing as a pure political ploy. How many of these light bulb geniuses are riding a bike instead of driving a car? How many have a heated swimming pool? How many leave their TV's on hour after hour? How many Speakers of the House have demanded a Boeing 747 as personal transport? How many are driving SUV's? How many have ever been to Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai, China during the winter when the soot from their coal-burning stoves create more soot and dirt than what we create here? Did you ever notice how many shrines and temples in Kyoto are illuminated after dark by fluorescent lightbulbs? (Kyoto Treaty??) If global warming (excuse me, climate change, since Al's group couldn't prove the former) does exist, it isn't because I am using Thomas Edison's light bulbs. Have you ever been to "Electric City" in Tokyo at night to see how much of the lighting there is from fluorescent lightbulbs? Come on, look around you, Mt. St. Helens put out more natural "stuff" in the atmosphere in a short period of time than we've put out since a certain President took office and the US population suddenly became the blame for everything negative in existence. If Mother Nature can clean house after a volcanic upheaval, she sure as heck doesn't need MY help by changing lightbulbs! These changes are called WEATHER, Move-Onners, and the number of light bulbs being used in a home is NOT going to change things. How about unwrapping your arms from around the trees which are replaceable resources, visions of God-given beauty, and put on some eyeglasses so you can join in Objective Reality?

Answer 205

Hey, The only thing I can say is I grabbed a 4 pack of the "daylight" 13 watt bulbs, put them in my bedroom and living room lamps and got to like them right away. I ended up buying another 13 watt 6-pack for the bathroom,kitchen, and outside, and I bought a brighter one for over my pool table, I cannot remember the wattage, but it is equivalint to a 75 watt bulb.

All other stray lamps will be getting theese types of bulbs soon.

I mainly was attracted to the savings they claim, but the way they indirectly throw light is nicer than traditional bulbs.

The only complaint I have is when they are cold, they light up dimly and take a short period of time to get totally bright. In side its a very short time probably less than 30 seconds really they go from lit to lit fully.

Outside, it takes a little longer, but I am using 2 13 watt bulbs in an outdoor motion sensing light, and it HAS been winter here, and were talking temps in the range of 5 degrees-30 degrees. And again they start out dim and get fully bright, probably around a minute total.

And when I say dim, it means probably at maybe 75% of full power, you get plenty of light even at first on.

Had one friend over recently, she noticed the lighting seemed different in my living room, and she said it was nicer. She asked what I did to my place, I told her about the bulbs. So I guess I can only show by power of example. Show my friends when they come over, show you floks here by writing about it. And hopefully show a smaller electric bill!!!

Answer 206

Nearly every lamp in my house uses a 3-way bulb, but I cannot locate these in an energy-efficient type. All but 2 ceiling fixtures are fluorescent. Perhaps if under-cabinet lights and 3-way bulbs are available in energy-efficient models, people would buy more of these. Design is another issue. People who have expensive designer ceiling or wall lighting are apt to be reluctant about installing a bulb that is larger than the globe or that is visible through clear glass. So, in my opinion, we need a greater variety of these. As I said, I have exactly two lights in my entire house that can accommodate this type of bulb.

Answer 207

Am I going to get any $$ for this?..



It goes like this. You must explain to people, that it is all about $$.. I switched 50% of the bulbs at home with these bulbs and saved lots of $$. Replaced the rest and the Electric bill went wayyyyyy Down. Better yet, The light one gets while using thees is sooo great, that I had to turn some of them off. It made the house way bright. And saving $$ at the same time.



So to the nitty gritty... SHOW THEM THE LIGHT>> !! :). Will.

Answer 208

I have performed a simple cost vs benefits analysis and suggest the following:

Now eco bulbs can be found that provide an equivalent wattage than the old bulbs.

The eco bulbs do last longer than the old ones and do not have to be changed as often.

The eco bulbs use less electricity and our bills over the last five years are dramatically reduced.

The eco bulbs size have been reduced and they fit in just about every fixture.

You are helping the environment and reducing global waarming.

Answer 209

Don't use them where they won't work. In three way light fixtures, in light fixtures with a dimmer switch and where temperatures are going to be below 30 degrees F.



But the biggest incentive is the 15 dollars you will save per month (as I have) using them in place of all the other regular bulbs. To say nothing of the year or so longer you get from the life of the bulb. So, even if your not going to think about doing your part in saving the environment, use them to save money!

Answer 210

You have to find a way to demonstrate the economic benefits for them. The average person looks at the cost of the flourescent bulb and thinks it's overpriced, however when you factor in the lifespan of the new bulb compared to the standard one the price becomes a wash (more or less). The real benefit to the consumer comes in paying for 14 watts per hour as opposed to 75 or 100.

By the same token, other environmental products such as alternatuve fuels will not catch on until you can make it economically feasible (i.e. comparable to the cost of gasoline), and demonstrate the benefit to the public. If the average family can't afford it, the environmental benefits won't matter.

Answer 211

The most reliable way to attract public attention to any cause is to be honest and completely transparent. The people who are pushing "Global Warming" hysteria on us have been far from honest and transparent. Why is it that long term fluctuations in the energy output of the sun do not enter into the politically-correct equation for Climate Change? Why is it that Al Gore cannot bring himself to admit that the world's cattle and livestock generate more overall greenhouse gas pollution than all the oil-fed engines and industries on earth combined? Until such questions are answered, we can continue to expect a great deal of skepticism and resistance towards such ridiculous concepts as outlawing incandescent light bulbs.

Answer 212

My rule (in life) is that a 50% effort is better than no effort at all.



For someone that does not currently use any eco-friendly bulbs I suggest that they walk through their house, garage and outside and identify all the places (like garage, side-yard, workshop, laundry room, closets, etc.) that are the least objectionable. Put the bulbs in those places first and then notice your utility bill improve a little. That plants the seed and eventually they will try them in some other places.



In our bathroom we mix half incandescent and half fluorescent for better lighting and better color.



Lamps with shades tend to hide the flourescent color effect also.



Again, if everyone targeted just 50% of their household lighting as flourescent it would be a HUGE saving.

Answer 213

The most creative thing you can do is stick with the incandescents.



Incandescent bulbs have a look and feel all their own. They are warm and inviting, they make skin glow, and they feel more natural, like fire.



Who wants to live in a world where the fluorescent lights are flickering on and off 60 times or more a second? Where you're bombarded by flat, boring, green light all the time. A world that lacks character, style and drama in daily life.



Not me.



If the energy people thought more progressively than they do, we'd have solar furnaces, windmills, and hydro making our electricity instead of fossil fuels and nuclear reactors. We'd have more than enough electricity to go around and we wouldn't have to be changing our beloved light bulbs.

Answer 214

I just show them my electric bill. No kidding. A couple of years ago I switched every light bulb in my house to compact fluorescent. When I'm not using the central air conditioning my electric bill is less than $20 a month! And if that isn't good enough, there's the added benefit that the bulbs last many times longer than standard incandescent ones do. (And, of course, you can take pride in the fact that your reduced energy consumption is good for the environment.)

Answer 215

I don't call myself an expert by any means, but I have an open mind about these bulbs and I have tried them. However, I was disappointed for two reasons. First, my experience in my home is that these bulbs last about as long as conventional bulbs. Sorry to report that, but it is the truth. Secondly, I heard on NPR news a week or so ago that the bulbs contain mercury (Wikipedia backs this up), and unless they are disposed of "properly", it makes little sense to me to call them "eco-friendly". NPR looked into availability of re-cycling centers for the bulbs, and found practically nothing. Even Wal-Mart, who proclaimed that they intend to sell many more of the bulbs this year had not set up a means for "eco-friendly" return of burned-out bulbs. I would very much like to see a bulb that lived up to the promises being given. What I see is that florescent bulbs are not the answer. Perhaps LEDs are?

Answer 216

I live here in Japan teaching English and these light bulbs are about the best, safest, and brightest lights I have ever used. They are not only Eco-friendly, but they draw less power thus saving your energy bill and cutting down on those fossil fuel plants that generate our electricity. If I were going to inspire my friends and family, I would show them the many designs which in themselves, are something to talk about and then I would let them touch the bulb after it has been burning for a while (They are cooler). I hope this helps. Oh, yeah, one more thing.

Answer 217

This may not be very creative, but it worked for the problem of discarded glass bottles. Put a large deposit on regular light bulbs that can be returned when you bring back the burned out light bulb. But exempt the eco-friendly bulbs.



It will be such a pain to have to bring back the regular bulbs to get your money back, people will buy the exempt bulbs just to avoid it. If you made the deposit $1 a bulb. It would make the eco-bulbs more competitive in upfront price as well.

Answer 218

Let Them Know About All The Benafits For The Light Bulb And If IT Saves Money On Electrick Bills Let Them Know Maybe The Thought About Saving Money Would Help.

Answer 219

Make eco-freindly bulbs that are non-flourescent. Flourescent bulbs may be eco-frienly but they are not human being freindly, they cause eye strain, headaches, and some health problems are exacerbated by flourescent lighting. There are many other issues with flourescents such as increases in depression during the winter months as compared to incandescent lighting.



The quality of light is not adequate in a flourescent bulb for the human body to take in light. Light in a form as close as possible to sunlight is absolutely essential especially in the winter months in cold climates, where people don't get enough sun and in offices especially where no natural light comes into a space. People are more productive and happier in light that is more natural.



If an incandescent bulb could be made to be eco-friendly, I'd switch in a minute. I'm very environmentally conscious, recycle and reuse, take transit instead of drive..., but I won't use flourescent bulbs, as I know the dangers associated with them, and I live in a cold climate. Make them safe, and I'd reconsider.



Blessings,

Renee

Answer 220

Outline in dollars and cents how much money they could save by switching.



Money and savings do the talking where common sense fails!



I also think for a lot of people they don't understand the "conversion" information on packaging.



Nobody really cares what the "wattage" is on the new bulbs--the information that should be highlighted is what they replace, ie, 40, 60, or 100 watt bulbs etc.



I have weird fixtures which take specialized bulbs as it is, and I don't even know that they make replacement bulbs for those. So perhaps they should also be giving discounts on NEW fixtures which are SOLD with bulbs and people should actually switch to fixtures which perhaps use one or two bulbs as opposed to 4 or 6 (ie some hallway lighting...which is always left "on".)

Answer 221

I think lots of people just don't know which light-bulbs to use. They might want to help the environment but just aren't informed enough to do anything. Not only light bulbs are now changed in order to be Eco-friendly, many other items changed. Such as cars they are much more variety to choose from if you are buying a car. Now because of the world's growing technology there are cars that don't impact the environment as much as gasoline running cars.

My school, Aka'ula School, does investigations regarding environmental friendly actions and items. Aka'ula School is based on the PRISM curriculum and PRISM does symposiums every year just about Molokai's environment. We do surveys and learned lots of people on Molokai don't know how to help the environment.

Aka'ula is a middle school that is trying to help Molokai's environment. We know that the future is up to us to help or hurt the world. 5-8 graders go around the island collecting data trying to change adults minds about the environment. If 10 and 13 year olds can do it adults can too.

I do hope that people will changed their ways in life to help the environment because the world doesn't end after this generation goes, it is left for the next generation to use.

Answer 222

I feel that the best way to inspire others is with the warranty and cost savings over the long haul. I am currently switching my bulbs to the fluorescent because of the money I will save as well as the 8 year warranty that comes with them. I recently bought two 10 watt bulbs which produce 40 watts of light for the cost of 10 for under five bucks and both are guaranteed for 8 years. Regular light bulbs aren't nearly as impressive!

Answer 223

I've been in the energy retrofit field for 12 years. Unfortunately, most people won't take it upon themselves to do the right thing, unless it is convenient and not significantly more expensive than "the wrong thing". Recently I purchased CFLs at Costco for $0.50 each (pack of eight). So some CFLs are now comparable in price to incandescents. IMHO, this will be the biggest factor (short of government intervention) in increasing the acceptance of CFLs. How can one logically say no to CFLs that use 75% less energy, last much longer and are comparable in price? LED downlighting is coming too, but the price for these 100,000 hour, 90 to 95% energy saving bulbs is still outrageous (usually > $30 each). If you look at the total life-cycle cost for the LED bulbs you can make a case for buying them, but if you should break one, for most people it would be too expensive to replace with another LED bulb.

Answer 224

I believe that even friends who don't know much or don't care much about environmental issues can be inspired by economics. CFL's have been shown to save money in the long run even with their higher initial cost. Even phasing in CFL's over the course of a few months or a year can be a cost-effective option to a total change all at one time. In addition, encouraging friends and family to change their most-used bulbs first will both demonstrate the cost savings and the improved warmth of eco-friendly lighting (over past versions of color-washing flourescent bulbs). I have replaced many of the bulbs in my house with CFL's and plan to continue. The only issue I have encountered so far is that I have yet to find 3-way CFL's. Maybe someone else who answers would be able to point me in the right direction, if they are made at all.

Answer 225

Really I think not enough people know about the big issue of global warming or at least to know how damaging it is. So to have more people switch you should advertise because I never knew we had Eco-friendly light bulb and I bet others probably don't know as well. Also giving samples or a demonstration of how it works just like regular light bulbs could work as well.

Answer 226

Read the facts instead of listening to the hype coming from people making money on from so-called global warming. For every "expert" claiming we are dooming the planet, there are teams of credible scientists arguing that 1) the planet's temperature increased less over the 2nd half of the 20th centure than it did over the 1st half, 2) the earth's temperature actually fluctuates significantly over the centuries, and that in the last 500 years or so, we have had unusually cool weather and that the earth may be returning to more "normal" weather, and 3) getting people to do something as mundane as changing light bulbs that provide awful lighting similar to that of an office will have an imperceptible effect on how much resources are used, but severely affect their quality of life.



If fluorescent light bulbs are truly better than incandescent ones, the market will dictate so, because people will believe they will be better off with the newer types of light bulbs. Outlawing fluorescent light bulbs is nothing more than an other attack on people's personal freedoms from a government all to eager to give in to scaremongering individuals bent on curbing the quality of life of people trying to build a life for themselves.



Check the facts instead of giving in to mob mentality, the great majority of pollutants and energy used comes from industry. If every passenger car were outlawed today, air pollution would be reduced by about 10%. If people are so concerned about burning fossil fuels, they should stop using motorized transportation, buying anything made of plastic, and generally stay away from any product made in an industrial capacity.



Unless people are ready to start living like the Amish, we need to realize that giving in to scare tactics does not truly help the environment, but only serves to give government even greater control of our lives.

Answer 227

what I think we need to do is get the word out as to how great the compact florescent bulbs on a personal level. Even with the recent announcement about global warming by the scientific community, some people are too set in their ways to believe it or be bothered by it. But, if they knew that these bulbs also save them a noticeable amount of money on their electric bills and last for an average of seven years, they would be more likely to use them.

Answer 228

Make it a law. Old wasteful bulbs should be outlawed and taken off the shelves. If it takes ten times less energy to power the new kind of bulbs if everyone used them maybe we wouldn't have blackouts in the summer and the price of gas would probably go down as well. The U.S might actually lead the way environmentally for once instead of being the biggest consumer and most waste full country on earth.

Answer 229

Educate the public that Compact Fluorescent Bulbs have essentially eliminated buzz and flicker by replacing the old magnetic ballasts that regulate the flow of electricity with electric ballasts.



Many individuals are hesitant to move to Eco-friendly bulbs since the "old school" bulbs where they work rely on older technology that causes buzz and flicker.



Also, point out that the increased cost of Eco-friendly bulbs will be recouped in about 500 hours of use.



Packaging and marketing of CFL bulbs should be updated with the "No Buzz/Flicker" label.

Answer 230

I don't buy into the Global Warming theory.



I abhore sending my money to the electric company.



However, I do like my indoor space well lighted.



100 watts of light for the price of 23 convinces me!



By the way, my electric bill is scheduled to double by June 2008.



I am implementing the bulb installation now.



Now, if the manufacturers could/would do 2 things:



1.) Tint the bulbs ala the Daylight series from Sylvania(?) &



2.) Figure out how to eliminate the "Buzz" they create on my AM

radio.

Answer 231

I would like to let people know that I have used eco-friendly light bulbs. But the problem I have is that they cost 7& some times eight dollars. When I can pay .25 for a regular blub. It is not cost effective when the blubs never live up the life they are quoted to have, 5 years. The life span has never been more than a year. I can buy 28 regular light blubs for the price of one eco-friendly blub. If they lasted 5 years as they boast, that is all I would have in my house. When they increase the reliabiblity I would have noting but eco-friendly blubs.

Answer 232

Let people know that you use them. Every bulb in our house are CFL's. They make them in all sizes and bulb styles. We have them in our night lights, you know, the ones with the small base, everything to our out door lights. They even make them in a 3 way style now. They work Great. But when people come over to visit, they can't believe the light they give off and how natural they look compared to standard bulbs. Wal-Mart is the cheapest place I've seen to buy them. In fact, they have a special at my wal-mart a six pack for 5.97. That's less than a buck a bulb, and they last forever. And I've noticed that our energy bill had dropped, cause we have a daughter that burns lights like energy is free. lol. Use them, you'll be impressed.

Answer 233

Saving money. About 70% of the energy used by the old light bulbs goes to the generation of heat rather than light. You can hold your hand on the new bulb while its burning but not the old one without a severe burn. The new bulb uses 23 watts to give 100 watts of light. Also, when air conditioning is required, the new bulb's energy savings within the home or business is multiplied as heat from normal lighting is greatly reduced..

Answer 234

We switched and I couldn't believe it, but our electric bill went down by $30 the next billing cycle. Paid for itself in 2 months, not to mention that this was a year ago and we haven't had to replace a single one of the bulbs, when before we replaced bulbs all the time. It was like a joke around here.



The only part I don't like (and the complaint I get from friends and family when I suggest change) is the buzz that you get from a light on a dimmer switch. I guess we could change to simple on/off switches, but it throws a curve in the dining room. We use the room at full light and dim light quite often.

Answer 235

In California, it is mandated that any bathroom or kitchen remodels must use pin type flourescent lights. We have converted all our other light bulbs to either halogen or flourescent and have saved quite a bit of money over previous years electric bills. But why stop there? Unplug chargers for cell phones, iPods when not in use, turn off computers and monitors when not in use..... every thing that is plugged into an outlet, even if it isn't turned on draws electricity and even though it may be only a penny or two a month, it adds up and taxes the infrastructure.

Answer 236

Using "eco-friendly" or compact fluorescent lights can save a some on your electric bill, but will do nothing about the myth of global warming.

That's right, global warming is a myth of the political left. Only humans can be so arrogant as to think they can change the climate through their actions. The Earth goes through periodic cycles of warming and cooling. There will be another ice age that is for sure and humans won't be able to stop it.

Answer 237

I would think that the easiest way to crete that change would be for light-bulb manufacturers to:



1. Create eco-friendly products that are of equal or better quality than what they have produced currently.

2. These manufacturers must create that change together.



Those two reasons are due to:



1. To actually ask more or less 5 billion population to refrain from using non-eco-friendly products would require massive overhaul of global education methods. This would create a lot of pressures and challenges due to differences of values, goals, worldviews, etc.



2. People wouldn't normally change their consumption habit immediately or even in 5 years if they don't really care about such issues. No matter how good intentioned people are, they would usually come cold-footed when it comes to make sacrifices and deal with problems they don't feel to be theirs. Hummers are the ultimate example of such negligence.



3. There are less numbers of companies than there are numbers of light-bulb users. It would be easier to educate and challenge these manufacturers to re-think their production methods rather than challenging the whole population of the earth. Normally people would follow popular opinion anyway and popular opinion is usually those that are advertised by major companies over and over again.



What do you think?

Answer 238

There are other practical reasons to use compact fluorescent light-bulbs than just energy efficiency. One of the main reasons I use them is because they are much cooler than incandescents. In hot climates or hot summer nights you don't want to be heating your room with the hot incandescents. You can also get full spectrum fluorescent which are good for the winter blahs and long dark nights.



Another reason is competition. Efficiency competition that is. There are those guys and girls who brag about getting 50 miles to the gallon in their hybrid cars. How about bragging about not having to pay bills to the power company? Being self sufficient is true freedom and not having to pay for the whims and idiosyncrasies of utility price gougers is a good feeling. Fluorescents will help you arrive there. Remember that's partly how Warren Buffet arrived - frugality.



In the mean time you can brag to your friends and neighbors that your home only uses on average 8 kilowatts a day. It's a good feeling knowing you're not a wasteful slob.



Finally, I believe the utility companies offer discount electricity to anyone using less than 16 kilowatts or so per day. That's more cash in your pocket for vacations in the Caribbean Mon.



Not bad.

Answer 239

I have used these bulbs for the past 4 years and in November of 2006, I was in charge of a giant art show. Over 100 artists and 6,000 people attended the opening night. The art show took place in a 30,000 sq ft vacant warehouse and there were only 3 (20 amp ) circuit breakers feeding the entire space. One breaker was for the fire sprinkler system so we only had 2 breakers (enough to run only 2 hair dryers).



This art show in years past would always bring its own lighting on long light stringers using 120 incandescent light bulbs rated at 150 watts each or 18,000 watts for all the lights requiring 12 - 20 amp breakers). I decided to use the 13 watt bulbs.



We also had 3 standard fluorescent bulbs that were -installed in the warehouse. The entire art show including (DJ amps, (120) 13 watt bulbs, pulled 1700 watts. The AMP meter that my electrician used indicated that both circuit breakers were only pulling 8-12 amps each. He could not believe it. Estimated continuous wattage for the entire show 1,700 watts, or 1 standard hair dryer. PHOTOS OF THE BULBS IN ACTION CAN BE FOUND AT

www.baystudios.com click on the light bulb at the top of the page or the link on the bottom.

Answer 240

From a corporate perspective, the best option is to flood the market. This would involve either corps sharing the technology to allow other corps to create similar products or buy out those corps with old technology. people tend to buy what they see most of. just an idea.

From a personal perspective, guilt is usually the only answer to truely influencing family and friends. Add light globes to the list of small, easy things that we all should but people rarely do; including registering as an organ donor, recycling, donating blood, listen without talking sometimes etc. Or conversely, be a tight-ar$e and get all family and friends an eco-friendly light globe and card for their respective birthdays. they'll never go back...if they don't want the same present next year of course!!

Answer 241

I've been using compact fluorescent for about 10 years, I've replaced all the bulbs in my home over time as they became less expensive. We've noticed that our electric bill which was in the range of $90.00 to $110.00 a month dropped to a consistent $75.00 a month. The added bonus we are buying fewer bulbs; they seems to last. We still have two of the original compact that we first purchased. Most of the compact fluorescent we puchase from Wal Mart, Big Lots, Home Depot or Lowe's.

Answer 242

It will take much, much more than simply changing light bulbs to make a difference in the world's energy consumption. Particularly when we have a Republican president who is in the oil production business!



SUVs, gas hogs who have no intention of changing their driving habits even to the point of carpooling? The government, who has no intention of offering a reliable means of mass transportation? My town has NO mass transportation, and is doing a "feasibility study" read: another 5 years down the road we MAY have some sort of transportation available (or may not!) and meanwhile, the cost of gas transport continues to rise, as does the carbon monoxide emissions and other poisons in our environment. (Not to mention the tires in the landfill, the used oil, the used car parts, etc. etc.)



The flourescent energy bulbs are a wonderful start, but simple things can make a difference as well. Unplugging stereos and cell phone chargers can reduce carbon monoxide emissions as much as taking one SUV from the road a year!!



Get the politicians out of office, and think broader than light bulbs. And get the manufacturers to reduce the price of the bulbs! That would be an even greater incentive!!

Answer 243

Hey Lawrence,

There are many ways to inspire friends and family to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs.

However, a joint effort on the part of retailers and distributors / manufacturers would definitly help the cause. Affordability in the short term is probably hindering to many consumers. They may not be aware of the long term cost savings that these eco-friendly bulbs offer. Product specifications and comparisons should be used as leverage. As well, local communities and hydro companies should offer some form of trade in rebate for old bulbs. In British Columbia, Canada for instance, rebates are given in certain circumstances on the purchase of more efficient appliances, ie. hot water tanks. I am sure we are not the only province or state that offers this. If there was some sort of trade in rebate, it would be a win- win for participating retailers / distributors / manufacturers as well as our global community. It would serve as a great beginning to the phase out process of the old light bulbs and a new life of eco-friendly bulbs. If these practical solutions are completely off target.....And one, is having trouble inspiring family and friends through leading by example, there is always the un-screw and shake method... This method has been proven over the years and is sure to get a response from the homeowner, especially if it is happening one room at a time continually day after day. "Hey have you heard of these eco-friendly light bulbs that last for ___years?"....Lol.



Good luck,



Kirky

Answer 244

Ok i'm 29 and I was at wal-mart one evening and noticed the "eco friendly" bulbs. I thought well I'll give it a shot. I actually at first didnt like them but now I wouldn't change back. One they're good for the enviroment two if you have something you leave the light on all the time they're great. I have a couple rooms in my house that the light stays on all the time. It seemed like everytime I turned around I was putting a new bulb in because they were burning out. I have had them in for about five months and haven't changed one at all. I won't go back to the old style.

Answer 245

I work in a library, and we helped the energy office distribute two free eco-friendly light-bulbs per household. We were handing out lightbulbs for weeks! People couldn't wait to try them. I have been gradually replacing all of our incandescent bulbs with the eco-friendly bulbs. Several friends and co-workers have done the same, and say it has made a difference in their energy bill. I can hardly wait to see how much we've saved! But just knowing that we're doing our part to preserve the planet's health and resources is a good thing, too.

Answer 246

The first thing that needs done is for one of the lighting company's to invent a "eco" bulb that radiates the same type of light that an incandescent bulb emits. The new fluorescent and even the new expensive LED light bulbs just do not produce the same results as the incandescent light bulbs. You just don't get the colors out of the eco lights.

Answer 247

The problem is, light bulbs use very little power compared to stoves/airconditoners/ electric water heaters etc...so, changing to these bulbs will have little effect on consumer bills. BUT, what about saving the planet! Well, we need to show the consumers hard evidence with easy to understand theories HOW doing this will improve the ozone layer (and put it right on the front page of YAHOO.com).



I feel I must ask: Isn't this a small potatoes way of improving the ozone? Why not make the energy hungry appliances more efficient?

Answer 248

Lose the heat! The turning point for us in Texas was sweating under the six 60 watt kitchen incandescent spotlights. Changing to the compact fluorescent reduced the heat immensely in an already warm part of the house and yet gave us plenty of light. That's the best way to sell the idea here in south Texas. That advantage, plus Wal-Mart is selling compact fluorescents as a 12 pack for a give away price. Who wouldn't switch?

Answer 249

Getting people to use eco-friendly bulbs should have nothing to do with gimmicks or cutsie fads. Buy the generic (n:vision) eco-friendly bulbs from Home Depot...not Sylvania...not GE...the "n:vision"s are generic in nature BUT all have a "blue" scale right on the packaging...this scale shows that the bulbs produce a "yellow" light. Try to discern the difference between incandescent and these little "beasties"...you'll be hooked...I have replaced EVERY bulb in the house with these guys...it is great...the light is "warm" and inviting unlike the "blue" bulbs that make everything look dingy. That's it, no fads, no gimmicks, nothing but "warm" inviting light at 1/4 the wattage!!! n:vision - you rock!

Answer 250

I started gradually using eco-friendly light bulbs about 3 years ago. I bought 1. Next time I needed to buy light bulbs, I bought a package of eco-friendly light bulbs. I might hit a sale and get a package. As you see, I am much too miserly to just go out and purchase enough for the whole house at once. Three years later, I have replaced one eco-friendly light bulb. WOW!

My house is almost entirely eco-friendly and I have found several different kinds, shapes, and sizes which I like.

Misermom55

Answer 251

There should be more emphasis on how long lasting these bulbs are. I had to change light bulbs every month before I switched to the eco friendly bulbs. These bulbs last a year or more! I am happy I switched because I am saving time and money as well as helping the environment.

Answer 252

Community insentive programs!!!!!!

You will notice that Idaho Falls ID is ranked #3 nationally for usage of eco-friendly light bulbs (green.yahoo.com ). The reason for this is that the local power company supplies it's costumers with a $3 off coupon for eco-friendly light bulbs. The coolest part about this rating is because Idaho Falls ID is an extremely conservative community. Meaning that there are not a lot of eco friendly people. Once again this shows that money talks!! So lets continue to show the ECONOMIC advantages (That people care about), and backoff about the whole save the planet stuff that most people obviously DON'T care about.

Answer 253

The hardest part of switching to energy saving bulbs is the initial cost, granted the long term savings are there but who wants to spend $50 now to save $100 gradually over the next year?

With tax time just around the corner it would be a good idea to start shopping for the best price, (Costco has a great deal on an 8 pack of bulbs here) once you get your return spend part of it on energy saving bulbs right off the top. You'll never miss it!

Answer 254

It's purely a marketing task. The manufacturers of the florescent bulbs have to initially offer a 'three for two' deal; that is, for every three bulbs purchased, the consumer receives one free bulb. The operative word here is FREE. And, no mail-in rebate forms to fill out.



To further the marketing push, product development has to come up with a physically shorter bulb. In many instances, the present bulbs are too tall for some lamp shade harps. That's an immediate consumer turn-off.

Answer 255

The basic compact fluorescent bulb should not cost more than $3.00. Finding them is a bit of a trick. Don't buy them at the grocery store or drugstore. Instead, go to the most popular onsite auction (Ebay) and/or your largest home improvement stores (Home Depot/Lowes) and/or the biggest warehouse store (Wal-Mart) and buy these bulbs. My electrical usage declined by more than 50%, no joke. The spiral bulbs look best in fixtures. There are floodlights, too. There are bulbs that look like bulbs, where you don't want the spiral look. There are even bulbs for vanity fixtures. More difficult is finding dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs. Don't despair, that big auction site has them. There is no excuse not to use these bulbs.

Answer 256

Reduce the cost of these light bulbs. I'm sure just about everyone would be using a product that saves electricity and works better if they could afford it. Fact is many families across the country can't afford a bulb that costs $2.00 per bulb in bulk vs .42 per bulb non-bulk. Even if the spiral lasts 4x longer it still costs more than a Incandescent bulb. If the production companies can decrease the cost to $1.00 or less per bulb then maybe more people will use them. Until then it just isn't cost effective to use spirals for many famlies.

Answer 257

I just tell family and friends my story. I do maintenance work at a local lodge and we converted all of the standard light bulbs to compact fluorescents 2 years ago. An 18 watt compact fluorescent gives you the same amount of light as a 75 watt incandescent. Not only that, but to date, 2 years later, I haven't had to replace any of those compacts. Do the math: 75 watts at the cost of 18 watts + 2 years (and still counting) without having to buy anymore = big savings!

Answer 258

I think that the light bulbs would sell more if they were seen on TV ads, magazine pages, billboards, newspapers, etc. A lot of people believe what they see on TV, so if there was a commercial saying something like, "New Eco-friendly light bulbs! These revolutionary light bulbs will help save the environment without burning a whole in your pocket! Saving the environment... one light bulb at a time," people would probably be more inclined to buy them.



Also, word of mouth is very powerful when trying to sell something. If you go out and buy this new light bulb and love it, recommend it to a friend. They'll go out and buy it, love it, and recommend it to someone else. Within a few months, lots of people would be using the light bulbs.

Answer 259

I wouldn't waste my time recommending these bulbs. A couple of years ago I bought about 12 of these bulbs and replaced most of the incandescents in our home. Within 6 to 9 months I had about 5 of them fail. By the time I closed in on 1-1/2 years the total failures was close to 10. Not much of a track record, especially at the prices these are selling at. I wonder how "eco-friendly" these can be when they are filling up landfills???

Answer 260

Most "creative" way is to steal all their light bulbs & leave coupons for eco-friendly ones in their place!!

More sensible, is to have a contest, where entrants replace the bulb(s) in the most frequently used light fixture in their home with an eco-friendly light bulb and compare the next electric bill with the same month last year and/or with the previous month.

Calulate the amount saved vs the cost of the bulb. Multiply it over a year.

Entrants submit the savings for a random drawing &/or "Most Savings" contest

Most folks need to be shown a direct benefit for THEM in order to change a lifetime habit..

Answer 261

One reason you can give your friends to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs is that...THEY LOOK A LOT LIKE A PIECE OF ARTWORK INSTEAD OF JUST A BLOB OF GLASS.

Stop and think about this now. The lightbulb on its own right has not been updated in looks other than the amount of light it puts out in over many many decades. Not only does it save money, but it looks great in many light fixtures. However, there are several drawbacks. You can't use them in dimming style fixtures as this is not an incandescent bulb, and due to the height of the bulb itself, may not fit in all fixtures. I live in New Zealand and we have been using the ECO Bulb for a year now. The electric company put them on sale several times to get people to switch over and try them. I now use them, and as yet I have not had to change the bulbs in any fixture. They do seem to last longer and put out a nicer whiter light than regular light bulbs. As far as the savings go, only time will tell. The bulbs here are rated at 100W light output for using only 20W of energy. THAT IS A MAJOR SAVING ON JUST ONE LIGHTBULB.

So to all my friends and relatives...You want more money in your pocket, switch. The choice is easy.

Answer 262

I believe the most effective way is to appeal to one the five senses. Bring them over to your house and have a light fixture with two bulbs with one being the eco friendly and the other a traditional light bulb. Ask them to hold each bulb and see which one they can hold on to the longest before letting go. I think they will automatically feel the difference. They will first hand ( no pun intended) know what a waste of energy the old style Edison bulbs are !!

Answer 263

I try to show people the places I use them. I currently use about 20 CFL in my house. I also have switched about 11 of 13 of my reflector bulb fixtures over to 45W halogen years ago. Unfortunately I find most people don't seem to care. They're okay with their electric bill, suffer from sticker shock when I tell them how much they cost and it doesn't matter how much longer the bulbs last, it's all about the up front cost of the bulb. To make matters worse, I'm finding it harder to find the PAR 38 45W halogen bulbs because people buy by wattage and when they have a flood go out, they don't realize a halogen produces the same light for 20% less watts, so they buy the same wattage bulb.

Answer 264

A real paradigm shift can be achieved if we can replace incandescent bulbs, and CFL's by white LED's, they are far more efficient than both the incandescent bulbs, and CFL's , and also it has no poisonous waste disposal problem like that with the CFL's,which presents a greater threat of long term water table poisoning if rampant use of fluorescent lamps come to stay, the first to be banned should be - my choice CFL's.

White LED's should be made, and promoted on a war footing if the energy inefficient bulbs and environment poisoning CFL's are to be rooted out from use, the technology is there but the will? That is,will industry permit the politicians tied, by their gift-strings, to function in real public interest

Answer 265

Lighting = mood.

I personally would need the glow of the incandescent, the same color quality, to make me switch. I cannot handle the headaches I get from fluorescents (but those are old, and since my Bf is in lighting, he has explained that the rates at which the flickering occurs is much faster and therefore less perceptible).

So, make the lighting that will evoke the proper mood response in me, and I will convince the rest of the world that they can be just as happy with better bulbs, but feel better about themselves while being so!

Answer 266

don't! I purchased those for the whole house. The temperature makes everything look ugly, and three of them have burned out - in less time it takes for a cheap normal bulb. Also when the starters blow, they can cause a fire. The answer to using less energy is in replacing large old appliances with efficient ones. Second is solar panels - a new kind not made of silicone and glass but printed on plastic sheets and affordable. Both of these will make huge changes instead of sweating over a few hundred watts.

Answer 267

Do you like extra spending money? These new light bulbs can lower the cost of energy bills yearly. Also, the bulbs may cost more but look at it this way; buy a cheap bulb for $2, it burns out in a year. You have to buy a new one every year. But buying an energy saving bulb for $4 that will last four years saves more. And if you but them in packages of more than one, you save even more.

Answer 268

There are very efficient and we have some in our house , some last longer than others and perform better . So not all are created equal. We all know they are supposed to produce the same light

measured in lumen's , one other factor is in the summer they produce less heat, 10 100 watt light bulbs produce 3412 BTU's

Market the bulbs in a 15 pack 99.99 with free shipping and include

ROI return on investment time frame. Also contact the power

company in your area and see if you can include information in the monthly electric bill ,Good luck Howard

Answer 269

Well, it depends on which incentives a person will respond. There is an obvious and large economic incentive. For the nature lover the new CFL bulbs leave a much smaller carbon footprint. Finally, for the people that are sick and tired of changing incandescent bulbs so often, there is the five year bulb life. To sum it up, the best way to inspire your friends to buy these new bulbs is to find out what makes there incentive bells jingle.

Answer 270

PROVE they work! We changed all our bulbs last year from incandescent to flourescent (around 48) because the incandescent bulbs were hot. We thought our power bill might drop as well (a side benefit), but no... No change. This is bullcrap, and now that we know the "global warming" alarmists are heading up a drive to change to these (very expensive) bulbs, it's obvious there's a payoff somewhere that's going to go to Al Gore or some other whack-job in the "blame America first"

ideology.

Answer 271

My dad actually changed most of the lights inside and outside our house to flourescent light bulbs...he said they are safer for the environment...I'm not sure where he heard that from...but if I were to convince my friends and family to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs, I would educate them first- since most people don't know that they can do little things in their own home that can make a big difference...and I'm sure that once my friends/fam know they will be willing...if that doesn't work a creative way to remind or inspire them to become more eco-friendly, I would raid their house and leave little notes all over- By the sink: don't leave the water running! OR by the light switch: to turn off the hallway lights! And I would check up on them to make sure their bulbs are changed and that they are recycling and what not...and if all goes well I will celebrate their accomplishments with them...cook them dinner, throw a party, or take them for a night of fun with my dad's hybrid truck (he really has one...lol!)...afterall we are only helping ourselves and its for the best...we have to treat mother earth right!!!!! ; )

Answer 272

The first thing is that many (if not most) of these light bulbs are brighter than original light bulbs. You can really see the difference if you place one in each bedroom, turn on the lights, leave and close the doors. Now look at the difference in the light coming from the bottom of the door. It is noticeable with the doors open, but you can really see it when it is condensed this way. Try it!

Answer 273

Simple. Just make incandescent lights cost as much as flourescents. Most people will buy flourescents if they know it will lower their electric bill, and if the CF (compact flourescent) bulbs cost the same as incandescents, there's actually a financial DISincentive for people to use "old-fashioned" bulbs. There's really no reason NOT to use CF bulbs, except in places where flourescents won't work, like oven lights, or where CF lamps just won't fit, like many small table lamps. Some people object to the color of flourescents, but modern CF bulbs can be had that offset the greenish tint, so even that excuse doesn't wash anymore.



I do NOT believe it should be a legislated solution. One thing we don't need is government sticking its nose into our lives to the point that they're telling us what kind of LIGHT BULBS we can use... but with cost incentives, most people will switch. And some places already sell CF bulbs on sale for insanely low prices, like 19 cents each, so it shouldn't be hard to bring the prices down to where CF bulbs can be competitive with incandescents...

Answer 274

Not to be cheap, but by lowering the price. If you can get a regular bulb for less than a dollar and the eco friendly one is significantly more expensive, people will go with works for their wallet. (This is based on the prices I've seen for these bulbs). They could also get rid of the regular bulbs all together so that there is no choice. That is why the regular bulb has done so well.

Answer 275

If you had a stack of money by the window, would you let several dollars blow off the stack everyday? No, you wouldn't, but that's what really happens every day you aren't using eco-bulbs! You can find eco-bulbs that put out the same brightness for about one-third of the electricity used by regular bulbs, and, they're way cheaper now, they can be had for under $2 if you get them on sale. Plus, you can feel good helping to save the planet!

Answer 276

I just showed them my light bill, my house is all flouresent lighting and with the new ones that look just like the old fashion light bulbs its real easy to change. For the pass 3 months while everyone at work has been complaining about their light bill, they asked me and where surprise and didn't believe me when I told them how low my bill was. So the next day I bought the light bill and all went quiet on how low my bill was. I use motion sensor flour't light in the common areas that I use and sometimes forget to turn them off...e.g. closet, pantry, laundry room....they are modern and decorative. They cost alot up front, but the savings are undisputable in real time. This month my light bill was $40 and everyone else was in the low hundreds, now everyone at work is getting them now. Besides they come with a 5 year warranty and the regular ones don't have any. And the old style where they blink for awhile before coming on....they're not like that anymore....they are instant just like regular lights. So I say talk about it around work....compare bills and I'll bet that little by little they will all change over.

Answer 277

I changed to CF bulbs outdoors only. The problem with compact flourescent bulbs is they have mercury in them. There is enough mercury to require a warning on every package label. Some landfills ban the dumping of flourescent lights due to soil contamination. Yes, I agree that CF bulbs will reduce energy use, but it also is a danger to our environment. So if everyone changed to these bulbs the trade off of energy savings to polution and perhaps heaviily contaminated superfund sites must be weighed cautiousy. Finally, the bulbs lose their strength over time. I wonder if this is due to slow leakage of the gas inside the tube. If so, citizens are endangered with mercury poisoning in their own homes.

Answer 278

Smartest thing you can do is NOT switch to them. They may save energy but is anyone aware of the envorinmental risk that will result from the Mercury that is each and every one of these bulbs? Of course environmentalists will say "just dispose of them properly and all will be just fine." However most people will put them in the trash, then on to the landfill, then into our groundwater. When will people learn that there are no simple solutions to environmental issues and there are ALWAYS unintended bad consequences from these changes. I will not switch since I do not see a problem with the bulbs I have now.

Answer 279

I'm not sure of an insprational way, but some people are hesitant to switch due to the higher cost of the bulbs. I have red-neck inlaws that surprisingly switched and they did it bulb by bulb, instead of just doing the whole house at once. Each time a regular bulb burnt out it was then replaced with the new, efficent bulbs. That way it wasn't so expensive all at once. They decided to do it after reading how much you can save over time on a flyer placed in their electric company's billing.

Answer 280

Why would you want to "inspire" them to use those expensive bulbs?



If you really want to cut energy costs, TURN OUT THE LIGHTS when you leave a room. Use fans in conjunction with higher A/C settings.



While some people point to the savings in the long run, they completely neglect the UP FRONT COSTS of replacing EVERY SINGLE LIGHT BULB IN YOUR HOUSE. Think of how many you have, then multiply that number by five bucks. You'll get the same usage as the flourescent tubes in your kitchen... about two to three years. Those "best case" condition claims of seven years use are about as believeable as MPG claims for your car. Think "real world" usage.



Are you prepared to spend 100 or 200 bucks every couple of years (or even more)? Hell, I have ten light bulbs in my living room alone! Sorry, the "facts" presented in early links are speculation. I live in the real world.



Australia banning incandescent bulbs by 2010 is nothing more than a sop to whoever is going to manufacture compact fluorescent bulbs.



If you really want to save money, turn off the light. If you believe in the THEORY of global warming and want to reduce so-called "greenhouse gases", support nuclear power (and please, no downchecks from those too ignorant to understand nuclear power generation)



LEDs have a brighter future (yes, bad pun) than fluorescents, but the cost effectiveness of the technology hasn't made them viable yet.



By the way, Mr. Bender... who are you again? A Hollywood producer who couldn't hack CIVIL engineering as a major? Gee, Hollywood celebs; is there anything they don't know? DOH!

Answer 281

They need a little improvement before they can truly compete with incandescent bulbs.



I have these bulbs in about half of the fixtures in my house. Here are some of my observations.



First, they are not as bright as incandescent bulbs, especially when the room is cool and when they are first turned on. In my kitchen it have bulbs that are supposed to be equivalent to 100 watt incandescent bulbs. In reality, they are only about as bright as a 75 watt bulb, and this is only after they have warmed up for about 5 minutes.



The new bulbs need to be more cost competitive than incandescent bulbs. People are used to paying from 35 to 50 cents each for incandescent bulbs. The eco-friendly bulbs cost 3 to 5 times more. Yes, I know you will save in the long run, but it gets pricey when you have to buy 15 to 20 of them.

Answer 282

We have eco friendly light bulbs. They do not put out enough light for us. I need something in a 60 watt bulb. Those are difficult to find in incandescent also. I can find them lower and higher. All standard light fixtures say do not exceed 60 watts but this is not a common light fixture and when there is only one bulb lighting the entire room 60 watts is needed. Currently I am sitting under an ecofriendly light bulb in a not very well lighted situation.

The advantages of these bulbs is they last longer and do not need replacement often. For this reason if and when I can find them I have purchased them but most stores and grocery stores where I buy bulbs do not usually carry them and I want some light when I go outside and walk on a narrow sidewalk etc. I have switched outside to solar lights and need to replace those as we bought them back when they were new and not as good as they are now. The newer ones put out more light and these are pretty beat up from the environment now so we will be replacing them. The advantages of outer solar light is no need to run wiring to them and being able to move them if and when you desire along with low maintainance and no need to replace bulbs. I accidentally cut up the electric wired set when digging in the garden in front and working on the porch out back they began falling apart so we replaced the electric lights for the porch also. So we have solar in the front and a mercury bulb in back that is low energy demand puts out good lighting but takes time to light up so I have to be a bit patient when turnng it on it is excellent though. When we replace we tend to select more energy efficient predominantly because of the low maintaince and get the added benefits of energy savings. So if people realized they last longer also they may decided I am sick of replacing bulbs in hard to reach places etc. and choose these even if they cost a bit more. Prices have come down drastically as more people utilize them.

Answer 283

a wonderful idea laurencei think common sense will come to the fore in the end.explanation is of course the best way to things across to your friends.government advertising always helps .make the advertising graphic.you could do this through your industry.let the government encourage the poorer people by giving incentives by a globe get another free,only an example.i live in australia,a promotion very similar to this is going on,when an old globe blows.go and buy the new type.there lasting power is much longer for a start.you will have to buy less globes.i thing it a bit like when we started recycling,nobody was really interested but now it common practice.like putting something in the rubbish bin.people used to throw trash on the ground.now most people use bins.the world is far from perfect.but as i said promote the idea get people to do it and slowly everone else tends to follow.

Answer 284

I must be missing something, I spent hundreds of $$ purchasing the compact fluorescent bulbs for indoor/outdoor lighting. The light emitted was not at all like incandescent. It was awful. They made me look 20 years OLDER. Didn't help my SAD, made it worse even. And forget these bulbs for applying makeup.



As for security outdoor lighting, they're useless. When you live out in the country strong, bright lighting that provides visibility over a wide range is essential to ward off intruders. Compact fluorescent bulbs give off a weak, grayish light. I needed THREE bulbs to provide the same level of brightness as ONE regular incandescent.



I for one think Thomas Edison was a genius and will continue to use incandescent. To compromise, I use lower wattage: 60 instead of 75. Changed some interior lighting to regular fluorescent, use timers on more outlets, changed the electric range and hot water heater to propane, using solar energy to run the water well, traded in the gas guzzler for a smaller, more fuel efficient automobile. My kids use a manual lawnmower, the days of riding mowers are over. They walk or pedal to school. I might relent and get them a Vespa next year.



IMO, compact flourescent bulbs are as eco friendly as the low flush toilet. You need 2-3 bulbs/ flushes to get the same results. Where's the savings in $$ or the environment? BTW, disposing of these things can be problematic what with their being made with mercury. For now, they're collecting dust in a corner of my garage because no one in my family or neighborhood want them.



If others want to use CFB, that's fine, just don't legislate what I use IN MY HOME.

Answer 285

It is true that the same amount of light can be created from less energy using fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescents can even last longer then standard incandescent bulbs. However energy consumption is only part of the "green" concept.

Fluorescents use mercury, plastics and other not so "eco-friendly" materials. When they are spent, they require special recycling to keep them out of our landfills. Now, I am not sure if the energy savings benefit out weights the less attractive aspects...but "eco-friendly" seems to be a bit of a stretch...How about LED lights?

Answer 286

One thing that always gets folks attention is how can they make or save money themselves.



An incentive program would be a great way to reward energy concious homes by rewarding homes a refund on the money they saved from thier previous months bill by switching thier entire home to the eco friendly bulbs or a portion of the cost of the bulbs themselves.



The program could include stipulations as the home owner bringing/sending a store reciept into the electric company to show purchase of the bulbs.



The electric company could offset the cost of thier refunds/rebates through joint cooperation of other local/national power companies or fuel providers and even the bulb manufactures themselves.

Answer 287

My house uses digital dimmers throughout, but these bulbs, at least the dimmable bulbs, have only three dim settings, low, med and bright. I use CF's now but would use them more if they came in more stylish packages... go to the store and look at the multitude of bulb styles available for incandescents. Do the same for CF's and you have a winner. Right now there are only the circular bulbs. There are also spots and floods, that are simply circular bulbs with a spot or flood housing around it. They're ugly, not terribly suitable for recessed light fixtures. You need a nice, dimmable, good looking bulb for todays contemporary lighting.



For anything with a shade on it, or other fixture where the bulb isn't visible, they're fantastic... would never change.

Answer 288

About a year ago, I told every one of my conservative Texas family members and liberal Austin friends how much changing their light bulbs could help global climate change. My freinds went right our and bought them, many thanking me profusly for bringing awareness to the issue. My family, however, refused to based on their rather uninformed notion that a) global warming was a scam, and b)who cares about light bulbs? To quote one of them, "Ha! Those light bulbs are awful. It takes more energy for people to make them than traditional light bulbs, so even if they did help with energy, they more than make up for it there! And they look ridiculous" What? I couldn't believe that these very same people I've known my enitre life would be so stubborn about an issue they knew nothing about.



I've emailed my whole address book and posted bulletins on myspace. That worked well for most young adults my age, whether they thought much about the environment or not. Here is my biggest motivator: SAVE MONEY (A LOT OF $) ON YOUR UTILITY BILL while helping the global environment. A good 40+ emailed me back saying that they bought the new light bulbs for their house. I felt that I had reached a good many people.



My family, however, continue to amaze me. I bought them Gore's "An Inconevient Truth," but they wouldn't watch it. I send them emails with links to stories about California, Australia, and Gore's Nobel Peace Prize nomination, I've shown them my electricity bill. They are most comfortable in their ignorance; they do not care to know about the "cause" I have adopted. One minor vistory, though- my mother changes the topic whenever I mention them, but I DID just see a package of compact flourescent bulbs on her china cabinet!

Answer 289

There are a few reasons why using energy saving light bulbs is a great idea:



1) They may be more expensive than regular lightbulbs, however overall they save you money because they can last for years so you don't have to buy new lightbulbs every month or so



2) They are better for the environment for two reasons: a. they save energy which reduces polution and b. they reduce the waste from constantly throwing out used lightbulbs

Answer 290

In answer to your question. I do not think that the problem is in the public. I think that the problem is that we have a government that is so greedy and corrupt with there hands in the oil companies pockets that we are not being given enough information to make a well educated and thought out course of action. I think that I would vote for a president that has worked for Green Peace or something like that. I would hope then that they would follow the example being set by Australia and set up a way to fad out the old style bulbs. The question then should not be what are we going to do to influence friends and family (while yes this would help and make a difference) it should be how are we going to get the government to stop lying to us and give us all the information about what is truly happening with global warming. And how do we as a nation force the government that seems to have forgotten "for the people by the people of the people" Not "for myself by myself and of myself $$$" to tell us what to do. While yes I think of myself as a half way well educated person most of America is stupid and needs someone to tell them what to do, and that someone sometimes needs to be the government. or soap opera stars.

Answer 291

Why not do what the electric companies did to encourage people to use electricity in the 1950's and early 60's. When you paid your electric bill you were given free light bulbs. The govenment or utilities companies that want to save money should make these bulbs available on a trade-in basis or limit the number you can get each month. Do they really want us to save electricity? If so then there must be a compelling reason for them financially to offer free light bulbs.

Answer 292

1- Establish a Bulb Bank to be financed by the bulb manifactures and subsidised by the governments.

2- All people can take their old bulbs and exchange them with the new efficient light bulbs. After all the people paid for the old ones. Therefore the exchange has to be free.

3- That way every one in the world will use the new bulbs, not just the few educated wealthy ones who happened to be environmentally concerned.

Answer 293

I don't believe that the added cost of eco-friendly over regular incandescent bulbs is an issue, but the added expense of some of the eco-friendly bulbs burning out in a couple of weeks certainly is. They don't last anywhere near as long as the manufacturers claim. And why are there only two manufacturers of them - at least at Home Depot or Walmart? Because of this it's hard to tell if they are saving or costing you more.

Answer 294

I encourage my friends with facts and cost savings. I think that it will help them better understand by explaining the cost savings just a tad more than the benefits to enviroment. Below is a e-mail I put together for my friends to read regarding my personal situation so that they can see the REAL savings instead of the packaging on lights telling you how much your going to save. So far it's been 2 months and my eletric bill has dropped by $25.00 each month. Pretty close to the estimates that the bulbs gave me

____________________________________________________





1.) Change all the light bulbs in your house to more efficient energy saving bulbs. This will not only reduce your electricity bill but will also reduce the demand for energy. I have done the average breakdown for my house. Most household lights run off a 60-65 watt lightbulbs. Mine is no different. I have done a breakdown of my house to demostrate what I'm talking about.



The total number of bulbs in my house is 53. I have a five bedroom two bath house. Below is the breakdown of bulbs in the house.



The cost of buying the new energy saving bulbs was around $290.00 for my entire house.



-60 watt bulbs = 31 in my house * $45 savings / 7years / 12 months = (199.29 per year savings) (16.60 per month savings)



-65 watt bulbs = 22 in my house * $48 savings / 7 years / 12 months = ($150.86 per year savings) ($12.57 per month savings)



Over the life span of these bulbs (7 years) I will save $2,161.00. That includes subtracting the amount paid for purchasing the bulbs. Over a one year time span I will save $350.15. My monthly savings will be $29.17. I will make up the cost of buying the bulbs in less than a year.



Now let's talk about performance. At first when we plugged in the bulbs the light was very dim. We had a moment where we thought, what have we done? We gave the lights about 30 seconds to one minute to heat up. We were amazed at the difference. These lights were actually brighter than our old one's. Not only that they don't get as hot either. Probably one of the most astonishing things of all is the wattage these new bulbs use. Each 60 watt bulb in the house now uses 13 watts and the 65 watt bulbs only use 15 watts of energy. How can you beat that?



Now there is one minor drawback, these lights currently will not work with either dimmer switches or controls.



Now you also might say, "What do I do with my old bulbs?" I say throw them away and buy new energy saving spares if you need them. We all know ourselves and if these old bulbs were still available in the house we would install them again if one of our energy saving bulbs burnt out. Also don't go giving them to your friends either. Encourage them to go buy new energy saving bulbs. Outline the cost benefit for them.



All these figures were tabulated using Bright Effects bulbs. We located these at our local Lowes Home Store.



Let's all work together to build a better world. We've only got one.



My next e-mail will have recycling tips and ideas. Enough like minds will change the world.





Sincerely,



Terry Dries

Galt, California

Answer 295

I don't know if you really can. My main frustration with the new type of light bulb is that I do not find the light quite as soft. Bright and annoying as a matter of fact. Maybe I have not found the right brand quite yet. The other thing I don't like about these types of bulbs is that you cannot use a dimmer with them. Lighting is more than just functional, it can create atmosphere.



I'm all for new solutions...if they figure that out, then I will be sold.

Answer 296

I give Compact fluorescent light bulbs as Christmas presents. That way my friends and family have a chance to see how well they work. they are always on sale at Lowe's and home depot around the holidays.



but now I'm a little concerned about the mercury inside the bulb's and the environmental impact this will start to have on our landfills after the compact bulb becomes more popular.

Answer 297

No way!!! I thought they were a great idea a couple of years ago, however, when I put them in my home office, they played havic with my computer. I went through months of trying to figure out why my PC was going batty, then I learn from a computer store that the "eco-friendly" light bulbs were the cause of the problem. I immediately switched them out for traditional bulbs and, vwala, my PC worked like normal again. Then I read the packaging of the eco-friendly bulbs and it says right there in black and whilte the bulbs may interfere with some electronic devises. There you go!

Answer 298

The way to switch people to the eco f-friendly light bulbs is through their wallets. Make the eco-friendly bulbs more cheaper than the other generic brand bulbs. If that don't work, then the regular bulbs should be banned by the government and then, the people will not have a choice.

Answer 299

A few years ago I switched all my lightbulbs to those "eco friendly" ones-- the ones thst cost like $8.oo each for a 3-way bulb and are supposed to last 5 years.

Well, they don't last 5 years as I have had to replace at least 4 of those bulbs.

So I couldn't inspire anyone to spend all that money on lightbulbs that don't last longer than incandescent bulbs and cost 10 times as much. I think it would take several years for these bulbs to pay off in savings, provided they lasted 5 years like they are advertised to do.

However, I still continue to replace them with new eco-friendly bulbs. Go figure...

Answer 300

My question back to you is, "What is an eco-friendly light bulb?"



I assume you are talking about fluorescent bulbs, but can we really call them "eco-friendly?"



While it is true that fluorescent bulbs use less electricity, and therefore less energy -- which results in less impact to the environment on the energy production side. Fluorescent bulbs also contain mercury.



So the trade off is do we want to produce more energy to power incandescent bulbs, or do we want to pollute our ground and ground water with mercury from fluorescent bulbs?



So how does this sound as a way to inspire friends and family to switch?



Stop wasting electricity and start polluting the envorinment with excess mercury by switching from incandescent bulbs to fluorescent bulbs.



It makes perfect sense to me.

Answer 301

Simple!

Calculate all the wasted time spent changing those nefarious light bulbs that deign to fail every couple of months, add up the cost of these said light bulbs- answer equals the perfect case for buying eco friendly bulbs, which in my experience last an awful lot longer ( up to a year in some of my rooms).

The sums add up, just think of what else you could be doing instead of changing that bulb.

Time is money is saved on bulbs and electricity!

Answer 302

All things trickle down. For the most part, big government, state and local don't care, then how will this work? If big business, major investment properties are not interested in things like energy, recycling, and water use then why should individuals? Numbers add up. The public needs to be educated in all areas of conservation out of respect for others and our future. In itself teaching on global warming is not enough nor convincing.

Publicity, marketing, and packaging are the next steps to generate sales. Use a better marketing stragedy. Spend money to make money. The drug companies certainly know how to implement this technique. Educate and convince the community that they need these to save money on electricity. The more they see the product the more they will not pass by them in the store.

Answer 303

I agree with the idea of simple making it standard. There is no reason that we should ignore that we can do so much better. It can't happen over night but I think a 5-10 year plan can help to adjust cost and new construction to use these lights. However, there needs to be options for these lights as well such as office or home use. There will be be older bulbs for time to come I'm sure but we can start building for better.

Answer 304

Well, every single light bulb socket in my house that I can screw these light bulbs in has one of these light bulbs. Yeah they are more expensive but what sold me on them is the fact that I got tired of having to change a light bulb every two or three months. The eco-friendly bulbs that are in my house have been running for well over a year. In addition, they are brighter, and use much less wattage. A 13 watt eco-friendly bulb is about as bright as a 60 watt regular bulb. All other things considered, the cost for one of these is about equivalent to how many regular light bulbs you will have to replace during the life of ONE of the eco-friendly light bulbs. The fact that they are eco-friendly is an added bonus.

In my opinion, the only people that wouldn't switch to these light bulbs are cheapskates.

Answer 305

Here's the real question, however...

How "eco-friendly" are these light bulbs if people use them and just throw them out?



KNOW THE FACTS...

Small amounts of mercury are contained within these bulbs. If people are not educated on how this can affect their environment, we may be doing more harm than good when sales of these bulbs accelerate to much larger numbers.



The answer is that you should be recommending to friends and family, but you should also be aware of the shortfalls that these bulbs.



Yes, in my humble opinion, you should be using these light bulbs, but you should know that you have the responsibility to recycle them properly. Otherwise you are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul (i.e. trading global warming for increased pollution).



Check out the following link (as there are numerous sources quoting the same problem): http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198

Answer 306

I tell my friends and associates that fluorescent bulb technology has progressed "light years" from the old glaring tube bulbs and that these new bulbs last for approximately a year. That means that I don't have to climb and change bulbs nearly as frequently as "once upon a time ago". Also, these new bulbs are designed to eliminate headaches from glare. AND, they save a LOT OF MONEY! Stores like Home Depot are now selling these bulbs at a reasonable price.

Answer 307

Make the eco-friendly bulbs cheaper than the regular bulbs. This can be accomplished many ways. A non-eco-friendly lightbulb tax would not only encourage the public to buy the cheaper light bulbs but would also generate funding for more environmental friendly programs from the sale of the 'edison' bulbs.

Answer 308

Since all my friends know that I have an intense aversion to fluorescent lighting, the most creative way I know to get them to switch is to change all their bulbs without asking…and never visit them again. I would rather not have any light at all than use fluorescents. I do not patronize any businesses that use them…they damage your eyes and make things look ugly. There are much better ways to save a great deal more energy than is used by incandescents. This is a scam.

Answer 309

I try to set an example for family and friends. I've gotten several family members and friends to recycle and consider purchasing eco-friendly products (cleaners, recycled paper goods, furniture made from reclaimed wood, etc). You convince people by setting an example yourself.



Maybe those of us concerned with saving our environment could send email requests to the eco-friendly light bulb manufactures suggesting they offer an exchange program at Home Depot, etc for a day. Once people realize the bulbs give off the same quality of light, more people might be willing to initially pay more to save more in the long run (bulbs last longer and save more energy). The eco-friendly light bulb manufactures will make more in the long run than they give up in the exchange program.

Answer 310

Why would we want to force people to switch to more expensive lights that will not cut their electric bill. They do not last any longer than Incandescent ones and cost 5 times as much.



If you feel a need to save the planet teach people top turn off the lights they already have when they are not needed.



Besides if you watch Mythbusters there is an LED light that uses even less energy but costs even more! Why not require that we go to them!!!



I am still waiting proof that mankind is warming the planet. It was not that long ago that we were going to be in a deep freeze because of pollution. When they couldn't sell us on that they switched to global warming. Its all bunk!

Answer 311

That's a tough one.



The fact of the matter is that they are ugly. Well at least the ones that I've seen.



Everyone is accustomed to the "bulb". Not the spiral thingy.



I suggest that the shape somehow more closely resemble our old friend the light bulb.



As for convincing someone...

Show your friends your electricity bill. Before and after you switched to the new lights. If there is a significant difference (lower), they'll be compelled to follow suit. Maybe you can add "We went out to eat last night on the money we saved."



Or...change the bulbs yourself when they're not looking. Then send them the bill.

Answer 312

Not sure how "creative" this is, but my husband and I switched to these bulbs because of 1) the savings on our electric bill over the life of the bulb and 2) these suckers ARE long-lived, so there's the savings in NOT buying tons of regular bulbs.



Perhaps a cartoon or a color graph depicting the savings would be useful? Maybe something involving Disney caraters the way a Donald Duck cartoon from LONG ago explained how understanding mathmatics helps to understand other aspects of life, such as music and pool-playing.

Answer 313

For years I have been using energy saving bulbs in my house way before it became so chic. As far as getting people to make the switch in a creative way I could think of nothing more creative than showing them my power bill before the switch and after. The savings in terms of energy is tremendous, and what this means is less money, not less light. I would invite someone over to my house with every light in the house on, and wait to see if they noticed that I had every light in the house burning. Then if they made a comment about how much energy I was using, I would show them my power bill and how cheap it is.

Answer 314

With energy-saver light bulbs, you can reduce lighting power bills by between 75 and 80 per cent. The eco-friendly light bulbs will cost more than an ordinary light bulb. However, the eco-friendly light bulb will last 10 times longer than an ordinary light bulb with an added bonus of saving you energy costs. These bulbs will pay for it self in six months without sacrificing the light output. In fact, the eco-friendly light bulb omits a brighter luminescence than those old bulbs and burn much cooler.

Think about it. You will not need to get on a ladder to change your ceiling bulbs often when they burn out. In fact, the eco-friendly bulb will last up to seven years.

I replaced every bulb in my 3,000 s/f home with eco-friendly bulbs and enjoy savings and the pleasure that they will last for a long, long time. My home both interior and exterior is much brighter and I SAVE MONEY and help contribute to the overall reduction of power consumption needs we must all look at very carefully. so, change your bulbs!

Answer 315

"How can you motivate people to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs?"



I believe you motivate by leading....So I installed eco-friendly light bulbs throughout my entire house. I though hey even though the ROI (Return On Investment) would be four+ years I'm doing my part for the environment. Unfortunately, it didn't work out. Even though I purchased name brand product over half the bulbs failed within the first 2 1/2 years (Och!). So for me, it was money down the drain....



To truly make it economical the cost of these bulbs must come down but MORE IMPORTANTLY we need to see an increase in MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures).



One other note, when one considers the energy it take to manufacturer eco-friendly light bulbs (significantly more than incandescent) I'm not convinced if we're actually saving energy...I would like to see the hard data.

Answer 316

Construct the compact fluorescent light bulbs as grow lights. It is well known that all standard fluorescent lighting emits light in unnatural wave lengths, while grow lights mimic the normal distribution of waves in sun light. People like the yellow glow from incandescent bulbs because it is closer to the wavelengths of the sun.



Compact grow lights, emitting a pleasing facsimile of sun light, will be well accepted where nasty cold fluorescent lighting is shunned.



Also, work to eliminate the hum, sputter, and other objectionable features of fluorescent lighting and people will even spend more money on such bulbs. This can work only if there is a massive shift to engineering compact fluorescent bulbs as grow lights.



IMHO.



Richard C. Johnson

Answer 317

I write this as an interior designer. And I would love to play an important role in changing the way we conserve energy and create pleasant and inspiring environments. However, the biggest challenge I face in designing lighting is very simple and yet the most challenging. How to turn a really ugly light bulb into an exciting concept. The choice is: white, cold florescent glow and soft warm atmospheric light. Indeed many prefer the second one and even though conservation is important to so many...most prefer the low atmospheric lighting controlled by the dimmer to the florescent one.



I pose this challenge to the industry to design their light bulb so that is expressive, attractive and most important...of pleasant light quality. And if they can, it will be easier for all of us to make the transition.

Answer 318

The Best way to motivate people to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs? simple. Get rid of all other options!! Why must be have non-eco friendly light bulbs marketed on the shelves at all! I know this is not a very educated response...but I dont have time to research right now while I am working, I just wanted to throw that out there

Answer 319

It seems to so many people that when you speak ecology, it's old hat or it becomes a subject of "the old days". Today's society just does not realize that people have been fighting for a cleaner environment for so long and are still fighting. Those that continue to be ecologically sound in their lifestyles are sometimes considered eclectic or odd. That is a pity with America's society. Not only do we have to battle a stigma, we have to educate. We can give gifts that are self-explanatory and hope that the recipient understands and reads the literature and then decides it is worthwhile. Getting on a soapbox just doesn't cut it anymore. Beginning with our descendants, the kindergartners, I believe we should teach them. There should be an actual course of study integrated into each year of class through high school. After all, it worked for computers, why not for energy resource, environmental education and societal issues?

Answer 320

Pay for them. Until so called eco-friendly options are the same price or very little difference up front, it doesn't matter the long term or over-all savings, people will not switch. At a difference of between $2-5 per bulb up front, that is too great of a cost for most people to have to swallow. Until that happens, don't expect anyone to switch....and eco-friendly people should try to realise that now!! (by the way, I have eco-friendly bulbs in my house because I could afford to buy them and older wiring kept burning out the regular ones, so I tried something else)

Answer 321

eco-friendly light bulbs?

You're kidding right?

As if there's no other pressing, important issues in the world, we need to concentrate on eco-friendly light bulbs... By this, one can assume that the typical light bulbs of the past 50 years are all damaging the environment so bad, that this issue has to take precedence over the war on terror, lying politicians, Iran's nuke, North Korea's nuke... Even Anna Nicole merits itself as more newsworthy.

I can not believe that this is a featured question. There are so many more things that are actually important than eco-friendly light bulbs.

We're talking about LIGHT BULBS... Soldiers are dying, and we're talking about light bulbs. Dick Cheney just made a million dollars in the time it took me to type this from Haliburton. Bill Gates just made 100 million in the time it took me to type that sentence. The US Army has begun allowing waivers for felons to join the armed forces. A middle school principal has bought Crack with the intent to smoke it in his office - a $400 a day habit, how much are teachers getting paid?



All things more worthy of discussion.



Light bulbs?



You're out of your mind. If light bulbs are the highest priority on your discussion list, you should consider seeking counseling; you are entirely too self absorbed.

Answer 322

I've learned that people should lead by example. I have eco-friendly lightbulbs throughout my house and love them! I purchased them over 6 months ago, and I haven't had to replace one since. I usually leave one light on all night when I go to sleep. If I left a regular lightbulb on all night, I would have had to replace it at least five times in 6 months! Trust me, I had to do that in the past.



Sure the eco-friendly ones are a little more when initially purchasing them; however, just think of how much you spend on the other bulbs when you constantly have to replace them, not to mention I saved almost $55 so far in my electric bill. This pretty much covers the initial cost - so from this point forward, I'm saving, saving, saving. :-)



This is the information I shared with my family and friends, who've gone out and purchased some themselves.



The positives: saving energy - savings on electic bill - longer-life



I even have the eco-friendly flood lights. I'm shocked that more people don't go out and get them. But I'm happy to report my family and friends have thanked me for mentioning all the benefits!

Answer 323

1. Government of each country to stop the production of the old type of light bulbs and change to production of the econ ones.

2. Governments to subsidize the consumers to the level of 20% less than the sale price of the old bulbs.

3. Governments to buy up all the remaining stocks of old bulbs at cost from the manufacturers and then sell it for scraps for recycling of the usable parts.

4. All the above will be paid by a anti-global warming tax so that people are aware of the seriousness of the warming. This new tax's name is very important so that people are warned for the warming consequences and any other work for anti-global warming will be paid from this tax too.

Answer 324

I would relate the inspiration into the form of green ($). Show the comparison of the standard incandescent lamp vs. the flourescent lamp in the words of power savings and length of operating time, then hit them with how much money they will save. Some people think that "what's a penny saving?" Well, to start with, concider 1 penny per month for a year. that's 12 cents. Whoopie you say? Ok, let's continue with how many lights do you have in your home? A general count is 35 - 45 lamps. So let's go with 35 for starters. Let's do some math. We now have 35 cents in this equation figured over a years time. .35 x 12 = 4.20. Look here! We just saved 4 dollars! And these figures are based on a 1 hour of usage per light. Now do the figures on 6 hours per day and 365 days. That's now $2.10 in savings per day and $766.50 per year! I know what i can do with an extra $700+ in my pocket every year. How about you?

Answer 325

Most people I know who use compact light bulbs do so because of $ savings. Not only do they use less electricity, they also last longer which lowers the cost of replacement and labor changing bulbs. Also, many electric companies encourage their use by subsidizing or selling them directly at reduced prices.



However, promoters should also be aware that some people are bothered by the light emitted by these bulbs. The flicker isn't nearly as bad as early flourescent lights, but it's still there.

Answer 326

There are a couple of issues when dealing with eco friendly bulbs. First, they cost more initially.....saves you money in the long run but are pricey at first. Secondly, CF bulbs are only energy efficient after burning for four hours or more. So if you do not leave lights on for more than four hours at a time then your just paying more for bulbs. The main advantage is longevity. They usually have an average life span of 10,000 hours compared to the incandescent bulb rated at appx. 2,000 hours.

Answer 327

We just switched out all of the bulbs in our home with these new bulbs, simply for the savings on our power bill. We were amazed to see that each bulb we changed could save us up to $28.00 a year in electricity. In our home that means a possible savings of $532.00 a year! WOW! Although they cost slightly more to purchase than a regular bulb, they give off a brighter light that shows my paint colors more truely! I know that sharing this information with my family and friends would be enough to convince them - everyone needs to save a little money here and there! Hopefully everyone that uses one of these bulbs will share the good news and the great idea will spread!

Answer 328

Get a government grant to fund reasearch and development to proven light bulb companies, for the purpose of finding ways to mass produce the eco-bulbs at a price which can compete with incandescent bulbs at the grocery store.



(ie. make the bulbs cheaper, say $1.99 instead of $5.99. Then no one will be concerned if they last super long or not).



Problem is, BC Hydro (the British Columbia state owned power monopoly) gave us all coupons for free eco-friendly bulbs. The bulbs burned out in 6 months, which means you would be paying a lot more because it takes a couple of years to catch up on energy savings. If I had paid the full price, with that kind of burnout rate, I would be losing money. (the eco-friendly bulbs don't seem to last nearly as long as they claim. They ones I tried lasted 6 months to a year instead of 5 years as they claim.)

Answer 329

I'm not sure there is a way to encourage others to use the eco-friendly light bulbs. We use them, but have had to get used to dim lighting in all rooms in the evenings. If visitors come over to see our example of what happens when using these bulbs, its a pretty dismal display. The manufacturers need to work on making them more like daylight, especially for those of us in the north where dusk happens in the winter at about 4:00 in the afternoon. As far as long-lasting, we have yet to have one of these eco-friendly bulbs last one year, much less the 5 to 7 years touted on most of the packaging. And just try to return one for the "guarantee"! The stores won't take them back and it's totally ridiculous to try to mail one back to the manufacturer. But, we'll keep on using them, though they cost much more, as we're trying to do our part for the environment. Bottom line--I think it's up to the manufacturer to get others to use the eco-friendly bulbs, as most people will look at the cost compared to the trade-off of duller, dimmer lighting in the home.

Answer 330

Well I can't think of a creative way to inspire friends to buy these eco-friendly light bulbs. However, there is one way to get friends, anybody for that matter, to buy them and use them. That way is to tell them how much money they can save every month on their electric bill.



Tell them this story: I replaced every light bulb in my house with the energy savers and now save an average of $35-$45 a month! The old light bulbs used total nearly 2,800 Watts of energy down to just over 300 Watts!



Sometimes I tell people to use them and I get the same complaint every time 'Those lights are too expensive!'. Heck after 2 1/2 months they paid for themselves!!! I've saved over $2,000 since I've had them.



Also if $35-45 isn't enough of a savings GIVE ME $35 a month :)

Answer 331

It might help to encourage people like myself for manufacturers to create true dimming bulbs. Most people have a relatively few bulbs which operate very, very bright. Myself, I prefer a lot of lights throughout the house but all are on dimmers.



All this aside, what about specialty bulb replacements? Candelabra bases, vanity globes or perhaps the fridge and oven?



I don't think the flourescent bulb industry has really moved into the real world of how their bulbs actually get used and they certainly have not quite captured my full attention yet.



Brian

Answer 332

I think the most creative idea is still technology. I think eco-friendly bulbs have come a long way in the last couple years, but still they do not give off the light of a standard bulb. I do use eco-friendly bulbs, but it is hard to want to use them where you need real good lighting. I would like to see the technology get to a point where the light is brighter and whiter. If we can get technology to the point where the light given off is equivelant to a standard light bulb, I think people will be a lot more willing to use them.

Answer 333

Set an example by having all of your energy needs met within your home. Evidently, others will see that the so-called "not as bright light" or "they are too expensive" are just excuses to get out of their comfort zone. Once they see you have saved some money on your electric bill, and helped with energy conservation, they may get the message. But, just as when others stop smoking, etc., we can not push our agenda on others. Role models, and living the right way may have them asking you what to do for their home. Creative...actually, we have the whole house full of the lights and they aren't creative, but not ugly either. The creativity comes from the colors in the home, the lamps that the bulbs are in, and so on. Good luck. And congratulations on doing your part with this energy issue.

Answer 334

I agree with previous comments. Give the eco-friendly bulbs as gifts. I don't believe the savings on costs is a big incentive these days. Nor I hate to the environmental reasons. Just being able to with the new eco-bulbs not have ot change them so often is a benefit that will be recognized.

Answer 335

It's simple... make them as inexpensive as standard bulbs. People on a budget can not afford the higher initial cost even if the overall cost is lower.



That is the ONLY way it will occur.



And remember, global warming is occuring but over the past 5000 years we are much colder right now than the avergae. Mother Nature is merely adjusting itself and it has very little to do with man. Yahoo "Little Ice Age" from 1400 - 1800

Answer 336

I would use them in and actually WANT to use them... but they cost 2 to 3 times as much as regular light bulbs and the immediate output feels too high for me right now. I looked at the the other day & considered it. But I think the cost would be a good way... stop production of the old light bulbs and force everyone to use the eco friendly ones.

Answer 337

How about a true and accurate comparison of light output.... I bought 2 bulbs and was very disappointed. I obviously don't know how to correctly buy the equivalant "light" to a regular light bulb. How about the output of a 40, 50, 75, 100, and 150 watt bulb? Take the mystery out of buying this expensive bulb and I'll try again...

Answer 338

Make it an economic argument. Point out these bulbs are cheaper because of their longer life. They use less electricity. I have 2 10 watt bulbs that are replacing 2 40 watt bulbs, 20 watts as opposed to 80, 75% savings in one room.

Everybody wants to save money, and if you can help the environment, it's a win for everybody, except the power company. Who cares about them anyway?

Answer 339

I think the most creative way to get people to use eco friendly-products (not just light bulbs) is to give these people some sort of tax deduction for using them. If business start to use eco friendly products they too should be able to get some sort of tax deduction as well. People should recieve tax deductions for buying eco friendly cars and for using eco friendly power in their houses as well. We know since the beggining of time, that we have been polutting our planet but we are finally at a point where we can understand it and find ways to imporve our planet. however as with everything in this world, it all comes down to money. and thats why i feel a tax break is the best way to do this. because everyone loves getting some extra money and a great side effect would be helping our environment.

Answer 340

get rid of the old bulbs for good and get only new light saving bulbs in the shops. Put the prices down and they'll fly off the shelves. Unfortunately people is just a bit too ignorant whenit comes to this unless its done there and then. I would probably say also to make sure people is aware of how much money they can save in electricity bill. Thats all taht matters to some. Including me really.

Answer 341

well, I'll tell ya. I have purchased many of those bulbs. They do not last any longer than my regular bulbs, which is no time at all. I have one on my front porch that has lasted as promised so far. However, my BF replaced all the bulbs in his house with them. His house is the darkest house I've ever seen. only one bulb is bright enough to convince me they are worth having. I feel like I'm blind when I am in his house, its so dim, I end up with a headache. So I think the best way to inspire people to use these bulbs, is to improve them. Once they are bright enough to be useful and consistently last longer than the average bulb, as promised, more people will begin to convert without any prompting from me.

Answer 342

It's not difficult at all. Nowadays many people have more concern and greater awareness over environmental protection. As they know how eco-friendly light bulbs contribute to the environment, i am pretty sure that most of them is willing to particpate in using it.

To inspire them, apart from letting them know the advantage of using those light bulbs, we can also talk to them that their support will gain lots of acclaim from the public, which lead to a raise in their social status.

In fact, if possible, I would advise people to organise a campian where participants urge their friends to use those bulbs. Who get the most and who will be the final winner.

So exciting is the campain that people would have more incentive to devote themselves, with the result that the switching rate can hit higher and higher....

Anyway, people are nice and know that everyone is responisble for the protection. As long as the message, which eco-friendly light bulbs is good for environment, is spreaded, people will come and use without hesitantce, (I guess)

Answer 343

I try to reason with them by explaining that switching 2 or 3 for the eco-friendly light bulbs in your house will save you money. People say they want to save the environment, but saving money comes first. I tell them the facts: although each lightbulb costs somewhere between $3 to $12, you save 5% of your monthly bill and these bulbs last 9 times the old bulbs! It's not very creative, but it does stick in their heads longer.

Answer 344

There are two problems that need to be overcome to make fluorescent generally acceptable: 1. they need to not make everyone look so bad in the mirror, and 2. the humming has got to stop. I'm a Dad who's been trying to introduce these things into our household for a long time, and until these two problems are addressed, the bulbs will get changed back as soon as I leave the house.

Answer 345

Why would I want to coerce others into using these light bulbs instead of whatever it is they have right now? It seems to me that this is none of my business and the only light bulbs I should be concerning myself with are the ones in my own home; unless I am trying to manufacture and sell the new lights bulbs. By the way I do have some florescent lights in my home in appropriate locations.



It's just amazing to me that those who would want to create a light bulb crusade against the "incandescent infidel" are often the same people who leave their computers on 24-7 or drive around with the trunk of their car full of junk. Instead of putting your nose in other peoples' business, butt out and pay attention to your own.

Answer 346

I started using them 3 years ago. I tell my friends about them and several are using them now. A friend has a beauty shop with 6 overhead light fixtures with 5 bulbs in each. She was using 60 watt incandescents so that was 1800 watts when they were all burning.



I told her about the twisty bulbs and how she could save money using them. I explained to her they were screw-in flourescents and the initial cost was much higher than conventional bulbs but because of efficiency and bulb life they were well worth the initial cost. She had me get the bulbs for her (6 pack of 13 watt bulbs equivilent to 60 watt bulbs cost less than $10. I bought 5 packs for her and installed them. They were so bright she elected to remove one bulb from each fixture. She still had more light than before. After two full months with them in service I asked if she saw a difference in the electric bill for her shop. She got the bills out and showed me the first full billing cycle she saved just over $32 and the second full billing cycle hder bill was still over $29 lower but the temperature had dropped and she had to run the furnace more during the second month. Now she is saving money because they have already paid for themselves and she won't have to replace bulbs for a while.



As time goes by they are designing them where they aren't as ugly. You can get round ones or the cone shaped ones for lighting fixtures under ceiling fans. They are marketing much more attractive bulbs.



But the real answer to your question of how to motivate people to use them. The answer is money. That is what it takes to motrivate many of the people I deal with.

Answer 347

I changed 26 bulbs in my home over to the new CFL type to help me save money. 3 of those died on me but I saved all my receipts and all 3 that I had purchased at Home Depot have been replaced through their lighting center. With a 6-7 year warranty, I know I won't have to buy another bulb for a long time.Also, I can feel the difference in the air temperature in one of our bathrooms where we have 10 bulbs over the mirror.The heat is just not their with the new CFL's compared to the old incandescant bulbs. This is another good reason to switch over.

Answer 348

If there is a way to make BILLIONS upon BILLIONS of dollars on useless holidays such as Valentines day, then there is a way to sell a lightbulb.



People go nuts over coupons, they go to certain stores just to save 20 cents per lb on grapes. Since these lightbulbs are fairly expensive, give out coupons, 20% off, buy one get one free, rebates. People will love that idea



Another idea would be to make billboards accross highways and commercials on TVs like they do about cigarette companies, death rates and consequences of smoking. Society loves facts and statistics and would love make a difference if they knew the facts!



This would be a crazy idea but a good marketing skeem. Have sweepstakes of these Eco-friendly lightbulbs for a month and have thousand winners or more. Good chance to would attract people. It could go something like this... "Register now and win a house makeover with eco-friendly lightbulbs for you and X many friends" Word would spread to friends and vwola.



Government Tax incentive, i mean why not?? They do it for Hybrid vehicles and fuel efficient vehicles...same concept.

Answer 349

Inspire others by NOT saying this (which is all true – check it out):



Amazing how rumors spread! These bulbs do provide about four times as much light as an equivalent incandescent; however, they are filled with Mercury (Hg) vapor! You know, the poisonous stuff that is in your tuna. Fluorescent bulbs are supposed to be treated as hazardous waste, but usually they're just thrown away, breaking and releasing Hg into the atmosphere. Besides this, despite their low power consumption in continuous service, fluorescents use a lot of energy if they are turned on and off often.



This is a lot like coal power being "dirtier" than nuclear power. Coal can burn very cleanly, and at hotter temperatures than a nuclear reactor (to prevent meltdown). Hotter temperatures mean higher thermal efficiency; if you know about the second law of thermodynamics, you realize that this means more of the total energy is available for use. Besides this, greenhouse gases (which make the earth hotter, but can be processed by living organisms such as: all plant life & ocean creatures called salps (they poop carbon)) are a highly debatable trade-off for nuclear waste (which cannot be processed by any living organism in excessive quantity, and for our lifespans, persists for eternity).



NOT A VERY GOOD TRADE-OFF BY MY ASSESSMENT. These matters require more careful analysis, by people with some understanding about what they are talking about. Instead, politicians begin a "mission" to save the world that they don't understand. Reminds me of Mao Tse-Tung ordering all of communist China to kill all of the sparrows that were eating crops - only it turned out they didn't understand that the sparrows were eating the pests that actually were eating the crops, leading to disastrous results.

Answer 350

First you should probably get them to move to a warm climate. Light bulbs are actually a terrific source of heat and electric heat is often much cleaner than burning an older oil furnace, or wood or coal. Therefore if you want to be eco friendly by switching out the light bulbs, you should first eliminate the need for the economical heat that the light bulb supplies. ...be creative, move South.

Answer 351

What can be a motivating factor to change habits? Cost. At least in my cost-conscious book. When gas prices increase, some people change their driving habits. Why not increase the pricing on the old-fashioned bulbs so the eco-friendly will be more appealing? Here in Northern California a local hardware store were selling the eco-friendly bulbs at a discount which was subsidized by our local electric company.

Answer 352

OK YOU CORPORATE DUMMY... just kidding... Why would you look for ideas from the public when you're the one getting paid to come up with ideas on your own? I mean, you can use my idea if you want to, but i'd have to sue you for it... ok, maybe that's a little too much. But it was worth a try.



No, seriously... More recently I've been getting back my electricity bills since I switched over since August, and i'd have to say they are 1/4 of what they used to be. I'm not paying 30-35 bucks a month anymore i'm paying 10 or less total - which includes the stupid fee the company charges every bill. I think that if you convinced the companies to support an incentive, such as a 2.00 return for everyone that is fully equipped with energy efficient bulbs... or... YOU CALLED UP GEORGE BUSH AND TOLD HIM TO STOP TRYING TO COME UP WITH A BETTER IRAQ PLAN AND TOLD HIM TO SIGN A BILL INTO LAW THAT MAKES ENERGY EFFICIENT BULBS MANDATORY BY EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY - That that would be how you did it.



I think that there should be a law that outlaws all old crappy *** light bulbs and that requires energy efficient bulbs. COULD YOU BELIEVE HOW MANY TICKETS THE COPS COULD GIVE OUT FOR THE WRONG BULB ON THE PORCH. haha. The government would be swarming with State Money. I think if you gave the country 6 months to change their light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs that most of them couldn't do it, which means more revenue for the state in issuing tickets. BUT, if you were really crazy - you'd stop complete production long enough to start production on Energy Efficient Bulbs...



Honestly, I think that one of the companies - such as GE - should promote over the television that they are going to stop complete production of non- energy-efficient bulbs and switch to energy efficient bulbs at lower prices than their competitors. PROMOTING GLOBAL WARMING. It is inevitable - this country will be having problems relating to mother nature very soon, trust me, i'm a climatologist. Switching to Energy Efficient will make your company a star. The public will invest more money into your business. The other companies will probably run out of business - ONLY - IF YOU CAN MANAGE TO PRODUCE THE ENERGY EFFICIENT BULBS FOR CLOSE TO OR DEAD ON THE PRICE OF THE OTHER KIND. I mean, I realize you guys want to be swimming in ARUBA for spring vaca but hey - Don't you want your kids to have an EARTH to live on down the road??? Don't you idiots think about your grandkids? Your greatgrandkids? Your family that will represent who you are and you're name after you die? Why in the world would you continue to trash earth the way you do inefficiently when you know damn well that all you have to do is lose a few million bucks a quarter and more people love you for it - and you go to heaven. I mean, please. Stop being selfish - GIVE TO THE WORLD - AND THEY WILL BUY YOUR PRODUCT. DUMMIES! The people of the world purchase more goods from companies that better the world out of the goodness of their heart than companies that trash the world all the same. Don't you idiots have brains?

Answer 353

Its a no brainer. Most think they are too expensive to buy. Check Walmart or your local hardware store. Most electric companies will sponsor specials where you can buy these lights for as little as 75 cents a piece (Walmart), or even $2.99 for boxes of 4 at my local Grocery store. I have a 3000sq ft home, and switched out about 40 light bulbs. The next month, my electric bill dropped almost 40%. It went from $135.00 to 85.00. If that isn't reason enough to switch them all out, I don't know what is. If you have the "Eyeball" type or floodlight type, they make those in energy efficient too now. No excuses. Go shopping.

Answer 354

Set the stage for a date/night in with your wife/significant other or with friends/your kids (movie night)...again, staying in instead of going out. The subject of saving money/saving fuel use arises...saying that it helps the environment. This isn't exactly a romantic or exciting conversation however; to further the topic in this vein and to go the extra step of doing more for the environment, you say that...not only will these new bulbs help save energy, they won't give off that harsh light of an incandescent bulb. The softer light given off will thereby enhance a romantic mood, make viewing the movie more enjoyable and will foster a feeling for a better future. It's a win win.

Answer 355

Whatever you do, be sure to use a little higher wattage output than the bulbs you are replacing. IIf you are used to a 60 incandescent use a 75 eco for example. Also, don't use eco's where lights are turned off and on frequently, a hallway or bathroom for example is a bad place for an eco in general. Eco''s are best used where the light is left on for extended periods due to their warm up period using most of their energy. Incandescents don't have that limitatation, they use all of their energy all of the time. Good luck!

Answer 356

I am an air conditioner service man. Most people don't care about energy efficiency until you start talking about keeping their house cooler. I have convinced many people to use the more efficient bulbs by allowing them to compare the heat difference between a regular 60 watt bulb and a 60 watt Eco friendly bulb. When they realize that the regular bulb puts out that much more heat in their house, especially in a ceiling fan were more than one bulb is used, I can usually convince them that their A/C will work that much harder. Truth be known, It will.

Answer 357

My humble suggestion would be to fill the whole house with them. Point out the change in the electricity bill and everyone would use those fantastic light bulbs. I mean like doesn't everyone want to save money? If fancy patterns could be printed on eco-friendly light bulbs, that might attract some people too. heh well there are more suggestions!

Answer 358

I have tried them ,and do not like them or the price my power bill is about $50 per month I have approx 40 bulbs in my house that cost maybe $20 how much would it really save me ?? I tried a hybrid vehicle they suck , I have bought recycled goods and furniture that was made as environmentally friendly it is also cheap and poor quality , the only way to ever get me to change is one they will have to drastically improve the quality of the environmentally friendly goods ,and make the price more competitive , recycled junk and environmentally friendly things are made a lot cheaper but carry a lot higher price tag ..all that shows me ((an average consumer)) is the enviro products =big profits for the companies ,who are more in to their profits than the environment call me ignorant or stupid all you want But i rather have money in the bank than to give it to companies that care nothing about anyone or anything except their money , and that might make me ignorant , But , I spend a lot less to live than you suckers ,and I will be retired before I am 50 years old so I can enjoy life ...and I guess I am stupid because I do not listen to Al Gore ....... You all can listen to Al & spend all the extra income ofr over priced junk , work until you are 65 or older , it is your choice ...But I am not I want to enjoy my time and I won't spend it working until I am dead ....

Answer 359

Use market forces. Invent a light bulb that emits the same light spectrum as an incandescent and doesn't release mercury upon disposal and I'm sure that people will go for them in a second due to the cost saving.



Unfortunately no such "eco-friendy" bulbs exist yet. Do we really want to replace carbon emissions with mercury emissions? Come on guys you wouldn't jump into a lion's cage to avoid a mosquito.

Answer 360

For the most part, the only "eco-friendly" lightbulbs available are compact fluorescents. Although I support ecological measures generally, I think we are being had with compact fluorescent bulbs. I don't think they're so friendly--for starters, they contain mercury, and are supposed to be disposed of as hazardous waste. It's amazing how many people don't know this fact about CFs.



Although CF bulbs use less electricity, in my area at least, the cost of energy saved + the price difference of the bulbs over their lifetime still makes incandescent bulbs cheaper to purchase and use. And with their complicated design, CFs require more energy in production. It is important not only to think about how much energy it costs to use something, you also have to factor in how much energy it costs to make it in the first place.



Then there's the matter of CFs' greenish, blueish, or grayish light colors, which are unattractive. They often flicker, and I noticed when I tried CFs, that they don't usually last as long as the package says, particularly the less-expensive ones, which are still about $4 a bulb. I have a friend who has to replace the CF bulb in his kitchen every year or so, not every 5 years like the package says.



If you're like me, and you don't like the expense, poison, and ugliness of CFs, you should use other measures, like turning the lights off when you leave a room, using dimmers and timers on switches, and perhaps buying energy offsets in solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, or other eco-friendly energy production methods.



I'm willing to reconsider my opinions about lighting, but I'll wait until LED-replacement-bulbs are reasonable in price. At present they are still about $25 apiece.

Answer 361

I think when the manufacuers overcome problems with these bulbs incandesents can be removed from the market. The question should be "what can manufacturers do to inspire me to use eco friendly.



Price, why spend $3 to $5 on a bulb thats on for less than one hour a day?



Slow start-up, prevents me from using them in bathrooms, closets and garage.



Noise, They all make that annoying 60hz buzz, pevents me from using them in the bedroom. Instant on seem to be the loudest.



I just purchased three light fixtures that require 10 candelabra base bulbs each at 40watts per bulb. Fixtures have room for flouresents but candelabra base is cheaper to manufacture.

Answer 362

I have been very concerned about global warming for a long time - many years before "An Inconvenient Truth" was in the theatres. I read Earth in The Balance by Al Gore in the early 90's. Because of my concern, my family has been living an eco-friendly lifestye for many years. Not only that, my husband and I were one of the first A/C companies in Houston to purchase a refrigerant recovery machine. We recycle everything in our business. Recently, I have become involved in the issue of mercury in our environment. A friend of mine who is also interested in living a green life, informed me that these lightbulbs contain small amounts of mercury. I was shocked. Is this true, and if so, how can I think of promoting such a product?

Answer 363

At our house we totally changed all light bulbs to Sylvania (Energy Star) bulbs. The very next night we invited our friends for a small party at home. The house was like a Christmas tree full of light and energy. As expected everyone had their own observation, "nicely lit house", "All lights are on", "bright lights", "can we turn off some to save energy?" and so on. After everyone gave their piece, we announced that we just changed bulbs to a more efficient, brighter, less heat, energy saver, sure money saver, longer life and most of all ECO-Friendly!! And they saw 40 Sylvania boxes ready for the recycle bin.

Answer 364

I've done no research on these bulbs. Have these claims been proven by an un-biased entity ?? Don't know for myself. But to answer your question, the most creative (or perhaps most wide-spread ?) way is through "Star" power. Hate to acknowledge it, but these days if a famous personality were to take a stand/endorse, etc., then us "normal folks" will follow. If the eco-friendly bulbs are the real deal, the media should do it's thing.

Answer 365

My husband and I went to Ikea and bought those eco-friendly light bulbs because they fit in to all the lamps we got from there. We loved them so much and loved even more watching our electric bill go down ( we live in CA every little bit helps right? ) we went out and got my grandparents and his parents some to try, and they loved them too. There a little more expensive but so worth it ! We have eco-friendly bulbs through out the house and have decided that they are the only bulbs we'll use, we love them. Our families was willing to try them when they saw that after a month we were saving money and the lights looked a lot brighter.

Answer 366

I think that to many people get set in their way of life .Most cases people change when they are shocked , they think . Here's what i have for a suggestion build an astonish park . Showing a nice little town green grass ,trees ,flowers and a small lake where u could do a little fishing ,picnicand some games.then as the tour goes on u come to another small town where everything is dead and deserted , WOW ! WHAT A BIG IMPACT. And as the tour goes on u could show eco freindly items and methods and at the end of the tour games and rides ,food ,snacks and animals that depend on us , promote this and u will win .

Answer 367

People are reluctant to buy them because of two reasons: 1) Cost and 2) Light Quality. We use these in our home for certain areas because they are energy efficient and eco-friendly. We bought them at COSTCO, who sells them very reasonably priced in bulk sets of 5 or 10. THIS is the proper way to sell these. People don't get that they last longer so the cost per day or hour is much less. But we tend to think if we spend $2.00 for a bulb vs. $15.00, that it is cheaper to buy another bulb for $2.00 when it burns out. So we have to show people that it makes logical sense. Second, the light quality is not very good at times, although our plants seem to love these lights. So we use incandescent lights in areas where we are frequently and energy efficient lights in other areas. I suppose this defeats the purpose to some extent.



Bottom line...Offer them in bulk packages and explain the economic efficiencies of what happens when everyone switches to these lights.

Answer 368

I think that the best way to convince your family and friends to change to eco-friendly lightbulbs would involve a few steps. The first would be to change to the lightbulbs, yourself. After all, who will care if you are promoting something that you don't care enough to use yourself? Second, is to tell the facts about changing. Many people don't know that the bulbs will save them money on their electric bill, only need replacing every few years, and that they do wonders for the environment. To be honest, there really isn't any downside to using these bulbs. Although they can be costly upfront, they pay for themselves a hundred times over through the money you save on your energy bill, and what you save by not having to replace them every few months. Good Luck!

Answer 369

Trying to convince a group already passionate about this issue is like asking people in Starbucks if they like coffee. What is the real trick is to convince the mass of people who are busy with their everyday lives that this issue makes sense. Quickest way is to show the positive personal economic gain, i.e. when fuel goes over $3 large truck and SUV sales decline. Show people the cost of bulbs is lower due to lower usage and longer life. Some people(myself included) don't like fluorescent lights- so what are the alternatives= I have 1watt bulb strips in recesses in my ceilings that provide adequate light and very low use age- and the lights last a LONG time(like 5 years). OUT.

Answer 370

I asked my mom to buy all fluorescent light bulbs for our house, you would have thought I asked to give up her first-born. She says she can't stand the light and they are so expensive. I say that their is hardly a difference in the light quality, and you'll end up saving much, much more in electricity and buying new bulbs than the total cost of new fluorescent light bulbs.



My advice is to just buy the light bulbs, replace them when she leaves the house and see if she notices the difference. If she doesn't leave it alone until you leave the house permantly and then tell her. If she does notice, tell her that she can change them all back on her time and expense. Chances are, she won't do it, or she won't notice. I'm guessing the latter.

Answer 371

I put an econo friendly bulb in the front porch light 4 years ago. It's still going strong. The one in the bedroom walk in closet which gets turned on and off daily has been there for over 6 years. A 40/60 that we use in the living room stays on all the time and has been on continually for 5 years. I use econo friendly bulbs for just about every application in our home and have for years. They're the greatest.

Answer 372

At the holidays, we gave our friends and family 'Green Christmas' gift bags. There were a few cloth shopping bags, rechargeable batteries w/ charger and a couple types of CFBs. There's more than one style and some people have individual preferences.



In the write up attached to the gifts, we estimated how much electricity they would save with these bulbs. It spawned an excellent conversation about all the green activites folks were doing and we ended up inspiring each other.



It's a little scary to foist your strong beliefs on others, but it turned out great for us!

Answer 373

One of the best ways to inspire anyone to buy ecofriendly energy saving light bulbs would be to convince the manafacturers to offer the bulbs at a lower price.



Right now the bulbs are entirely too expensive to convince the average joe that it is worth his investment in the bulb. The enegry cost you save is so minimal that he doesn't see nor would he realize the worth of his investment immediately.



I am in the process of slowly switching to ecofriendly bulbs. As on of the older bulbs in the house goes out I replace it with a new ecofriendly bulb. This is much cheaper than trying to go out and buy bulbs that can cost almost $7 a piece at certain stores. If the bulbs were as cheap or even remotely close to the same price as the ordinary bulb it would be much easier to convince people to purchase and use them.



Until then, I'm advocating my one bulb at a time method.

Answer 374

Using energy efficient light bulbs will cut your electric bill from 30-50% off the average amount they will normally spend. Your friends could pocket the money in a savings account or stashed away where no one can find it. In the end of the year or any certain period of time, you could use the money for other things they usually don't have the money for, like putting towards paying a bill off, celebrating/partying, or much needed clothes. Whatever it is that would definately be more rewarding to them. This is really good for those who may have overwhelming debt or have trouble saving money.

Answer 375

Cost. The only thing that motivates people to affect change is financial incentive. Americans have a had time embracing change. Especially when it means (false perception) compromising their gluttoness living standard. Perhaps a global event on the scale of the movie "Day After Tomorrow" would permanently imprint the message, but unfortunately a little too late. The majority of people in this country don't fully appreciate the cause and effect of climate shift, or believe it is over-hyped.

Answer 376

How about putting them in Easter Baskets for your friends and family?



But the MOST IMPORTANT point I'd like to make is that THESE BULBS CANNOT BE THROWN IN THE TRASH. They contain significant amounts of Mercury, and will poison the environment if they are tossed into landfills.



So when you're inspiring others to use them remember to include the address of the nearest recycling center!



There was a recent report on this very topic on Morning Edition. Check it out:

Answer 377

While there are many types of eco friendly lightbulbs out there..the flourescant ones the screw into a standard light fixture are definately worth buying. They come on a little slower thereby preventing the immediate rush of electricity which tends to blow standard incandesant bulbs. I have found though that there are differences in the eco friendly bulbs that look alike. If you want standard light like an incandesant..get the normal ones. If you like alot of light...buy the ones that say "Daylight" you will get light inside your home as if you are outside. I find this light especially good in the Northeast winters to eliminate the Mid winter doldrums that many people get with the short winter days. Once I found the "daylight bulbs" I replaced all the lights in my home with them. They will last 10x longer appx than a standard bulb thereby saving me lots of Money in my bulb replacement and electricity as they use less than 40% of electricity to run than an incandesant.

Answer 378

people will save money by switching to these bulbs. maybe it would also help with those crazy rolling blackouts that come during those seeping hot days in the summer when were all crying about how our brains are frying and screaming at each other cause its just too damn hot. if we cant make these small changes, what makes us think we can make the big changes that will save our planet and our species. no one takes it seriously, well for the most part anyway. it saddens me. the people i feel most sorry for are the babies, like my eight month old son for the mess his generation will be inheriting. what are we doing to our beautiful earth? and why isnt it important for us to try and do something about it? arent we supposed to be the smartest monkeys that ever lived. for being so intelligent, we are pretty stupid to destroy our environment in the way that we have. but i guess when your the king, you do as you please. we are such fools to separate ourselves from nature, as if we are not a part of it, as if it cannot destroy us just as it created us. may these little light bulbs, turn on the light bulbs in our dusty attics.

Answer 379

To tell the honest truth by banning regular light bulbs they are taking away our freedom of choice. The bulbs they want to replace the old style are more expensive and there are a lot of people who do the best they can a budget. I have seizures and the fluorescent bulbs trigger seizures on many people with this disorder. Take this away and what else will be taken away? Be careful or you will lose more than you anticipated. This is my opinion although, in medical journals about seizure disorders this fact is documented.

Answer 380

I grew up during the depression in the country where electricity was a long time coming, so I really resented it when told to conserve, since I brightly lit every room in the house. After a few power failures I begrudgingly bought low energy bulbs. I still had as much light as ever but down came my electric bill. My cousin would sit in near darkness and not use appliances. Granted her bill was low but about the same as mine. I took her a few low energy bulbs which she tried. Her electric bill is embarrassingly low. I buy appliance based upon their electric efficiency. My electric bill is nothing to cry about. I've known others with bills of near $1000 a month. The more energy you use the higher the rate. I think money is a great motivator.

Answer 381

Why don they stop manufacturing the old light bulbs if there so inefficient? They changed the whole daylight savings time in an effort to conserve energy. Do you know what a difference it woudl make if everyone used a 60W light bulb that only required the energy of a 15W? I think the old light bulbs should be phased out.

Answer 382

It's very simple...It's hard to change habits and motivate people to change unless you motivate them to do so.



The manufacturers and our government should come to an agreement that we need to provide incentives for our friends and family members to do this. The two most important factors that can change the way we think are education and money.



The government along with the manufacturers should educate the public and provide incentives to do this. I am a supplier of these type of products and I myslef would cut my cost just to help the envirement and change peoples attitudes. Plus on my side as the supplier, I would only be creating more business for the future, while saving the envirement.



It's a win win situation for all involved. Energy is saved, pollution is addressed and more money back in our pockets! How much better can that be!

Answer 383

Just tell them it is cheaper - we bought 8 energy saving light bulbs at a cost of about $40. Within the first month our electricity bill dropped by $35, since then we've been making the profit, and the bulbs last for ages. Secondly, you can buy 'daylight spectrum' bulbs which give a nice natural light, which is not yellow-coloured.

Answer 384

I have recently decided to change all of the light bulbs in my home to energy efficient bulbs, and I am so glad that I have done so. They put off almost the exact same light and have lowered my power bill.



I wish that someone would put up some legislation in the government to put money into studying how much extra it would cost light bulb companies to ONLY create energy efficient bulbs. If this is something that would help our environment, you would think this would be something the companies would want to be part of.



I have been telling all of my friends and colleagues to change their bulbs, and if everyone tells everyone they know, then the word will spread fast.

Answer 385

In the U.S., collecting the state quarters seems to be quite popular. Maybe companies could include a state quarter in each package of bulbs. It could be advertised through the U.S. mint. Or better still, the U.S. mint could design a special coin that would be available ONLY inside the packages of bulbs.

I did not think the cost of the bulbs was that bad when I bought them. At one of those membership stores, I think I bought a package of 8 for about $13. But it has been a while since I bought these bulbs. They do last a long time.

Answer 386

The most creative and idealistic way to inspire people would be by letting everyone know that switching won't only save people money, but it will help save our earth from a disaster that is waiting to happen, if we don't change our bad habits, our beautiful mother earth will collapse into something no one wants. We should ban the use of old light bulbs and only use the eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 387

I think that everyone should just relax themselves about these light bulbs. I have a few in my house but I cannot replace them all because I have small specialized bulbs for different parts of the house. These bulbs are small and bright and can be dimmed. As of yet I have not seen any eco friendly bulbs to replace them. When they come out I will buy them but until then I would appreciate people not trying to pass laws to force people to convert or put pressure on me to change.

Thanks.

Answer 388

I know how we could encourage people to start using compact bulbs. The government could give tax cuts to those who use them or to the manufactures that quit making the old bulbs. If we agreed to quit making and importing the old bulbs altogether we wouldn't have to worry about it. I can't see any reason why people would get mad over not being able to purchase the old bulbs. If we focused on making these manufacturers more efficient, they could lower the cost of these bulbs and we would all go to sleep feeling a little better about the environment!

Answer 389

Well in a nut shell, While they are better in the long run vers regular incandesent bulbs, they are in no way eco freindly !

mercury vapor is freindly? cmon ok best case the entire country switches , then how to dispose ? atm buisiness are struggling to dispose of the floresent bulbs in thier offices, how by tossing in the dumpster that is hauled to local dump!

now to put it in perspective 120mil americans buy these bulbs at o say avg household um 10 bulbs . when they burn out is there gonna be a bin a service or a simple garbage can? then as eco nuts like to freak out over blood pressure units and thermomaters

filled with mercury , now were talking about a form of this stuff that in a nutshell is in the perfict state to be assimilated by fish plants wildlife ntm water so go figure . eco freindly no .

eco freindly = led bulbs!!! "too bad they are 20 bucks a bulb"

Answer 390

Lower the prices on the bulbs. They are way to expensive. They don't last as long as the manufacturers state before they burn out.



Mandate the old light bulbs be phased out. Give a dollar for dollar tax break on receipts of light bulbs bought in stores. If a taxpayer buys 100 dollars worth of lights......they get 100 dollars back on their Federal tax bill.



Watch how fast people switch over.



Make ceiling openings in all stores mandatory for lighting industrial companies warehouses and stores. This saves the company money and the taxpayer money, when oil isn't needed to create electricity to power up unneeded lights.

Answer 391

The problem with Eco light bulbs is they are too expensive next to regular light bulbs. People don't see a good enough reason to change over to pricey bulbs. Also eco bulbs look strange next to regular light bulbs.

Changing the shape of the eco bulb and lowering the price would cause people to switch.

Answer 392

I, and most of my friends try to be environmentally responsible, but it's not really a priority. "An Inconvenient Truth" was a wake up call for us. I agree that those light bulbs would be a great gift...in fact, a gift basket that included the DVD and a few of the bulbs would make a great present for anyone.

Answer 393

Also, schools could promote and sell bulbs the same way that they have chocolate fundraisers. The schools provide the children with a special box of chocolates that they sell to family, friends, neighbours etc and these fundraisers make $1000s for schools. This is a good idea because you are able to use children to help spread the word to all the different people they come in contact with.

Answer 394

First of all the price needs to be very low, you can buy a pack of incandescent bulbs for around 2 bucks. The next way to inspire people would have the electric companies offering rebates to people who are buying these bulbs and implementing them in their homes. There also needs to be more bulbs made in a variety of sizes and applications, such as ones that will work in conjunction with a dimmer switch.

Answer 395

I could think of creative ways to get people to do a lot of things. Humans in general are not very bright! Just like the CFLs.



The Manufactering processes of CFLs and the chemicals involved(aka mercury) in them are a danger to health compaired to the incandescent bulbs. While aka "saving energy", we could be destroying water supplys, soil and are children by exposing them to mercury. Yay!



Now days both men and women are busy working hard trying to support there families and driving their SUVs. Most people are taxed over 25% and is recieved by the over-inflated government. Then another 15% or more to their credit and debts. So the average familys' at home time is at an all time low, while energy consumption is at an all time high. Well duh we double in population in 7 years! People come home turn out the lights and watch tv and use computers more than their lights. Maybe the govt should pass laws to remove the CRTs and replacing them with LCDs.



There is no point! People need better light rendering than flourescents have to offer, lighting effects how people feel and flourescents suck! Look at LED technology, also full size flourescents are much more effiecent than CFL could ever be. T5s, T8s and when you need a lot of light Metal-Halide and High-Pressure-Sodium High-Intensity-Discharge lamps or by far superior.



Pull the cotton out of your brains and ears! We need more people doing good things with science and less poisoning and evil to the nieve.

Answer 396

How? Its impossible to make anyone that knows the facts about lightbulbs. Case studies have shown that incandesant bulbs (IBs) produce a higher range of light, but mostly infared which is what our sun produces. Where as Floresant bulbs (FBs) produce mostly ultra violet, harmful to most organic creatures as it damages things like DNA. Ultra violet light is what causes other things like color fading. It was shown people surrounded by IB's are more cheery and up beat where as FBs people were noted to have a decrease in mood and showed signs of earilly depression.



So, you're unless you're already drepressed indoor hermit FBs are the way to go. Otherwise the savings are not worth your psychological health. And if you're outdoors lots FBs are not cost effective as start up uses more energy than a IBs.



There's the facts... and wind turbines are ugly as sin.

Wave turbines may look like floaties, but they produce the same amount of energy as a field of sky hogging wind turbines with a cost of less space and no damage to the scenery. So its a triple win.

Answer 397

Maybe this wasn't obvious to the people that make these new bulbs, but it's possible that you may want to roll back inventory of standard bulbs and gradually phase in a larger stock of eco-friendly bulbs. As unpopular as undercutting price is to a manufacturer, in order to compete with something as simple and cost efficient as a standard bulb you may need too. Also, I'm assuming there is a patent on this design and type of bulb, so inexpensive licensing is also an option to get other standard bulb makers to adopt.



Or.



You could hire Paris Hilton and shoot a picture of her with a surprised look on her face and put that new bulb above it.



Hey I'm in marketing, I like buzz...it's like "Got Milk" except, "Got an Idea"...dude, why did I just give that away



You can go ahead and send me a check now...mmmm, k?

Answer 398

I replaced most of the outdoor light bulbs at my lake house with the compact flouresant ones that use 80% less energy- but mainly because it takes a cherry picker to get to a few of them and I hate changing bulbs outside. The compact flouresant bulbs have a life span of about 10,000 hours. They might look a little bit like a hotel or office building, but it saves me from having to waste my time on a ladder.

Answer 399

I started buying them as soon as they appeared on the market. I know the cost benefit numbers have all been worked out and appear impressive, but one of those bulbs costs around five or more dollars( US), the fluorescent tubes are not shielded, break easily, have no warranty, and very high failure rates in household environments where they are switched on and off frequently. They perform much better in applications where they are on continuously in ceiling mounts, which I think is where they should be used until their costs go down, and their reliability goes up. Until then, their contribution will continue to be mostly an environmental pipe dream influenced as always by suppliers..

Answer 400

For starters, color correct the florescent bulb if at all possible. I wouldn't dare switch from my neodymium lined incandescent bulbs, which give off a crisp white light, and return to the dull regular incandescent and florescent blulbs which give off a dulling yellowing cast. I have had a difficult time finding florecent bulbs treated with neodymium. Secondly, florescent bulbs bleach out (destroy) treasured photographs and art work with it's UV rays within a relatively short ammount of time. If there is a way to filter out the UV rays that would be a big help also.

Answer 401

They do not work well in the cold. In general, the lumen output is less than an incadescent with the same rated wattage. When used in cold or unheated areas such as a garage in the winter, their output is even greater reduced. They also do not come on instantly in the cold. It takes several minutes to come to semi-full power. There is probably a 25% reduction in the cold to an already reduced output compared to an incadescent. This means you have to go to a higher wattage to get the same lumens. I have not seen higher wattage, (150-200) available. If they were available, would a savings be realized (100 incadesecnt vs. 200 energy saver)? If the energy bulbs are to be successful, they have to get the lighting job done. As lumen output goes, I require far less than most, but there are times when I need light.

Answer 402

Highlight the investment merit. Take a $2 investment and turn it into $40 given energy savings and savings on buying 15 additional lightbulbs over the life of a Compact Flouresent Bulb.

Answer 403

As human beings, when someone receives something new and something that would impact their lives, then that certain something would spread, much like boom of the automobile in the 1920's. A positive way in which people would be inspired to use Eco-friendly light bulbs is to have give-a-ways, and also have amusing commercials like Geico's Caveman. In all by letting people know of the positives of the Eco-friendly light bulbs would immensely help their increase in society.

Answer 404

My opinion- You would not need creativity if in fact the manufacturers actually made them cost effective for the consumer to use.



Case in point- I finally switched over about 30 light fixtures when I found them on sale- still sveral times more expensive than standard bulbs- because of the supposed savings in electricity over the life of the bulb $50 per bulb.



Guess what- although they are "gauranteed" for SEVEN YEARS or NINE YEARS, they start burning out after 6 months.



Now thay are not on sale and to replace them is cost prohibitive since they do not last. Why spend $5 every 6 months to replace one bulb instead of spending $.25 to replace a bulb.



I could not detect any measurable difference in my electric bill.



I think the manfucturers are scamming us consumers into thowing them more money than we would have spent on electricity using standard bulbs.



I reckon to save myself money I need to switch back ot low efficiency bulbs that cost about 1/10 the amount and last nearly as long.



Also, to consider: What is the environmental impact of manufacturing and disposing of the high efficiency bulbs?



I just heard on the radio that they contained mercury (or something like that) and they should not be put in the trash. The reporter said the closest place to her to dispose of them "properly" was a 90 mile trip one way.

That is not what I would call eco-friendly.



Everybody is jumping on the "Green" wagon and promoting these lights based upon lower energy/lumen.



Funny how it gets quite when it comes to the short life span and proper disposal which should be factored in to the cost. I would bet they require more energy to manufacture than a standard light bulb.



Thank you for the opportunity to speak out on it.

BS

Answer 405

I'm still thinking of the way, but first I would like to bring up the fact (from KQED) that the Fluorescent Eco-friendly light bulbs contain a small amount of Mercury. While we are switching to this light bulbs, we should think about how to dispose of them before it become a problem later.



I myself will switch to the new bulb.

Answer 406

The best way is to spread the word! I made it known to everyone around me that I was switching over. I did research and Wal-Mart by far has the best prices on these bulbs. I got my first electric bill and it dropped by 20%. If me as just one person can use 20% less imagine how much families could be contributing the use of less energy??? How can you not switch? My favorite part is in the mornings when its not light out and I turn on a light. It takes time to warm up and get brighter - about as long as it takes me to adjust to the light. I will giving these out as gifts to everyone I know!

Answer 407

I believe that if the quality of light that was put out by compact fluorescent light bulbs was better then people would be more inclined to use them. If you have ever seen recessed lighting with eco-friendly bulbs installed you be able to see the difference. Flore cents put off a very yellow light that is harsh to the eyes.

Answer 408

1. you pass a by-law by the State Government that all incandescent bulbs must be replaced by friendly/much more efficient bulbs within 6 months.

2. you have the State Power Authority give each household 1 pair of new friendly bulbs if they bring in 4 incandescent bulbs....first time only ...after that get the United States Government to sponsor a nation wide energy saving program.

3. get the local Power Authority to sell each household these new energy efficient bulbs at cost .

Answer 409

come on give me a break! you people can't be that ignorant. it's a freaking light bulb. do you honestly think that a light bulb is causing global warming? this is the most retarded thing I've every seen. if global warming is really man made then when it gets cold then have everyone run their cars, and turn on all the regular bulbs and warm up the place! man made global warming is nothing but a way for someone to get rich. and if you don't think I'm right, that's OK it don't matter cause i can believe and think anyway i want to, and so can you. just my 2cents.

Answer 410

1st and foremost, some would have to show me that they are in fact eco-friendly, they use less power during operation this is true, but they have a inert gas in them that must be extracted, ceramic that must be refined and kilned, and a stater, that must be manufactured, all these thing use many times more energy in manufacturing to produce then a incandescent bulb, is the trade off a saving, I don't know.

But the increase in energy use in manufacturing, is similar to electric cars, if they were all electric the sulfuric acid and lead would kill us all. So prove to me that they are a saving for the environment.



2nd that know politician or there family has any type of ownership or distributorship with the industry.



The reason they cost more is because they use, more resources to produce.

Answer 411

I could care less about saving electricity or the eviromentally ill nonsense. The fact is I've used these spiral light bulbs for a couple of years now, and not any have burned out nor do they blow out when I turn on a switch. I have a couple of light fixtures that blew out convenntional bulbs almost weekly with surges. Not one of the new type bulbs have done this, and I hate changing out bulbs.

B. Ridgell

Answer 412

I started switching all my lights over 2 years ago. I just bought the energy efficient bulbs whenever one burned out. Well, after 2 years, I am disgusted. These are supposed to last a LOOONNNGGGG time. My experience is that they last about 1/2 the time of a normal bulb. Until they get the quality issues worked out, I am going back to normal lights.



Ed

Answer 413

Demonstrate that they last longer than standard light bulbs, and while they may cost more today, they are the better economic choice in the long run because of savings in your electric bills.



I agree with these eco-friendly and more efficient bulbs for economic reasons, not for this "save the planet from global warning" hysteria that has been promulgated by the liberal environmentalists and international government bureaucracy all in an attempt to gain control and make more cash for their wacky causes.

Answer 414

My suggestion is



Make law to ban the selling of energy inefficient light bulb and

replace every American inefficient light bulb at home with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) for free.

This will require large fund which can be funded by Federal Government.

We should withdrawn our troop and used that saving money to replace all energy inefficient light bulb with compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL).

We can also raise fund from rich person who will support clean environment. Bill and Linda Gate foundation is the one that we should target since they have a lot of money in there.







Thanks

Alex

Answer 415

Show them how much they'll save in the long run. I think people care about their pocket book more than the environment. Plus, you won't catch me standing on my office chair, spinning in circles while frantically trying to get a bulb changed (for about 6 more years) Great for the elderly. My outdoor light is always on when I come home in the dark which used to burn out once a month.



I got mine on Ebay for 1.05 a bulb in a case of 24! I'm saving over $20 a month with these babies! They've already paid for themselves. That's more than $240 a year savings. My next purchase is going to be a tankless water heater.

Answer 416

I have them exposed in my ceiling fans and other light fixtures and people ask about them all the time. I have 4 15 watt (60 watt output) bulbs lighting my master bath and people are amazed that I can get that much light and only use the power that most people use to light their closet or a small reading lamp. If I see a person looking at them in the store, I ask them if they are using them in their home and if not, I try to get them to buy at least 1 3-pack to try out.



Advertising in media showing the facts about how much they save you on your light bill and cost over a 2-3 year period showing savings based on average American light usage, changing out light output for equal light output, and showing the difference in life of the bulbs might get people to understand why they should buy them. I've only had 1 of these bulbs go out on me and it was one that was outside, unprotected from the elements, and in south-west Louisiana, there are a MAJOR set of elements.



If you have a friend that is moving into a new place, buy them enough bulbs to put in their whole home. If you have a person that complains about how often they have to replace normal bulbs, buy them a 3-pack of them and have them try them. If you know someone that has bulbs in a difficult place to access the bulbs for changing, suggest they switch or buy them some to use. You'd be amazed how often someone will use one when they have a bulb burn out and only have the eco-friendly ones in the house. If you know someone that considers themselves "earth friendly" and is still using old fashioned bulbs, question them and educate them. Pass out fliers at your church during non-service activities. Talk to your church leader about having a "Money Saving" seminar and tell how much they can possibly save by using the eco-friendly bulbs.



People that have the knowledge about these things also have the responsibility to pass on the knowledge to all that they can. If they do not pass that knowledge on, how can they say they are doing their part to help save the planet. There is a saying that goes... "With great knowledge, comes great responsibility"... and the knowledge of how to help the planet that is everyTHINGS home, have the responsibility to pass on that knowledge to EVERYONE that needs it.

Answer 417

I think that they need to be more inexpensive. They may be cost effective over the long run....and ecofriendly, but if a person doesn't have the money to BUY one or HOWEVER many they need to BE ecofriendly, they're going to buy the ones they've used all this time. I have stocked my house with the new ones, but the biggest complaint I hear about these bulbs is that they're just too expensive. That seems to be the way with many ecofriendly products and recycled paper products, etc. I think people would be more amenable to using these things for our planet, if they lowered the prices so that the WHOLE world could participate, not JUST the people that can AFFORD to participate.

Answer 418

Unfortunately, what these bulbs emit have a unhealthy impact upon the eyes. Whenever I am around florescent lights I feel slightly dizzy. Sometimes, the light causes swirls in my vision, and makes me woozy.



They should come up with different types of bulbs. That may be a boon for the environment, but damaging to one's macular area.

Answer 419

One thing many potential buyers of Eco-Friendly Bulbs find confusing is the Luminance and Watts rating, compared to regular bulbs. Many buyers of 60W Regular Bulbs do not understand a lower rating (e.g. 15 Watts) on Eco Friendly Bulbs



Appropriate comparison on packaging of Eco-Friendly bulbs, supported by Advertising and marketing would help. Additionally, post this on numerous Children's websites covering Eco-Friendly Environmental topics. Lastly, Encourage Schools to adopt these and to teach children how a simple act can save Electricity and Environment.

Answer 420

Just telling people how long they last, and how much money they save is an important way I can make them switch. I think the bigger question is how do we make the companies promote them. Do companies like GE even WANT us to use them? Probably not. If we do, we are all buying less lightbulbs, right? I think we need to give companies major tax breaks if we can get them to show that the majority of their customers are now purchasing their environmental friendly products. If GM and Ford can show that they are selling more vehicles that ARE hybrids than those that AREN'T, for examble, they should get huge tax breaks.



The other thing that needs to be done is for the government to step up to the plate more and preach that saving our environment is saving us, our children, and our pocket books. We save money by recycling. We save money by using eco-friendly light bulbs. We save money by driving hybrids. If we can switch away from oil to some other means of fuel, the consumer will save money, and we have the potential to make a lot of Americans very wealthy. I don't know why I am not hearing this message more.

Answer 421

I like the idea of the compact fluorescent bulbs except for one big possible problem... Mercury. Although there isn't a lot of mercury in each bulb, just one drop can make all the fish in a pond unsafe to eat, not to mention kill you if it was swallowed or had prolonged skin contact.



If people throw away these bulbs by the millions, like they do with old-fashion incandescents (in landfills), I fear we'll pollute our environment with so much mercury, there will be a lot more birth defects as well as other permanent brain-related poisoning on possibly a large scale. It doesn't take much mercury to kill and it only takes minute amounts to injure.



There are campaigns and even state laws to get people to use these bulbs, but none telling people they need to have these bulbs recycled properly and NOT just throw them away in the trash. Sure, the label says to dispose of properly, but do most listen? I dunno. I just think we need as much advertising about disposal as we do pushing these energy-saving bulbs.



Remember when the U.S. government made it a law to save water with low-flow shower heads? Now you have to take a shower twice as long or longer to get rinsed off good. That's forethought right there.

Answer 422

The greatest inspiration for people to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs would come from developing an eco-friendly bulb that would compete in price with incandescent bulbs. Most ordinary people who have to keep a close watch on their finances are not going to spend seven dollars for an eco-friendly bulb when an incandescent bulb costs less than fifty cents. And it doesn't matter that an incandescent bulb has a more finite life; what matters is that it's eco(nomics)-friendly!

Answer 423

I recently heard a speaker at an event say that changing to all eco-friendly light bulbs in your house is the equivalent of driving a Hybrid car. So, if for whatever reason the Hybrid cars don't do it for you, you can still make the same level of contribution to improving the environment by changing your light bulbs!

Answer 424

Visit your friends or family at night with one eco-friendly light bulb in your carrying bag. Ask to sit near a lamp, ask if they would kindly turn on a lamp as you reach over to look at a picture or magazine nearby. Ask the host of the house for some tissue to wipe your glasses or either to blow your nose. As the host of the house leave the room, unscrew the lit bulb from a lamp, Shake it like crazy to damage the filament. Place bulb back into the socket and sit back down. when the host arrives and the lamp won't light. Tell them that the light just blew out, but you happen to have one with you. Pull the eco-friendly light bulb from your bag and replace the bulb that you have damaged..........

Once the host realizes that the lighting seems to be better and or brighter, then inform them of your choice and selection of the bulb. ....

Answer 425

Fluorescent bulbs are a great idea and IN THE NEWS! Yeah.



Well, back off.



They may use a lot less power, but use a lot of resources to manufacture, and are a landfill eco nightmare.



Not a good choice to replace your regular incandescents, unless all you care about is paying less for your electric Bill.



The amount of pollution in the World will actually be increased if all you stupid Btards ride this wagon.



It's OK though. We have already irreversibly harmed/destroyed the planet. That's why "they" are looking for another one!

Answer 426

I think that the light bulbs should cost less and be just as if not more efficient in every way. Another way to get everyone to use the new bulbs that would definitely work over time is to stop producing the other light bulbs and only produce the new ones! It only makes sense if it is beneficial to the planet which would in turn be beneficial to everyone!!

Answer 427

I think switching from incandescent light bulbs to more efficient fluorescent bulbs is a great idea for conserving energy. However, the public needs to be aware of how to properly dispose of these bulbs because they contain MERCURY. If these bulbs break in your garbage can or recycling bin, the mercury particles can work there way into the ground and fresh water supplies. So be sure to check with your local recycling/waste management facility to see how you should dispose of your bulbs.



The following is from the EPA website:



Mercury is a neurotoxin. Outbreaks of methylmercury poisonings have made it clear that adults, children, and developing fetuses are at risk from ingestion exposure to mercury. When mothers with no symptoms of nervous system damage gave birth to infants with severe disabilities, it became clear that the developing fetal nervous system is more vulnerable to methylmercury than is an adult's nervous system.

Answer 428

Why not appeal to the lazy person in us all? Most of those bulbs last 7-8 years. I first started using them in the 10 foot high light fixtures in our garage. Now I use them in any fixture where the bulb can't be seen. You can now get a six pack for under $9. I hope I'll sell my house before I have to change any of the bulbs.

Answer 429

If the power companies are truly sincere about helping the environment and helping their customers conserve more energy, they should send a sample bulb to all customers. This would allow each household to try it out and see the benefits. If this is too pricey for them, then they could include coupons for the bulbs with their monthly bills or make the coupon available on their website.



The positive PR the power companies would recieve would go along way in showing their sincerity to help the environment.

Answer 430

There are several ways to get friends and family to switch over. One is to abandon the pig tail look and give it more of the traditional "old" bulb look.



Two is to reduce the price. You have the pig tail bulb ranging from $5.00 to $10.00 per "bulb" and not to mention white, off white etc.



Three the pig tail bulbs do not offer dimming capabilities or three lighting stages (25 watts, 100 watts and 200 watts)



Four - Offer a coupon purchase one get the second for free.



I have used these pig tail bulbs for a very long time and I swear by them however the limitations makes it a tough sell.

Answer 431

Well first you show them how amazing the light from an eco-friendly light bulb is. Then, when they laugh at how little of the light it actually puts out you trash that bulb and go buy one of the boxes of 60 watt regular bulbs for less than a buck. That's what you do. The florecent bulbs don't put out any light!!! What good is a light bulb that doesn't produce light?

Answer 432

Take a typical household monthly electric bill that uses typical incandescent light bulbs and do a cost comparison with the same house using the eco-friendly light bulbs. Show the money saved per month, per year etc.



The consumer is charged by the kilowatt / hour usage of electricity, the savings equation is easy, less wattage / hour used, the less the electric bill charge will be.

Answer 433

I would teach and encourage my kids how an eco-friendly light bulb saves money, effort and environment in one shot and also ensures safety as an added bonus.

1) It saves money of electric bill

2) You don't need a trip to store frequently as the bulb life is more than 10 times of a regular bulb

3) Less energy usage means saving environment

Safety Bonus: Regular bulb may explode sometimes, but CFL bulb doesn't.

Answer 434

When I lived in California, there was a program with the electric company where they came in and changed out your light bulbs for you to something more energy efficient for free... I think if people were started out on them and could see a monetary change it would be a big incentive... Also, lowering the price of the bulbs would be a big incentive. My household buys about 6 bulbs a pay period and changes out what we have to these new bulbs. It would be really great if we didn't have to spend as much money to acquire them.

Answer 435

Take a look at your current electric bill, ask yourself if you would like to save real money on ALL of your future electric bills. If you answer yes, then switch to these NEW bulbs, I mean change out every one that you have, everywhere. Besides the real energy saving you will see on your bill, the new bulbs have a 5 year life and the company's stand behind them. If you like to pay more for your electric and really love changing out the old style bulb every few months, that's OK, we all need things to keep us busy, have a nice day

Answer 436

The problem with Eco Friendly light bulbs is the quality of Flourecent light. It makes everything look kinda gross. Some genius needs to figure out how to make an eco friendly bulb that radiates a spectrum that is closer to the warmth of incandecent. I'm sure that would convince people of the world, myself included, to switch.



As it stands, flourecent light in large doses offends my sences to the point of illness. I can barely stand it at work and hate the idea of having to deal with it at home :P Sorry if I sound like a jerk...

Answer 437

There is absolutely no reason to encourage the use of eco friendly lightbulbs. Even if there was any proof of the cause of global warming, water vapor contributes 95 percent of the warming . Mankind is responsible for 2.8 percent of the 5 percent left. What makes anyone think that we have any impact at all is only because of the mis-information by the media and the environmental groups that want government money for their false cause.

Answer 438

This isn't going to answer your question, but I thought I'd put it out there for everyone to think about. We have changed most of our lightbulbs to the compact fluorescents. However, I heard an interesting report just last week on NPR that discussed the fact that these lightbulbs contain mercury, and because of that, are supposed to be recycled instead of dumped into our normal garbage collection bins. And, they can't be recycled with normal recycled items such as cans and plastic bottles. They have to be taken to special recycle places that handle items with mercury in them, and sometimes such facilities are many miles from people's homes or business. Therefore, the energy efficient lightbulbs end up in landfills where they can do a great deal of harm by allowing mercury to escape when they break!

Answer 439

Before you try to encourage people to switch light bulbs you might try to make them provide better light. I have a lot of difficulty seeing fine print and needle work under fluorescent lights. At first I thought that my vision was going but then I changed back to incandescent bulbs and amazingly I could see!! I wonder if there are others with vision problems who are just under the wrong lights.

I am all for saving energy but not at the sacrifice of my eye sight..

Answer 440

I just made the change last week and I love it! The money we were spending on replacing regular bulbs every couple of months was unbelievable. While initially the cost of these new bulbs makes you cringe a bit, over the long run... a bulb that is guaranteed for 8 years?!?!? Is there really any reason NOT to switch???

Answer 441

I am using flourcent lights for sevsral years. I use them whereever there is room beetween the bulb and location of the person. I do not use close to a person location such as desk light or table light, nor where i have stereo system nearby. I beleive the only advantage of these bulbs is lower electricity consumption. You might have better sale if you find solution for the followings:

1- Eliminate or reduce radiation

2- Reduce price

3- Make it works for the time period as it is announced on the box.

Answer 442

Give them as beautifully wrapped Christmas presents!



I am a bit hesitant to push people to switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, though, until there is a good way to dispose of them or recycle them. The problem is that they do contain some toxic mercury. This point that seems to get no notice in all the discussion this topic has evoked lately. They are not as eco-friendly as I would like in that respect.

Answer 443

This is what convinced me to start using these types of bulbs in my home. I work in a factory that uses orderless isobutane gas. The pump house uses these bulbs. I started to work at this factory 5 years after it opened. The light bulb finally burnt out after 6 years of continuous use. In my home I was changing light bulbs it seems like every week. I started to look at the lights that was staying on all of the time ..........the kids room. That were I started to change over to these types of bulbs. (I used them as guinea pigs). They were a little pricey at the time, but it was worth it. I did not change over the whole house. I just changed the ones that is used most often for a long period of time. My house hold never liked a bunch of lights on at a time. When these bulbs are first turned on, it takes a few minutes to come to full brightness. That is the reason I decided to only to change the ones that stays on all of the time. I can't see changing to these types of bulbs in my closet any time soon.

It is not very creative. That is my story that I share with friends and family. And I am sticking to it!

Answer 444

If you buy a bunch of these lights, you can give them out for a $2 donation to a local charity, preferably a eco-friendly one. You will make about 50 cents profit if you first search for a good price.



When people buy them, tell them that they both help the environment and save them money on their electricity. Although the bulbs themselves cost more, they will more than make up the difference with the monetary gain.



Help others help themselves!

Answer 445

I am from shall we say a green belt, I think they should tell all those hydro growers to switch their other lights to this type of bulb as it would save them alot of wattage.They would be amazed at how much lower their bill can be. In The area here I live you can buy a box of 4 bulbs for $1 with the PG&E discount, I remember when they were $5-$6 each.

Answer 446

Well, most of my friends don't need much if any encouragement to change to eco-friendly anything. But, for those who aren't quite as green around the edges, I say, hit them were they hurt the most... the pocketbook! Yes, the initial cost is usually more than incandescent light bulbs, BUT, the good news is that they last a lot longer AND they cost much less to burn! So, it's simple to see that eco-friendlies are "cheaper" in the long run. Not to mention they aren't heat producing.

Answer 447

Before we get all excited about going GREEN with these marvelous fluorescent bulbs. Has anyone thought to consider how to dispose of the ones that burn out and must be replaced. Fluorescent bulbs contain Mercury. Mercury is very poisonous and is already a problem in the water table and ground in many areas. So, are we trading one form of problem, wasted energy, for a quick politically correct-gasm?



I drive for a large transit system and warnings regarding the safe disposal of mercury laden fluorescent bulbs and tubes are boldly plastered all over the back of many of our busses.

Answer 448

Forget about trying to "inspire friends and family". What we need is government policy that makes the alternatives look more cost effective. Most people are only looking at what the cost is to them "now". Energy efficiency, climate change....they don't put that into their calculations when they walk into the store. I suggest we charge a $2.00 tax for the purchase of a 4-pack of incandescent light bulbs, and give a $1.00 instant rebate for the purchase of each florescent bulb. This might help motivate more people to make the change. If nothing else, it makes them to pay more for their shortsightedness.

Answer 449

Inspiring friends and families to switch to the fluo lamps is a lost cause. Much like inspiring people to shift to eco-freindly cars. It won't happen unless it hits their pcokets. Make it so it becomes very expensive to use and or install incandescent lamps. For example: Raise the price for a 75 watt inca bulb to five times what it is. The higher the wattage the more expensive it becomes. On the other hand provide an intensive for consumers to use the fluo lights. Much like the 1.6 gallon perflush toilets, institute codes to restrict use of HID, Mercury Vapor and other power hogging fixtures in new construction.

Answer 450

I think the savings and the effect on the environment are great. What I am worried about is the effect on people's eyes. Any Optometrist's out there that can tell me if the energy-saving fluorescent bulbs damage eye sight more than the incandescent's? I find my eyes strain more when reading under fluorescent lights than with incadesent light. Any energy saving incandescents on the market? The global cost of bad eyes versus energy saving flourescents, anyone?

Answer 451

Well all I can say to them is that I replaced 95% of the bulbs in my house with eco-friendly light bulbs and my electic bill went down $20-$25 per month and I don't have to but bulbs every few weeks.

The wife never even noticed until one day she was laying in bed and said what are those snake things in the ceiling fan. I said it is $25 a month savings and helping reduce electricity. She said cool.

Answer 452

Question should be what is an eco-friendly bulb? Is the eco-friendly bulb really eco-friendly or just a profit making business for manufacturer?

Of course you need to use these so-called eco-friendly light bulbs and knows the advantages and disadvantages.

Clever display of these bulbs would do the trick. Easiest way is to replaced some of your ordinary bulbs with the eco-friendly type. Make sure that these eco-friendly bulbs are not just gimmick by manufactures to make a profit of these bulbs.

Answer 453

I suggest that we don't really need to convince anyone. The product speaks for itself. The packaging explains that these bulbs save many $$ on energy costs over the life of the bulb which as a result reduces the pollution released at power plants etc. What more convincing do people need? I think the "moral imperative" argument is unnecessary in this case.

Answer 454

Unfortunately these bulbs are not as Eco Freindly as they may appear. It's a two edged sword; yes they use very little power and last a long time, but consider this, they contain a lot of Mercury and when disposed of have to be recycled carefully. Because of the inconvenience of having to go to special disposal sites to get rid of these bulbs (at this time most curbside recycling companies will not accept them) most of them will end up in landfills. The Mercury (along with other chemicals) will end up in the water table and ultimately our bodies!

Eco Friendly politicians may try to gain votes by trying to ban the old incandescent bulbs but, as always, politicians are very short sighted. It should be a choice left to the individual.

Answer 455

Money. The money saved in energy and replacement bulbs (fluros last much longer) it is worth it. I live in Nevada, very hot in the summer. I switched my house two years ago to all compact fluros and my cooling bill was a great deal less. Incandesent bulbs give off a great deal of heat which is bad in the summer and a very inefficiante way to heat in the winter. In two years I have replaced only two bulbs. The initial cost has been made up for several times in my case. The down side is, they are not instantly a their peak brightness.

Answer 456

Have them think about the savings. In our area it runs acout $35 per bulb over the life of the bulb. The average household has about 50 bulbs. That's $1,750 of additional cash in your pocket. The averge person is discouraged by the higher initial cost of the bulbs. But you don't need to replace all your bulbs at once...just as they burn out. I started replacing a year ago when our power company accounced a 72% increase in rates. To date I have only spent about $50 on new bulbs and replaced about 30%. I should be finished in about 2 years when the full effect of the rate increase goes into effect. I expect my electric bill in 2009 to be about the same as 2005, despite a 72% increse in rates. We travel in Europe a lot. You never see incadescent bulbs there . They know better.

Answer 457

I recently sent out an email to almost everyone in my address, following the article about CA considering making using the bulbs mandatory, suggesting that this was not only a way help the environment, but for people to save money on their electric bill. I also included a link to the "Inconvenient Truth" site's list of practical ways to reduce energy usage. I also shared that our local Sam's Club has them for quite a bit cheaper than other places and offered to pick some up for folks. My mother-in-law asked me to buy some for her and an extra package to give to a friend along with a copy of my email.

Answer 458

Real simple.. you want to get people to switch, make the bulbs cheaper than they are now. A majority of people don't think long term, they think in the here and now. They don't realize they will save money in the long run. All they know is that a regular bulb cost like 75 cents, and the eco-friendly one are 3 times more.

Answer 459

Make them all quick-start light bulbs. Nothing is more annoying than waiting for a fluorescent light to reach it's full brightness. When I want light equivalent to a 60 watt bulb I want it now! not in 5 minutes. I've got a fluorescent bulb as an outdoor flood and it drives me nuts when I'm outside fumbling around with the gas grill in the half-dark waiting for that stupid bulb to brighten up!

Answer 460

Unless and until I have physical data from the manufacturers, that these bulbs will last the 5 years as advertised, and an offer of replacement bulbs for premature failures... I'll stick to the cheap incandescent bulbs!!!

Answer 461

With all due respect I think you are asking the wrong question.



The question should be " What's the most creative way to light your home without using electricity or any light source that relies on upstream power generation?"



Humans are energy junkies. Build a better lightbulb and we'll just use more of them more frequently. The gas shortages and high cost of the fuel led to more efficient gas engines, but have we reduced our reliance on oil and gas for transportation? Nope.



I'd like to find out if anyone can answer this question - "How do you store light for later use?" Or how about a simpler question "How do you light a whole house with a single 60 watt bulb?"



I know...baby steps...

Answer 462

So-called eco-friendly lightbulbs are just fluorescent lights twisted into the shape of a conventional incandescent lightbulb. You will never get me to accept these awful things. I'd rather use sunlight & candles. Fluorescent light is deeply depressing. Institutions that rely on fluorescent lighting do not lead to higher productivity or congenial relations between students and/or workers. Natural light still remains the best for the eye. Halogen lighting is excellent. There are also other lighting options that are more expensive, but safe & energy-efficient.



The demonization of the incandescent lightbulb misleads the public into thinking the wattage of lightbulbs is a key factor in emissions. It is not. Your cars and your coal-fired power-plants are still the biggest problem. Outlawing conventional incandescent lightbulbs will not stave off global warming. Teaching people to be sparing of their energy use in general will. If you choose to live in a vast house, own multiple TV sets, favor mammoth appliances, keep your microwave plugged in, run the washers half full using hot water, take 20 minute showers daily, water your lawn, depend on air conditioning, use leaf blowers, keep a freezer full of leftovers you are doing a great deal more damage to the environment than you would be by having a couple of incandescent bulbs on in your students' desk lamps. Passing frivolous laws to ban lightbulbs makes no sense unless you are also willing to similarly ban the production of cigarettes or alcoholic beverages, which are also "inefficient" products that harm the environment as well as actually the health of those who are exposed to them. Why not ban the industry that sells the equipment that allows cannabis cultivation to take place indoors? Why not ban print advertising and bulk mail? Why not tell political campaigns they can't print flyers, door hangers or produce TV ads that repeat over & over? That would also reduce emissions!



The incandescent lightbulb is a good lighting source because the light it delivers is pleasant. If you want to replace it, you had better come up with something more attractive than fluorescent lighting which is without exception DISGUSTING. If you want to reduce the amount of artificial lighting being used, why not move school hours to a later period in the day, so families get up after sunrise, and schools can use natural lighting? Why not encourage greater use of skylights? Why not end the travesty of "daylight savings time" that actually forces much of the population of the world to use more electrical power than they would if they would be getting up at the later time, with the sun much higher above the horizon? When are we going to stop glorifying 18th century notions of "the virtue of early to bed & early to rise" that NO LONGER APPLY to a 21st century lifestyle -- by a long shot?!? If you want to reduce emissions, tell the casinos to crank down their lights, ban stadium lighting & nighttime sports. And what's wrong with ending the holiday lighting mania? Each & every one of these suggestions is more viable & ultimately less painful than forcing yucky fluorescent lighting down everybody's throats!

Answer 463

I would like to use the flourescent light bulbs but every time I try them they don't put out enough light by which to read. My grandmother requires a lot of light in order to read the paper and her bills, etc so I suspect there are many older adults who need the increased light produced by traditional light bulbs. I compliment all of those who are using them now and I hope they will continue to improve in the future so that we can count on them as a reliable substitute for the traditional light bulb.

Answer 464

a normal lightbulb is really just a small heater that happens to create light as a by-product. everytime that we use an incandecent light bulb we are literally flushing money down the drain. the heat forces us to use more airconditioning because our environment is being heated. they are tremendously wasteful.

fluorescent bulbs, while more expensive, will actually save the normal person hundreds of dollars over their lifetime, if they are used exclusively in the home. they use the energy to create more light and much less heat. i have been using fluorscents for abot 15 years and if you shop smart, you can find four packs for between $6 and $10. the initial investment is well worth it. you will save money and do something good for America.

Answer 465

Aloha, these bulbs are subsidized by a Calif. co, so get a connection there and buy in bulk. I bought 4 at ye ol' City Mill and one didn't work. Lost the receit,etc My 4 bulb fixture would only fit 3 so i saved another 25%. Oh, did I mention the@ $6.99 price. Passed on the Prius....batteries replacement cost is out of sight!

Answer 466

Explain what the impact would be if 1 million incandecent bulbs were changed to flourescent bulbs. That is a relatively small number of bulbs compared to the number of light bulbs in just the United States. There would probably be a greater impact than would be expected, and it would be easy to accomplish.

Answer 467

If you want to inspire a close person about something I think that one easy way is by education. people need to know how light bulbs works and the different types that make it.



not only letting know about it but because this eco-friendly light bulbs is not cheap yet , family should save the coins change to eventually buy and interchange fixture between family and friends .



I want to make another point :is all on the government hands to implement regulations on this market . one example would be increase taxes on regular light bulbs and not tax at all on eco-friendly light bulbs .

Answer 468

The reason that I don't use them or recommend any one to use them is because the color of light that comes from the eco friendly bulb is too white! The color they emit is an ugly color. They need to be more of a full spectrum color, with more colors in the red, orange, blue and yellow, not all white! If they were in that spectrum, then I would purchase them.With the new color bulbs if I would put them in all light fixtures and show them off to friends and family!Call the new bulb new tec eco friend bulb or save life on plant earth bulb. then the new made up name bulb I can push to sell the bulb with friends and family!

Answer 469

Most people don't like Eco-friendly light bulbs because you can not dim them.If someone comes up with a Eco light bulb that can be used with dimmers they probably will buy them.

If the cost is also the same as conventional light bulbs, it will a big excuse to switch.



Mauricio Aguiar 02-22-07

Answer 470

I use them on lights that remain on the most time and encourage others to do the same.



Otherwise, don't buy them. Manufacturers haven't done their homework. Most people won't buy them for all the lights in their house and why should they...



Make them exactly like the old bulbs.... there are too many differences for most people.



Make florescents in the same size/shape as regular light bulbs. Many of the florescent lights today don't look like the old ones. Even the bulb shaped florescents are larger in size than the old bulbs. That's enough to turn many people off.



Make florescents with the same color balance as the old ones. I purchased 2 different brands and both cast a cooler light--pink. Most people like the warmth of the old bulbs.



When florescents first turn on they put out less light than old bulbs. People want light on demand. The last thing you want is to switch on a light and wait for it to get bright.



People don't want to change to something that is different. Even without the increase in price, differences are enough to turn most people off.

Answer 471

Simply share your own reasons for changing to the eco-friendly bulbs such as lower energy cost, changing bulbs less often and doing your part to help the environment. Encourage your friends and family to do the same and spread the word. You can even let them know where you can purchase the bulbs to further encourage them to make the purchase.

Answer 472

I use them in my house and have friends over and then let them see just how wondeful they are. They are soooo much better than the old flourescent bulbs. I also point out that I can get 3 times the light in a room and STILL use less than 1/3 of the energy. The only reason every single bulb in my house isn't CF is that I have dimmer switches on two ceiling fan lights and every single CF package I've read says they aren't for use with dimmer switches. If any one knows of a brand that is dimmer switch friendly please let me know.

Answer 473

Instead of giving us tax cuts that we don't need, the government should spend some of the millions of our tax dollars that they waste on warmongering and do something like Cuba and Venezuela have done - provide free flourescent bulbs to everyone and have a national "bright idea / change your way of thinking" day where everyone changes their household bulbs with the free bulbs given to them on a specified Saturday. We're supposed to be a leader in innovative ideas, yet we lag woefully behind progressive-minded countries who are actually doing something instead of making excuses about how it's "too costly" or "too risky" to make a positive change. I'm frequently embarrassed now to admit that I'm an American. We lost a great deal when we let Al Gore have the presidency stripped from him that he rightfully won in the popular vote. We should all be embarrassed that people like Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez are taking steps towards energy management and we are still arguing about whether global warming "truly exists." Look around you at your city's air. You're not supposed to be able to see the air, yet we see the brown air that we all breathe every day because we're too lazy to do anything about it.

Answer 474

I don't particularly like any idea that has the government banning incandesant bulbs, but i do think the state or federal government should TAX incandesants that use more than 25 watts.

Perhaps the money gained from this type of tax could be put to use planting trees and researching more efficient use of petroleum products. also they could run commercials promoting the use of Eco-Friendly bulbs.



Any Social engineering should be done in a positive way.

then acceptance of change would be received much smoother without any undue resistance.

Answer 475

Just the other day, my mom, sister, and I were at a store, and when we went to buy light bulbs, I suggested we buy the florescent light bulbs. They are more efficient and they last longer than the regular kind. I clearly explained all the pros, and cons, of the eco-friendly bulb. Even though my mom still went with the usual, at least I informed her and maybe that will influence her decisions in the future.

Answer 476

COME NOW THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE. THE ECO FRIENDLY BULB LAST 8-10 LONGER THEN NORMAL BULBS SO IF THE PRICE FOR AN NORMAL BULB IS .50 AND THE ECO BULB IS 1.00 YOU HAVE TO TO BUY 4-5 DOLLARS MORE TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF LIGHT. NOT ONLY THE PRICE OF THE LIGHT THE GAS TO TRAVEL TO THE STORE,PARKING, AND TIME. SO THE TRUE AMOUNT IS MORE LIKE 6-8 DOLLARS FOR THE SAME LIGHT. SAVE MONEY,GAS AND TIME PLUS HELP THE PLANET. A WIN WIN FOR US ALL.

Answer 477

If you are really serious about it, enact legislation to put a tax on incandescent bulbs to bring the price closer the that of the eco-friendly bulbs. Then use the tax money collected to fund efforts to further improve energy use habits. The beauty is that since the eco-friendly bulbs pay for themselves anyway, you are not charging the smart people who switch. You are only charging those who refuse to switch and continue to waste. And what's not fair about that?

Answer 478

The light bulb has always been the sign of intelligent thought. Use an add campaign, very much like RED, where the eco-friendly lightbulb has the speech outline of merengue and inside it shows all the ways people can remember to use alternate and eco-friendly sources other than the status quo. Nothing like a cartoon or symbol to always remind people that they have alternatives - and it is their own thinking!

Answer 479

You might consider giving them gifts of the lightbulbs, along with cute poem



Friendship is True Light



I give this gift to you

To show our friendship true

A gift of light to see

Just what you mean to me



Our friendship is so strong

Its light will burn so long

I want this bulb to last

Untill our future's past



The bulb won't burn out soon

Its meant to last past June

To see you through the years

In darkness and in tears



It won't cost you too much

To use it in your stuff

So your utility bill goes down

(Now don't think me a clown!)



The energy you'll save

Will show you that its brave

To switch from older sights

And use fluorescent lights



(I just wrote this poem, sorry if its too hokey!)



**************************************************

On a side note, I don't mean to be picky, but I am concerned that the current fluorescent lights being used that are billed as "eco-friendly" are anything but. They rely on excitation of mercury to achieve the glorious white and whitish colors, and mercury waste is quite toxic. Moreover, if you break one of these bulbs you need to be careful to clean up the mercury immediately and not allow it to soak into any carpeting. If mercury does contaminate your carpets or flooring, you will have a constant exposure to mercury fumes. These bulbs should NOT be thrown out in the trash, but disposed of at a recycling facility that will capture the heavy metal inside and not allow it to pollute the groundwater.

Answer 480

You know Larry, I went out and bought enough of those friendly light bulbs to replace every light bulb in my home. They are advertised to last 5 years. Within 6 months, 85% of those very expensive light bulbs had failed. I'm a retired electrical engineer, with a PhD, and spent a good part of my career as a failure analysis engineer and lab manager. Unless and until I have physical data from the manufacturers, that these bulbs will last the 5 years as advertised, and an offer of replacement bulbs for premature failures... I'll stick to the cheap incandescent bulbs!!!

Answer 481

Switching to CFLs is a huge mistake. The future of lighting is in LEDs, but manufacturers aren't pushing it because they want to milk all the money they can out of CFLs. Watch, in 6 or 7 years or so, when CFL sales slow down, they'll say something to the effect of, "Oh hey! Now we have this new bulb made out of LEDs! It uses 95% less power than an incandescent bulb, and 75% less power than a CFL! Thow away your CFLs and buy this!" But it will be made with technology that is available today.

Answer 482

Money talks. My electric bill dropped $20-30 a month when I switched the whole house over. And I've replaced 1 bulb in the past 2 years.

Answer 483

My answer depends on whether the person is a conservative being or not. My reason for switching to about 90% of the new bulbs is very simple , I am now saving about 20% of my electric bill each month. Of course there are other reasons for the switch, the first one is to make less the burden on the power company during peak periods. The second reason is my first reply to your question.



Being an electrical engineer by trade, the power company reason should be the most important one from me, but i am a bit conservative and love to save money............

Answer 484

First, I would encourage the producers of these light bulbs to create a version I could actually use to see to read. The light they create is different from the incandescent bulb, and I am a senior citizen. I can not see details with these bulbs at all.

Answer 485

Give people more exposure to the eco friendly light bulbs and make them affordable to everyone. We are changing over a little at a time because of the cost difference. I do like the bulbs and I hope they last as long as they are reported to.

Answer 486

We give each other an eco-friendly lightbulb as a gift at least once a year, instead of another CD or unused tie. Then we try to gift others with an eco-friendly bulb which fits all sizes & types of people. We draw an old-fashioned lightbulb on the notecard with "we've got an idea - how about you?" along with a link for choosing a better lightbulb: http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=608

Answer 487

It is hard for me to recommend them because I have tried them. The life of the bulb is grossly over rated, or I have gotten several bad batches. The light output goes down as they age, and I personally have found them to last about as long as an incandescent bulb. The cost of the bulb is higher and the operating cost is lower. The quality of the incandescent light is higher. I do use the 48 inch bulbs for kitchen, utility rooms, office lighting and grow lights for plants. It seems to me that the screw in replacements are not a good value.

Answer 488

Incent people to use them. There are tax breaks available currently to purchase a hybrid vehicle, to upgrade your appliances in your house, to buy solar hot water heaters and solar panels. Do the same for these eco friendly light bulbs. I've switch my entire home to these bulbs and the expense can be a big pill to swallow. But if there were a tax break for the difference between the cost standard bulbs and these bulbs, more people might try them.

Answer 489

Until we can ensure proper disposal, I personally will not use compact fluorescent bulbs.



We began receiving mercury level warnings in fish and shellfish years before it was hip to be energy efficient. Without methods for proper disposal, the amount of mercury that will leech into the ground, the local streams and eventually the ocean far outweighs the energy savings. We risk losing fish and/or shellfish as a food source, fish and/or shellfish products (vitamins, fertilizer, etc.), and anything that uses fish and/or shellfish as a source of food or commerce (your cat that ate a bird that ate a fish, the fishing industry, etc.). Using mercury contaminated water for irrigation will poison our crops.



Of all organizations to be spreading the word, the EPA should have done a better job of warning the public about the trace amounts of mercury in compact fluorescent lamps. The adverse effects of high levels of mercury on adults (including pregnant women) and children are well documented.



The EPA should have made sure the infrastructure for proper disposal was present before beginning their marketing campaign. Proper disposal is very easy, it’s just not widely available.



The amount of mercury in the bulbs is listed as being “trace,” however, with more than 300 million people in the US alone, the amount of mercury pollution will rise exponentially. Soon it will be out of our control.

Answer 490

Money was the prime motivator for me. I now save over $50.00 per month on my electric bill. Thats at least $600.00 per year. We converted all of our incandescent lights to compact fluorescents and as soon as they develope led's for use we'll convert to those. We also applied for an energy audit through our local energy provider and after the audit they gave us 6 CFL's that was what started us out. I just love not having to fork over this extra money and it also feels good to be adding to the conservation cause. When the price of gas went to $3.00 a gallon we bought a Camry Hybrid and we just love it. It gets 40 miles to the gallon. My pickup gets 20 miles to the gallon and it cost me $40.00 to fill up so you do the math I like paying less to get from one place to the other. There is also a side effect of playing an active role in conserving energy it makes me feel good. So in the beginning it was money but it became much more in the end.

Answer 491

While this may not be an answer, one serious factor overlooked by this whole movement towards "energy conscience" lightbulbs is the following. These lightbulbs set off migraine headaches in people pre-disposed to this condition. It's a well-known fact that the oscillating action of these lights sets off migraines in people who suffer this affliction. Outlawing incandescent lightbulbs (like Australia is attempting to do) is NOT the answer as this law will be thrown out of court (here in the USA) post haste due precisely to the health issues caused by these "energy efficient" lightbulbs.



Personally, I think new sources of low energy requiring light should be researched that are not dependent upon fluorescent lights.

Answer 492

I believe for people it's hard to think that small changes in their habits can make a difference. I believe a way to motivate them is showing them how numbers "add-up". For example, how much energy you save by changing certain number of light bulbs and how much money does that implies for them in a month and then in a year (personal benefit); then put some numbers on how much energy we will save if let's say 100 household do the same, and then a million of housholds. It is important to emphasize that chaging 1 bulb makes a difference. Again if every person in the USA changes a bulb in some place, it implies 300.000.000 bulbs!! how much energy are we saving ???

Answer 493

I think in order for people to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs, the Government needs to be proactive in this aspect. The Australian Government has announced the country will switch to eco-friendly light bulbs by year 2009. Eco-friendly light bulbs have longer life span, and the energy usage is only 20% of the traditional light bulbs.

Answer 494

People who purchase and install these bulbs starting the first of any calendar year who can clearly show a decrease in energy used would be allowed X dollar amount of savings in the form of a tax deduction right off. This could be a carry over for up to 5 to 7 year spand. Keeping up with this is as simple as saving the stub off of their powerbill every month which shows how much you saved or used versus same period of the past year.

Answer 495

That should be obvious, lower the price of light bulbs. Unless you shop at dollar Store or Big Lots light bulbs are extremely expensive. These bulbs are probably seconds , not top quality. They do not last very long, so you go back and buy more. If the manufacturers would lower prices, people would switch

Answer 496

You have to put it where the rubber meets the road. In their pocket book. Most people don't think about what they do affecting the environment. But if you can show them how it will actually save them money, you will have a better chance of getting them to switch. But if we are looking environmentally friendly light bulbs, what about LED lighting? I understand that LED lights are used a lot in Europe. The problem we have in the U.S., is no one is producing this type of environmental friendly bulb. The cost to product these types of bulbs would drop considerably if our only choices are eco-friendly light bulbs.

Sorry to get on a soap box. I am in the process of switching all of my lights out in my house to both florescent and LED.

Answer 497

I would say lower the price of the bulbs there way to expensive although i no they last longer alot of buyers are looking for the best deal not the best product!! I still use the old style bulbs but im thinking about buying these ones in the future because i no they do save energy...

Answer 498

This is more effective than "creative."



Speak to people at the point of purchase - in the lightbulb aisle at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc - with simple signage that illustrates the value of an eco-friendly bulb. Basically show purchase price/lifespan/operating cost for both eco-friendly and traditional bulbs. Bottom line it for people.



As with all thing "eco-friendly," these bulbs will go mass when you show people that it'll save them money.



The morality approach is far less effective than the economic approach. Even the obstinate will bend over to pick up a dollar.

Answer 499

Actually, I got inspired by a friend whose new home had the energy saving lights. I loved the way they looked that I went to buy some of my own. Although they are expensive to purchase, the price has gone down significantly from $20 to $7. I have my whole apartment using these lights for the past three years, and my electricity bill has gone down a lot. If not for the looks, get them because they will save you money.

Answer 500

Well, first of all there are some which have a 'factory' like tint and others look much more look like normal bulbs. I have been buying them for years, but then my parents went and bought the ones with the brighter tint and said they will never buy them again. WE have to get it out to the public that they give off the same kind of light as a normal light bulb.

STOP GLOBAL WARMING....also what about a tax cut if you buy one?

Answer 501

Come one everyone let's jump on the Global Warming Band wagon.



1. Fluorescent bulbs are known to trigger migraine headaches. I'll switch to these bulbs as long as you pay for my headache medicine. How do I know? My Mother gets migraines for fluorescent lights. She has to wear sunglasses indoors.



2. Fluorescent bulbs also contain mercury, so lets increase the production of these bulbs and use more mercury one of the most toxic elements on this planet all in the name of global warming. How do we dispose of the toxic waste use to create these bulbs. Where does the mercury come from? Where is it stored? Would you want to live next to one of these factories knowing they store Mercury on site?



How much more risk of mercury getting into more water supplies.



Please let's think some of these things through and look at some of the unintended consequences.

Answer 502

We have a 1,500 square foot house with a basement. There are currently 79 light bulbs that can be operated by either a regular 60W incandescent or 14W CFL bulbs. Considering our house is not that big, I was astonished with the actual number of light fixtures we have in our house. Since CFL bulb use about 75 percent less energy and last 10 tines as long as incandescent bulbs If all 79 bulbs were operated half the hours of each day at 7.5 cents per KWH; each year we would save $1,194 in electricity and $346 in replacement bulb costs. Multiply that by an average of 20 houses on each block this equals $30,796 per block. Multiplied that by 28,571 houses in a city with 100,000 people equals $43,970,769 per city. Multiplied that by 1,714,286 houses in a state with 6,000,000 residents equals $2.64 Billion per state. Multiplied that by 85.7 million houses in the United States equals $131.98 Billion in annual saving. Do you really need any more incentive to change to CFL bulbs in your house?

Answer 503

Mention to them how much they can help by making such small changes. I've personally read that for everytime you swich a conventional light bulb to a compact flourscent one that light bulb will save 500 tons of coal from being burned in its lifetime. If you have true facts like this to tell them it could really inspire them to make a change. I know I was inspired this way, and have inspired others. Just give them the hard facts like this, and maybe it will help them realize how easy it is to make a big difference.

Answer 504

Creative, simply put, for equal light they use 1/3 the power, last 7-9 times as long, at home you will spend a buck up front but not have to change the bulb for a very long time

Answer 505

Hmmm, well to start, manufacturers can create an efficient light bulb that gives off enough light. I have attempted to use these light bulbs in living areas but have taken them out. The light is most unpleasing and, like large overhead fluorescent light, gives me a headache. I have resigned to using the current light bulbs to outside lights, or closets. I am hoping that LED lights will provide a better light.

Answer 506

switching to these bulbs is great if you are looking to save some money on your energy bill, but the whole global warming thing is just a big joke. ever consider why mars is getting hotter along with earth. ummmmmm. maybe the sun is hotter. mans influence on the climate is small at best. 20 years ago we were going into an ice age. ever think the people promoting this have a financial stake in it.

Answer 507

I actually work for a lighting fixture company called Lightology and we are really pushing eco-friendly fixtures and bulbs to people simply with the fact that they will save them a ton of money in the long run...these bulbs use far less wattage then regular incandescent and will save on your energy bill dramatically...they also provide many interesting options for lights and you can use them in many fashionable and modern fixtures...in this day and age, people want the designer look, but with affordability and using eco-friendly bulbs do just that

Answer 508

We need a broader and faster strategy. Levy a 100% tax on old style bulbs and use the funds to reduce the costs of the eco-friendly bulbs. All state and federal buildings should be required to only install new eco-bulbs as old bulbs need replacing. That will get people to switch much faster.

Answer 509

With a price break. I've wanted to switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs for a while, but their high initial cost was an obstacle. Then my state offered an on-the-spot rebate at my local hardware store, which dropped the cost of a bulb from three bucks to about 75 cents. I bought the maximum allowed at that price, outfitted my entire apartment, and saw an immediate drop in my electric usage.

Answer 510

The only way to get everyone to use CFL's is to stop selling the inefficient fluorescent bulbs. If they can pass laws to outlaw smoking in a bar or that one has to wear a seat belt.....they should be able to pass a law that would have a huge impact on the environment as well as the electrical generating infrastructure of the country.

Answer 511

For Christmas I went around and replaced all the light bulbs in the common areas of my apartment building. Then I slid a note under everyone's door that explained how much calculated energy I had saved over one year.



We all share the cost of electricity for the common areas, so when our bill went down by 25% last month...I got a lot of notes asking me where to buy the bulbs and for more information!

Answer 512

You need to make them affordable for everyone. The majority of folks cannot afford "expensive or luxury" light bulbs. If anyone was really interested in making a change...and not just making people buy a new expensive light bulb they would make it a no brainer to make the switch but making them just as affordable as regular ones. Take a look @ the organic food market...seems like the rich can only eat healthy.

Answer 513

1 - Create new laws to place a limit on eco friendliness of light bulbs.

2 - Raise taxes specifically on the none-eco-friendly light bulbs.

3 - Make the new light bulbs allot cheaper.

4 - Outlaw the old light bulbs.

5 - Give them away in a government/privately funded event with a contract to only use the light bulbs from that point on.

Answer 514

People respond to immediate results. Also, most people that use eco friendly light bulbs use them mostly for the money savings and durability rather than for saving the Earth. Im not sure what the best way to inspire friends and family but these two might be the closest ideas you will get to finding your answer.

Answer 515

Eco Friendly Bulbs to the Toyota Prius, I think all this is a joke. This is just another Liberal Consperacy to get people to believe that something is happening with our environment when it truly isn't. I don't really think we should even consider thinking about these stupid light bulbs when we should be considering if we are going to have a job tomorrow. Stop the Global Warming Winers.

Answer 516

I always have a problem with the notion that we need to get other people to do stuff. The biggest other-changer is our own example. What we do, others will emulate if it seems sensible, or worthwhile.

We use solar power. In order to minimize our electrical use, we are switching to compact flourescent bullbs. Because they're expensive, we substitute CF bulbs as the old incandescents burn out, so there is no sudden huge expense, and no waste of a still useful lightbulb.

Answer 517

I have these buldbs in just about every light in my home. They are a bit more expensive than the average bulb. However they last longer than the typical bulb and provide an energy savings. They are a great product. I simply told my family about these bulbs. Some have purchased them for their homes because of the potential energy savings.

Answer 518

I switched to eco-friendly lightbulbs about 5 years ago. My electric bill went down $20 per month with no other changes. I give 3 packs of the bulbs as Christmas, Housewarming and Wedding Gifts.

Answer 519

Each year the government should attach an increasingly large "Energy Tax" to all but eco-friendly light bulbs. I do not believe other approaches will be sufficient. This will spur the production of more energy wise bulbs and eliminate the market for the traditional bulbs.

Answer 520

The best way to get people to switch is for the manufacturers to continue to improve the "quality" and "essence" of light. When it is impossible to tell the difference between a regular incandescent and a low watt eco-friendly bulb, they will have achieved something. For now I am willing to use them in certain situations where the light quality issue is not important, but I still don't like them for locations such as interior desk lighting or house lighting.

Answer 521

Simply stop producing the incandescent (old) type. They give off excess heat and use about 3 times as much energy as the new bulbs to produce the same amount of light!! Immediate relief to the global warming issue could be achieved in addition to energy bill savings!!!.

Answer 522

Hello

Called simple math. My first house had 4 60w (= 240w) bulbs in the master bedroom. Installed 4 13w (= 52w) bulbs in place of the 60w bulbs. Had to take 1 out because it was too BRIGHT !!! Best place for these is under hood stove light, kids bedroom. Bad thing is these don't work well outside or in the bathroom very well. Point is WE need a bright homes for happy winter months, so these bulbs are worth the coin for more light for less coin in lower monthly bills . SO in the long run WAY worth the added bulb expense.............

Answer 523

Show them your power bill. I have a compact flourescent bulb in every lamp in the house. I have a couple that have been burning since I moved into this condo in 1991. They last forever and do not burn hot, a real positive in a typical South Carolina summer. If you replace a typical 60 watt light bulb with the compact flourescent equivalent, you are only using 13 watts, a real energy saving..

Answer 524

1) In the home stores in my area, the 60-Watt replacement bulbs are sold in 4-packs at a decent per-bulb price. But the 40-Watt size are sold only in 2-packs or singles, at a much higher per-bulb price. Vendors should sell the 40-Watt size for the same per-bulb cost as the 60-Watt. The 60W are WAY too bright for my multi-lamp applications!



2) There needs to be a way to check the brightness and coloring of the CF bulbs in the store. Bulbs of the same wattage from different manufacturers vary greatly in brightness. The CF bulbs cost too much to be uncertain of the light output, color, and quality that you are getting.

Answer 525

I hate flor. bulbs. The color is awful and more importantly you cannot dim them. This is so trivial. Compact flor. bulbs are more efficient but are not the answer.

I do NOT believe for 1 second that man is having an impact on Global Warming. I am sure it is taking place. 30 years ago the cover of Time magazine covered how we were starting an ice age and needed to cover the polar ice caps with ash to help them melt...check it out.

Answer 526

I can’t believe anyone is still asking that question; the light bulb practically sells itself. It consumes less electricity therefore cuts your electricity bill in less than half stupid. But of course there’s the actual cost of the light bulb itself, it costs six times as much as the regular bulb. So if the government or politicians want to inspire people to use eco friendly bulbs make it cheap, possibly even cheaper than the regular bulb most use today.

Answer 527

Money!!! If you aircondition your home, each traditional lightbulb creates lots of heat. SO, first you have to burn lots of electricity to light the bulb, say, 100watts, then the airconditioner has to offset that by burning at least 100 watts just to break even, then in order to be cool you have to use that much again. Very crudely estimating each bulb uses lots of energy, which translates into money. Itg;s like having the oven on with the door open and then trying to aircondition These compact bulbs create much less heat and use much less energy. Even if you aren't compelled to change based on pholosophy, do it because of selfish reasons, saving money..I personally like the light they provide more than traditional bulbs, but that's a person like or dislike..

Answer 528

The best way to make people use the energy saving light bulbs is to make them the same cost as the regular bulbs. Or just completely eliminate the old ones. All thought the act of lowering the price would ultimately eliminate them. People would be un-wise to use any thing but florescent energy savers.

Answer 529

I reccomend that they switch one bulb at a time as they go out. This way you don't incur the large expense right away. The eco friendly bulbs operate much cooler that the incandesent bulbs do and in the summer time that account for a lot of energy savings when you live in the desert.

Answer 530

Might not be the greatest present ever, but giving people the light bulbs as presents could be a way you can spread the benefits of the light bulbs by letting them see the impact they have on their light bills. Plus everyone eventually will need to replace a light bulb.

Answer 531

Make them inexpensive enough to be usable, for instance last year in New York there was a program that made fluorescent bulbs less than regular bulbs. this would be a huge insensitive. it worked for me the the bulbs i bought last year are still working. They last at least twice as long, if not more.

The other alternative is of course halogen which is right in between as far as efficiency and generates significant heat.

Answer 532

I show them how the light bulbs take a few minutes to reach full brightness and then... wait that's why I would NOT use eco-friendly lights in certain applications.



My point is that you need to be realistic, precise and avoid hype. The same type of "holy grail" misinformation (eg, 60 mpg) about hybrid cars is causing a backlash that leads many to dismiss hybrids without considering the true benefits that can be had.

Answer 533

Just tell them the truth about the bulbs: that while they cost a little more, they use less electricity and last much longer, and you'll net a savings of money over the long run. And you won't have to change your bulbs that often at all, which is a nice feature. They practically sold themselves, and as my incandescents burn out, they're replaced with fluorescents.

Answer 534

Living in Florida, portable generators are a part of life. You have to keep an eye on the watts used so you don't overload the generator. With these bulbs, you get 100 watts of light for 13 watts of electricity use. You can run 7 of these bulbs for the same usage of one 100 watt bulb.

Answer 535

Hello all eco-lovers,



for more information on energy saving lamps, visit



www.save-the-penguin.com



I have found some useful information on this interesting and informative website regarding converting Incandescent lamps to Compact fluorescents.



Help save energy by changing your traditional incandescent lamps to compact fluorescent ones.



It will save energy, save you money and will help reduce the amount of CO2 produced by using excess amounts of energy.



A compact fluorescent lamp uses up to 80% less energy for the same light output and can come in a variety of shapes and sizes.



Sure compact fluorescents cost a little more than a traditional incandescent lamp, but you will save that money back on your electricity bill very, very quickly.



Incandescent bulbs have been used for over a hundred years and have used a lot of energy in every facet of our lives. If everyone changed their old bulbs for compact fluorescent lamps, we can save an enormous amount of energy and help, in a very BIG way, to reduce CO2 emissions and reduce global warming.



Lets make the next hundred years compact fluorescent!

Answer 536

Thats a very easy answer, lower the cost to regular light bulbs and everyone will buy them. I have a few, but the cost of just 4 of them is around $10, where as 4 regular bulbs cost on average of a $1.

Answer 537

I put the new bulbs in my lamps and the flicker gives me a monumental headache. If the manufacturers would make a decent product, more people would use them. Also, they said on the package that they were the same as a 60 watt regular bulb, but they are so dim, they are useless. Why doesn't the US spend more money on developing better low energy cars, appliances, and light bulbs instead of bombs.

Answer 538

Eco-friendly light bulbs are cheaper than regular incandescent bulb. Using a 60w incandescent vs. an 11w energy saver the running costs are $36 vs. $6.60 over 6000 hours use.

Answer 539

I am certainly concerned about the environment and doing what I can to help. I have 4 of these bulbs installed in my fixtures, and they are good, but I spent 20 dollars for them, and they better last like promised. Why, because I can buy a lifetime worth of incandescent bulbs for that amount.

Answer 540

Do a mini "Trading Spaces" type thing and use eco-friendly light bulbs in the room. When U they come back into the room and you're explaining how U changed the room around mention the bulbs and how long they'll last. They'll see the difference.

Answer 541

Discontinue making the old bulbs, where in a short time only the newer type will be available. Since the impact is so great , the bulb manufacturers and consumers shouldn't have a problem with it. In the meantime use the media and incentive programs.

Answer 542

The government has to subsidize the cost of them, so they are roughly the same price as a regular bulb. People are cheap and many just don't have money. The cost of one of these bulbs is like 3-6 dollars. Whereas you can get a 4=pack of regular bulbs for $1.00 from the dollar stores.



We use all energy saving bulbs, and they are great, we never have to change them, they last so long, but for most people, its cheaper (to them) to just put in a new cheap bulb every now and then.

RM

Answer 543

The easiest way to have people move to the CFL lamps is to increase the cost of the electricity. Levy an extra 10% tax on electricity.



Use that 10% extra income to subsidise CFL lamps.



With this method the cost of CFL lamps go down and at the same time cost of running an incandescent lamp goes up.



People will automatically start moving to CFL Lamps when they feel the pinch.



An advertising campaign, paid for by the 10% tax, to educate the people about the benefits of the CFL lamps especially the energy savings will also go far to get people to start changing.

Answer 544

The problem is to break the habit of buying the same ole light bulb we always have. Remove the lights from someones house, replace them with the newer bulbs, and provide a coupon for the next purchase.

Answer 545

screw it pave it all.



But on the serious side if your concerned about them saving electricity just put in the old bulbs into your house then put in the new ones and see who much in electricity you save. Over one month time my bill with the old bulbs was 120$ and the new ones 80$. So in all i saved 40$ in one month and if people realize how much money they are throwing away using the old bulbs that have to be replaced more and use more electricity they will eventually switch to these more efficient bulbs. I give the old bulbs one thing you can buy them cheaper in stores but in the long run the eco friendly as you call them flourecent bulbs are going to save you alot more money in the long run.

Answer 546

No need to make a huge investment in fluorescent bulbs - when lightbulbs burn out, replace them one at a time with long-life, color-corrected white-light fluorescent bulbs and tubes (5,000-6,500K). These provide non-yellow light indoors - similar to the sun's light - which make people and interiors more attractive, while elevating one's mood. You'll save as much as 6 times the cost of the more expensive bulb over a year's time.

Answer 547

Offer some kind of rebate, bring in all of your bulbs in from your home and offer them so much for them and give a discount on the new bulbs. I don't know all the details to weather or not this will be required by law someday (if that is what they are trying to accomplish). But make it affordable and cut back on making old bulbs. Also try converting old bulb factorys in to ones that make the new ones, if they already don't. Hope this helps some. :)

Answer 548

One of my dilemma is that the old bulb is still working so I wait until the old ones burn out before replacing it. That took about 4 months of waiting. Have trade-in program for the old style bulb with promise to recycle the materials correctly. This way people know they are saving energy, and not contributing unnecessarily to the land fill. We also need more places to recycle the eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 549

Have them actually work! We have tried numerous times to use them. They become dim over time, so that they give off very little light. They don't last very long (at least the ones we have bought). They burned out quicker than regular bulbs. Also we tried them in the garage this winter. Well they don't work in the cold. The bottom line is they have to work better than they do now.



I would gladly switch to them, but they have to be a reasonable investment (they are expensive). And I would tell my friends about them. The fact is that people will use them if they WORK!

Answer 550

I believe that the solution can be found in the example of a Manitoba company "Manitoba Hydro". This public company held an advertising campaign discussing the benefits of eco-friendly light bulbs. They then proceeded with a promotional campaign where they provided LARGE cost discounts on eco-friendly light bulbs in exchange for people's regular light bulbs.



This campaign went over very successfully in my hometown, with many people switching to the eco-friendly bulbs.

Answer 551

I think you tree huggers should find other things to worry about. Like how we can change the weather in 10 million years. We've been using the "friendly light bulbs" off and on for a couple of years and have had problems with them also. Why don't you go back to attacking the snow owl.

Answer 552

I think that if you could turn all of your old energy wasting bulbs in for the eco friendly bulbs for free the first time it would help, Not everyone can afford to convert them all at once and really whos gonna pay 5 bucks for light bulbs when you can get them for 60 cents.

Answer 553

I encourage people to buy fluorescent bulbs by explaining that bulbs with a lower wattage reduce the load on local generators, making them turn a little easier, reducing the amount of steam required to turn the turbines that drive the generators, ultimately reducing the amount of coal burned and CO2 released into the atmosphere.



I also showed my wife the chart on our electric bill illustrating our ever decreasing usage in kilowatt-hours. I finally sold her on the idea of fluorescent light bulbs.



Lastly, I do not condemn the power utility. However, we as consumers need to be responsible with our use of this invaluable tool, and our natural resources.

Answer 554

Nothing to be creative about! Just bring one to their house, and put the darn thing in for them! I had to literally take my mom & dad (in their 60's) by the hand, show them the light output is better, lasts longer, and uses less power, before they would switch. Within a week they had converted 75% of their house. They used to use only one or two bulbs in a 4-5 bulb fixture to save power, now they use them all...they have come out of the dark ages!

Answer 555

A small tangible incentive would motivate most people to switch. For example, utility companies can calculate how much a household would save by switching to eco-friendlly lightbulbs in 6months or a year. The household would then receive a gasoline voucher (or public transit vouchers for those who do not drive) if they switch. The amount of the voucher would equal the savings that would be realized. The utility company can recover the cost by asking manufacturers of the eco-bulbs to chip in as well as oil companies.

Answer 556

Combine Old Guy and Patrick M's ideas as I believe the two ideas cobined really get the message accross.

I have done the same under other circumstances and when you use something and then think enough about it to give it to someone else to try (especially when it will save them money/time/effort/ or something else) they are very likely to give this some thought and carry on.



We use the Compact bulbs and they took a little getting used to, but now we love them. The next time I purchase some, I will buy a couple of trial packs and give to other members of my family thanks to that great idea.

Answer 557

Most people that do not like the Flourescent bulbs, do not like them because of the harsh pure white light. People like the softness and the warm glow of the traditional bulb. I think if the actual tube of the flourescent bulb was tinted so it mimicked the traditional light bulb color spectrum, more people would switch to the energy saving series. That way it could offer a relaxed and warm color spectrum and have the cost savings attached.

Answer 558

Only if they are friends or family... Steal their regular bulbs as long as they refuse to try the energy saving bulbs. :) If you are a kind thief then leave an Energy saver for them to replace the bulb with, along with a fake ransom note or a "note from the future". Maybe 'Jake' their future son of the son of the son of their daughter. Something like: Hello great-great-great grandfather, I've come from the future to steal your energy wasting incandescent light bulbs in the hopes that it will help save the world from the great flood of 2152. Please use these much more energy efficient light bulbs that I've supplied (and put the savings in the bank for my college fund).

You get the idea :)

Answer 559

Let them know how much money they can save in 1 year just by switching to eco-friendly light bulbs. Start a link where it is continuous, send a friend one, they must send one to another friend and so on, they need to be free for all (just the first one). It is sent as a coupon which they can redeem at Home Depot.

Answer 560

First of all, install them in your home. The spiral design in itself is definitely a conversation piece. I have them in my ceiling fans/light fixtures so everyone notices them right away. Once they inquire about the design, it leads to the conversation about energy efficiency, length of time they last, and finally how much money is saved. If they don't notice them, I point them out. The thing that my guests like most about the bulbs is the length of time they last. Afterwards, I show them other efficient items in my home such as my solar powered night lights that last up to 20 years. It really becomes a hot topic with guests. I end up telling some of them the importance of reading the energy guides on appliances and how wonderful my bill has been since switching to them. All this comes "energy" talk starts from one spiral 13 watt bulb.

Answer 561

It seems to me that all eco-friendly items have the same problem... price. Yes, you will save money in the long run but the long run might be years off. One such instance- I was buying a small light for a dark hallway in my house. I had a choice of buying a $ .99 light that used 4 cents per month of electricity or a $2.99 light that used 3 cents per month. I need to have that light for 200 months for it to justify the expense. If you buy that item March 1st 2007 it doesn't become cost effective till November 1st 2023. WOW That is a long time. To put it in perspective If you had a child on that day, he would be driving for 8 months at that point. If you want to get people to go Eco-Friendly, you need to show people up front cost effectiveness as well as long term. The appliance industry is getting closer to it's goal buy lowering its prices on washers and refrigerators as well as tax rebates. Money is what makes the world go round. Eco-Friendly companies need to learn than and take advantage of it.

Answer 562

Florescent bulbs contain hazardous mercury. I don't believe florescent bulbs are an eco-friendly solution to our energy concerns. It merely shifts pollution problems. Most facilities that have large quantities of florescent fixtures dispose of used bulbs to companies who properly handle the bulbs. I believe they are recycled and the hazardous chemicals are removed from the bulb preventing them from contaminating the environment. Compared to the everyday consumer who will toss these used bulbs into regular trash, which ends up in an incinerator or a landfill. Rising levels of mercury pollution is likely to increase through the years. These bulbs are also more dangerous, messy and hazardous when they are broken in your house when compared to a normal incandescent bulb. Not only do you have to worry about tiny particles of glass, but now mercury. It parallels the Asbestos industry scandals where for years the corporations were well aware of the health hazards but continued to produce and produce till it finally became illegal in the US.

Answer 563

Finding out how others can use lights and either giving them one to start or refering them to lights or lenses seems the way to go. I provided relatives with a complact fluorescent several years ago that I knew was the wrong lumenosity yet they were able to buy at the local store the lights they needed. Someone I work with gets migranes from light tubes in office buildings and I found online that one remedy might be changing the diffuser/lense. She may also use complact fluorescent lights at home. These newer lights work at other frequencies that do not result in migranes.

Answer 564

Send one free in the mail to everyone. If the environment is so important than making a profit on the bulbs shouldn't be the main concern. Send out free ecofriendly bulbs through the mail and everyone will keep it because it's free and you always need an extra bulb here and there. People remember the name of the company because of the free offer and then they'll buy your product.



*Use recycled paper to package it.

Answer 565

Use them yourself and showcase it when having a small gathering in your home or office. Showing them an electric bill before the change, and another after the change may encourage them to do so.



If an average home saves $10 on a monthly electric bill, that is $10M cost of electricity for every region of at least 1M people. How much fuel do you think will the power producers burn to generate this much electricity? In a year? In a decade?



Addendum: Did you know that you can save as much as 15% of electricity if you unplug your appliances being left on long hours on a "stand by" mode?

Answer 566

I am all for eco-friendly items, however people should know that these bulbs can be a fire hazard if there is a brown out. I know, because I had some in my lamp when there was a brown out and they overheated and smoked. I am glad I was at home to catch this or there might have been a fire. So be careful if you use compact fluorescents.

Answer 567

I use the eco-friendly bulbs because they last several times longer than standard bulbs and I don't have to be bothered to change them as often. It is such an irritation to have light bulbs continually going out somewhere in the house every week. You can be selfish and green at the same time!

Answer 568

I'm an electronics engineer and I know the electrical aspects of this type bulb. So my reasons are, better natural lighting color and more pleasing to the eyes. More resemblence of natural light. Longer bulb life, by 30-50 times longer. Less energy thus lower costs. Need I say more?

Answer 569

Well first of all Someone mentioned CFL's being almost $7 for one. I can actually get one for a dollar thanks to the susidies of the local electric companies. I know that my area isn't alone, electric companies across the country are doing the same. Subsidies on them will definately help spur the sale and use of CFL's, but while people are still stuck to the tried-and-true incandecents it's not enough.

For widescale use of CFL's the phase out of incandecents has to happen. Incandecents have served their purpose for the past century, but they're now obsolete with the new technologies out. Also once companies stop making incandecents, CFL's will be in much higher production meaning the price will dramatically drop.

Answer 570

I think some people may be afraid to try new things. Maybe it's the "color" of the light, maybe availability. I think a good way to begin to address the problem is to include the bulbs with a fixture that consumers buy. Seeing is believing! When people see the light is acceptable and see it in their home, they'll go out and replace it, esp. if any insert with the bulb shows the savings they offer.

Answer 571

What I don't understand is why these bulbs are better? They create hazardous waste! My garbage pickup service won't even take them, they have to be taken directly to a hazardous waste facility when they burn out, and if one accidentally breaks, it releases hazardous gas into the air my family breathes! It seems like we are moving from the frying pan into the fire here! Global warming is a trumped up joke. Look at the history of the world as long as it has been recorded. Earth heats up then cools down. It's a cycle.

Answer 572

I changed all the light bulbs in my house, including floodlights, three years ago and I have only had 1 burn out in all that time. I cannot quantify the savings I have enjoyed, but I believe them to be significant. Overall my electric bill is 1/3 less than the previous person who owned this house.

Here where I live in Lake Worth, Florida we have a law firm building the first green, LEED certified, living office building in the world...because it is the right thing to do! Your friends just need to understand that what we do affects everyone.

Hope they do the right thing.

Answer 573

Well, this is my first time answering questions on Yahoo!

I think perhaps companies could steadily lower the production of fluorescent light bulbs and raise the amount of eco-friendly light bulbs. More eco-friendly light bulb advertisements would really help spread the helpfulness of these light bulbs.

Answer 574

This answer isn't the most creative, but it shows why I changed: My wife and I bought a new house with high ceilings. After having to use my ladder to change the lightbulbs a few times, it was an easy decision to invest in eco-friendly bulbs. I went to my local hardware store and bought three 9-packs and changed all the ceiling fixtures in our house. Now, I won't have to lug out the ladder to change a lightbulb for a few years! So I guess my answer would be to make light fixtures harder to access.

Answer 575

Make eco friendly light bulbs cheaper than conventional light bulbs. Makes no sense to have eco friendly light bulbs rediculously expensive for ONE bulb. I can get a 4 pack of conventional for $.79 Right now I chose wallet friendly...But if you completely eliminate conventional light bulbs then I would we would have no choice but to switch to the eco friendly. Take some of the cash from the budget for this nonsense war we're fighting and invest in our country!

Answer 576

We at Groovygrow.com have a new technology light we are spreading around the world! LED Grow lights! Each light has between 100 and 168 Light emitting Diodes inside. These lights screw into a standard US E27 light socket! 110 volts and 6o HZ. The great thing is they use only 10 watts of power! Our lights are primarily used for plant grow systems, but can also be used for exterior floodlights. We can (but do not yet) also make halogen spectrum and sodium vapor versions. I believe this is they wave of the future! LED technology is the way to go! Each light can last up to 150,000 hours of constant use! Please check out www.groovygrow.com for more details! Good question! Greg "the Groovy Grow guy!"

Answer 577

I would simply tell people that number one, they put off less heat that the older lightbulbs, and number two, they last a LOT longer than standard light bulbs.

I have these light bulbs in every lamp and light fixture in my home and have not had to change one of these bulbs in something like three years.

Yes, they are a little on the pricey side, but not having to replace them in my opinion makes them cost-effective.

Oh, and my electric bill went down about 10%

Answer 578

Tell them they can get brighter light using less power. I couldn't see well in the kitchen and was going to replace the fixture. But I replaced 2 incandescent 60-watt bulbs with two 28-watt fluorescent bulbs that are so bright I don't need a new fixture.

Answer 579

Show them your electric bill and how much you're saving on the bill.

Also show them when you purchased the bulbs and the time frames when you had to change the bulbs. Seriously, I have a bulb in my lamp that has been in there at least 10 years. The labeling stated it would last 7.

Answer 580

I guess if I were to desire that, I would doctor up a picture of Al Gore with an eco-friendly bulb sticking out of his butt, and send a copy to all my friends. That would be cute, right?



I would send one to my family, but they live in a hut with a dirt floor in another country, and don't use light bulbs anyway. Mostly because they don't have electricity. They DO have a cell phone, however. Who knew?



Anyway, the regular bulbs I have always used ARE eco-friendly. They are made of glass, and I put them in the recycling. Recycling is eco-friendly, correct?



Love Jack



PS: I have an Exxon credit card. I wanted an Occidental Oil credit card, but I couldn't seem to get one. BIOUA

Answer 581

Build a better bulb. Right now compact florescents are not eco-friendly as they contain mercury and are hard to dispose of. They may use less energy, but they cast poor light that is hard on the eyes (as do all florescents).



There are more efficient incandescent bulbs coming out which cast more pleasing and usuable light. You just have to search for them.

Answer 582

The screw in compact fluorescent definitely use less electricity but they are not as Eco friendly as you think. They all contain mercury. As far as the light they put out they need to make them where they put out natural light instead of the cool whites. Eventually when the cost of manufacturing comes down I think the newer LED light bulbs will replace the fluorescent as they are more efficient and don't have the mercury in them.

Answer 583

What about having tax-based incentives similar to those for hybrid cars? I also liked the idea many others have suggested that revolve around showing others the money you saved.



I saw Al Gore's movie. He did point out the actual problem, but he nor anyone outside of China has put much focus on a solution. Which is... there are too many people on this planet. Funny that "The Inconvenient Truth," didn't mention how we should all use birth control... I guess that would infringe on our rights.. . We are all terrible hypocrites...

Answer 584

i don't have a direct answer,but it's just common sense, given that the effects of global warming are irremeable if the problems are not addressed.

be the change in the community or world, if you don't care about those wasted energy from those inefficient, high-watt bulbs then do it for someone else starting from your son(s)'/ daughter, grandson and granddaughter.

the extra energy saved now can be the energy that will used to run households in the near future.

DONT BE SELFISH AND THINK ABOUT OTHERS'S HEALTH RATHER THAN IF YOU CAN GET THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT SHINNING ON YOUR PAINTING OR ANYTHING THAT DOES NOT REALLY MATTER

Answer 585

Take the opportunity to tell friends and family about how consuming less energy helps reduce the amount of pollution released into the atmosphere. Let them know that with just changing their light bulbs they can make a difference. If that doesn't work just let them know that they can have more than 50% $aving$ on their lighting energy consumption.

Answer 586

Must insert a warning - all 5 year eco-bulbs used minimum time have completely failed 2 year usage - (my garage is fully lit in the day time and needs no electric dusk hours and evening hours are the only time I would switch on the electric - these bulbs are garbage - I have gotten the same time etc from a regular bulb.



Disappointed in MB

www.healthusa.info

Answer 587

Tell them when there are good ones available that turn bright quickly such as Sylvania. I got some other ones and it took them 2 minutes to get bright. People don't want those kind. Also, I think they use 90% less energy which saves money in the long run. Especially, good for areas where the lights stay on a long time.

Answer 588

I've converted most of my lamps and outside lights to these bulbs. They are well worth the price for longevity, and I have already noticed a savings on my bills. But considering they are more expensive than the average lightbulb the manufacturers should have them on sale in your local hardware or grocery store as often as possible, as that's when I have bought them (or when I find a reasonably priced two-pack). Or a local hardware store could do a promotional giveaway of one bulb per household and have a sale on the same inside the store during that promotion. In Los Angeles DWP could send one to each household to encourage residents to start using them with a coupon to buy more. They are definitely worth it! I just haven't been able to use one on my desk lamp near my computer and electrical strip (it will advise also on the packaging not to use near these items). So that is one flaw that could be fixed if they haven't already.

Answer 589

These bulbs are a farce. I replaced all bulbs in my home with the compact florescent and most have burned out in less than a year. I'll take incandescent bulbs thank you.



I'm sure this is driven by political favors and someone will make billions off this stupid law if we are forced to switch as Australia has chosen.

Answer 590

Scare tactic 101: Start a rumor that regular light bulbs have been exploding causing the deaths of more than 18 families due to fire. Explane that it is the filimate inside and you need to change to the eco friendly kind that does not contain this type of filliment and there for is not harmful.

Answer 591

all I can say about the new light bulbs, is that this month when I switched to them i saved almost $180. I changed every light in my house and that cost me about $250. So the light bulbs will have paid for themselves after this month and It will be all money saved from there. BTW- the light bulbs put out more light than a normal bulb.

Answer 592

I would suggest turning in the old light bulbs when buying eco-friendly bulbs and receive a discount of at least 25% on the price of the new ones. This gets us started in the right direction.

Answer 593

I don't think I would bother. I have tried several different types of "eco-friendly" light bulbs and none of them have lasted nearly as long as the packaging claimed they would--try a few months versus the 3-5 years promised on the package. If you know an "eco-friendly" brand that actually lasts the promised amount of time, let me know. Regular light bulbs, the apparently "eco-unfriendly" type, last longer and cost a lot less--very important when you don't have a lot of extra money!!

Answer 594

In general public’s mind, Global Worming is just a Science topic, not a serious problem.

Every one, my friends and family, I talked to, they just talked about it and forget it. So I don’t think that in majority of people aware of this problem.

I don’t understand why all the light Bulb manufacture are still making Incandescent bulb.

The Government should pass the law to stop making or selling Incandescent bulb.

Answer 595

It's a simple question _ Why do you use a lightbulb? The light bulb that Thomas Edison invented is still in use. It was and still is a great invention. However this bulb gives off approximately 20% light and 80% heat.

Do you wish to heat your home with a light bulb?

The eco friendly bulbs are cold to the touch and give off ...... LIGHT!

Answer 596

I would say that the best way to motivate people to use these eco-friendly light bulbs is to make them more "wallet" friendly. These bulbs are very expensive. And even for just one bulb. The cheapest I have been able to find these bulbs is about $6 each. This is not going to motivate very many people!

Answer 597

I am all for saving energy, but before we ban incandescent light bulbs, we need to put pressure on the lighting industry to make a non-hazardous fluorescent bulb. Everyone get on the energy ban wagon but forgets about the mercury releases caused by broken fluorescent tubes and the disposal nightmare for local governments.

Answer 598

It's easy show them a copy of your electric bill. My electric bill dropped by up to $50 a month when I changed all the light bulbs throughout my house. At fist it was a big hit. The bulbs costed me just over one hundred dollars to do the whole house. Just in a couple of months they will pay for themselves and the best thing is they don't burn out quickly. I have had all my bulbs in my house for over a year now and have never changed one yet. I have saved over $700 in a year in energy costs.

Answer 599

What are eco-friendly light bulbs? Seriously...if I go to Home Depot, will it say eco-friendly light bulbs on the package? Using greener objects and methods is a great idea....I whole-heartedly support it. But it's intimidating. Make lists of friendly items and advertise that list; be specific. In this busy world, it's easier to comply when you're told exactly what works, not left to search for yourself. Lazy? No, just too busy.

Answer 600

I will tell my friends about the illnesses caused by the so called Eco-friendly light bulbs. They are fluorescent bulbs. These things are killers. I cannot work in an office because I am allergic to these things eat my skin quicker than a pack of wolves on a deer. These bulbs are poison to those with over active immune systems.

They will save the world by killing off the people of the planet.



By telling my friends the above, I will INSPIRE them to put them in their homes and I will not visit.



Please know what you are purchasing and what these products will do to yourself and children.

The true question here is "Are the politicians getting kickbacks to ensure "we are buying good products or just junk to line their pockets". In this case they are ensuring the population is kept in check by kicking of a few of us.



(Bet I do not get best answer).

Answer 601

Many people have lighting fixtures in their homes that demand a clear bulb with some kind of interesting shape.

The EnergyStar bulbs take away variety.

Answer 602

Compact fluorescents were the main topic of this act. It was to be the standard bulb by the year 2010 in which your standard incandescent bulbs were to be fazed out. Due to corporate pressure and other issues, this deadline will soon pass and will not be met but eventually the compact fluorescents will be the standard.

Answer 603

They are cheaper to run, which is why when I move into a new apartment, the first thing I do is to replace all the bulbs with flourescent bulbs so the power bill is less, the fact that they last longer is another benefit, tell your friends these simple facts and they will more than likely choose to change.

Answer 604

Okay look, there's a lot of talk about this, especially since the congressman out in California proposed a bill to phase out sales of incandescent bulbs in a few years. It comes down to this: you don't HAVE to convince people to be eco-friendly if you can create a product - in this case, a light bulb - that is inexpensive and convenient to use.



Compact flourescent bulbs are great, but they have their limitations. For instance, you CANNOT use them in any fixture that experiences regular vibration. So that means you can't use them in ceiling fans or in the garage if your light is near the garage door opener. Also, they are very inefficient if used in a fixture that gets only short periods of use. CFL bulbs need to be on for at least a half an hour to reach optimal energy usage. So that means they are pretty inefficient to use in closets, bathrooms, and other short-term use fixtures. That eliminates MOST of the light bulb fixtures in my home! Also, do you know that CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury? Having to take used bulbs to be recycled takes effort. The alternative is introducing more mercury to our landfills.



Don't get me wrong - I love the energy efficiency of CFL bulbs and I use them whenever I can. But there are still a LOT of places in my home where I must have an incandescent bulb. And until bulb makers come up with a cheap alternative light bulb that uses xenon or halogen or whatever, we have a need for those incandescent bulbs. I believe that "light" is not a privilege, it's a right. Just like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If you can't make it accessible to everyone, you have no right to take it away from anyone.



If you want people to use eco-friendly bulbs like compact flourescent light bulbs, make them inexpensive and easy to recycle. If you want to phase out incandescent bulbs, come up with halogen or xenon bulbs that are also inexpensive and convenient to use. Otherwise, only "rich" people will have light in their homes at night. Make it easy and cheap, and there will be no need to talk people into switching to eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 605

Lower the price! We all want to help the environment, after all we have to live here to. The companies would probably make more money if they would make the bulbs less expensive so more people can afford to make the switch. After you got people hooked on the new bulbs you can always jack the price up like everyone else does.

Answer 606

I could show the differences in the energy bill, when using a regular light bulb and eco friendly light bulb that also uses less energy and has more lifetime than a regular light bulb, so in time they won't spend more money on buying light bulbs.

Answer 607

Which are the eco-friendly light bulbs, here in California fluorescent light bulbs have been deemed to be hazardous waste due to the mercury found in them. Which is worse? Should we use more energy or face the need to dispose of millions of bulbs with mercury?

Answer 608

Maby if we somehow increase the price of the regular light bulb and lessen the price of eco friendly light bulbs. Then slowly but helpfully the ruglar light bulbs well be a product of the past becuase the eco friendly light bulb will replace them

Answer 609

Offer a trade in deal on the old incandessant bulbs. A lot of us hate to throw good things away. I replace with new only when the old bulb quits but until then I keep what I'm using. The idea of throwing away a lot of good bulbs (and I have new ones still in their packets) seems like a waste.

Answer 610

Hi, I'd like to put in my two cents on this issue, I have no other bulb in every lamp/fixture except fluorescent & my rates went down quite a bit, in order to incite people to switch from incandecent to fluorescent is to simply OUTLAW Incandescent bulbs altogether, I bought quite a few fluorescent bulbs (pack of 4) at Albertsons for $1.00 a package, I couldn't pass it up.

Another Idea is to offer Gift coupons for buying so many fluorescent bulbs, even energy coupons, etc.

Answer 611

Lower the cost to equal the same as a standard light bulb.

Savings on your electric bill is just not enough. People need an immediate incentive to switch to the eco-friendly light bulbs.



P.S. I've used these bulbs and the life span is not what they advertise. It lasts as long as your standard bulb.

Answer 612

It's not really about creativity for me. It's about the cost. They are way more expensive than the other variety and yes they last longer BUT guaranteed people will always look at the cost before they'll look at the logical side of it. If they could find a way to lower the costs to being more comparable to other varieties then I think I would ALWAYS choose the eco friendly bulbs.

Answer 613

The biggest issue is the fit. Not all lamps will accommodate this fat bottomed light bulb. I went out and purchased enough to fit every lamp and over head fixture in my house and ½ of them would not screw into my lamps. The neck screw in needs to be a little longer and the bulb a little shorter. Some of my lamps are antique and the new energy bulb gives off a beautiful soft light. i would use nothing else if they would all fit.

Answer 614

Its hard to be creative, and most of us know its just the right thing to do.

However, I am in the service industry and crawl in attics and under houses and I have found that these eco-friendly bulbs do not give off enough light to work by in my drop lights. This needs to be addressed.

Keep the cost low...this is something we all must get use to for the sake of our Earth.

Answer 615

I'm leaning a bit negatively toward the bulbs myself. I went gung ho and switched a good share of the house over to energy efficient bulbs a couple of years ago. About 6 months ago, I started smelling a burnt, metallic smell in my house. It turns out it was one of those bulbs, since then, I've lost a few more, usually accompanied by a puff of acrid smoke. So, I'm not convinced of them lasting longer. The warranty on them isn't much good when the receipt fades so you don't have secondary proof of purchase other than the UPC. I'm just not sold on any of the brands out there.

Answer 616

Why stop at light bulbs? Lets force everyone to not use electricity and we can all live on a great big hippie commune and only eat organic food. Give me a break. This is a big farce by the socialist elite to control the way we live and bow to nature worship that modern environmentalism has degenerated into.

Answer 617

One thing that manufacturers can do is educate people about the color temperature scale and market their CFLs accordingly. Most people associate CFLs as being a slightly bluish color, reminiscent of old schoolhouse fluorescent lighting. Many people won't buy them for this reason. However, lower color temperatures, such as 2400-2800 Kelvin, look virtually identical to the color of light emitted by incandescents. I had an entire house of 2800 Kelvin CFLs where I lived before moving where I live now. You absolutely couldn't tell them apart from ordinary incandescents unless you looked directly at them and saw that they were helical shaped. The light, however, was identical to incandescent. This is what people want - a color of light from CFLs that matches the color of the light emitted from the incandescent bulbs that the CFLs were intended to replace. If other companies would manufacture 2400 to 2800 Kelvin CFLs, such as the way Technical Consumer Poducts (TCP) does, CFLs would become much more mainstream and desired by consumers.

Answer 618

Just stop selling the old incandescent style light bulbs! Start a rumor that the light bulbs are the cause of global warming or the real cause of second hand smoke.

Answer 619

My local (Long Beach, CA) Rite Aid store sells a 3-pack of the fluorescent bulbs for $3.00. Our local power company, Southern California Edison, subsidizes the cost making it affordable for people to be eco-friendly. I changed out all my bulbs this weekend with fluorescent bulbs.

Answer 620

Hi!!



I would throw a party and invite all my friends!!! And the theme of the party will be The party of lights, where I would previously would, have all the light bulbs in my house changed.



With great music and giving the opportunity for everyone to enjoy, will be the most interesting theme of conversation, and happiness, to know that before they leave, they would have a gift bag full of goodies, and in between them a light bulb.



Also with a thank you note in advance for being considerate enough, to care about our environment, and our future generation.



As a matter of fat, I do have them already in my house!!!



GOD BLESS YOU & HAPPY LIFE



A.Z.

Answer 621

Decorate the base of the bulbs with an eco friendly glue & something glittery and pretty natural shiny stones.



Give the bulb to them at a casual "rice supper" or brunch wrapped in the funny pages newspaper as a "springtime spring cleaning/ thinking about all you" gift.

Answer 622

Have the retailers sell them at a discount. I agree with "Sayin", that was how my family started using them also. At my house, all we use are these eco-friendly light bulbs. One good idea that San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) uses is every year at Marine Corps Exchange Annual Sale, they have the Exchange sell these light bulbs at a marked down prices, I mean really cheap, and for every bulbs they sold the company cover the difference. Those are the popular items at the Annual Sale every year.

Answer 623

Those eco-friendly bulbs suck. I tried some once. They cost a lot more than regular bulbs, and they all burnt out within a year of light service. They may save some electricity, but the light quality isn't the same and you have to buy more of them, creating more waste.

Answer 624

Well... If they were more AFFORDABLE I might buy them. I can get FOUR light incandescent light bulbs for $2.50 to $3.00. One of the newer light bulbs is $7.50 or more for ONE.



Tell me which one would you choose?



I will go for the $3.00 thank you very much!!



I live on a limited income so it is very hard to buy one light bulb for $7.50.



Please do not tell me they last 5 years!! They do not. Before I retired I had one on my patio light that goes on at dusk and off at dawn. The bulb only last for a year and a half!! Where is the other 3 and a half years to that light bulb???? For the price of the one light bulb a package of four will work the same amount of time and be a LOT cheaper to buy them.



Donna

Answer 625

Why should I care if they switch. I live in a country (USA) that is always preaching to the people to conserve but then I can see from my condo two twin towers being built that have on the top of each seven huge spotlights that are so bright they light up my living room.The units in the two buildings sell from $800,000 to $1.2 million.. Why should I care when GM Ford Chrysler keep building gas hogs and making no effort to develop other forms of energy.Why should I care when we have CEO's making millions upon millions of dollars a year in the energy business ,living in million dollar mansion. What we are being ask to do is conserve so the rich can continued to live in the lifestyle they are accustom to.As you kow the rich have always lived off the backs of the people and now we are being ask to conserve for the benefits of the rich.We are all on the same boat and we will are drown together

Answer 626

Market CFLs to children who worry about elderly parents falling off ladders while changing short lived incandescent bulbs.

Seniors may not buy CFL light bulbs because they might not live in the same house long enough to see the payback. However, you can market it as safety and reliability (security lights/path to bathroom lights will not burn out in the middle of the night, leading to disorientation). AARP is world’s largest circulation magazine, include CFLs in an article on preventing falls, and mention the new, shorter payback periods and quality advances to overcome perceptions from older fluorescents .

Answer 627

Get them to think of the way they've seen the world change for the worse as a result of environmental damage due to human activity. The news clippings in the papers, TV shows and articles on the web about the reduction in air and water quality, the ozone layer, global warming and suchlike.



Get them to think about the idea of stewardship; we're here now, its our world, and as adults, it's our responsibility to make sure we leave it at the very least as good as it was when we got here. What can we do as individuals to help make this happen?



One way is to reduce our energy footprint. One way to do that is to use energy efficient lights. In addition, because they last longer and are now comparable in price (thanks, Walgreens) are a financially responsible purchase. So they win three times; less bulbs to buy, less energy to pay for, and a better per-bulb price. There's also the satisfaction that they have also started to do their bit to help us all make the world a better place to live in.

Answer 628

My wife and I made CFL gift baskets and gave them to all our family members for Christmas this past year. Each basket contained about 6 CFLs of various wattages. These gifts were well received and have help our family get into good energy habits.



I have also started a CFL fundraising company called One Planet Fundraising to help school groups and non-profits spread the word about CFLs and raise money at the same time.



I truly feel that it is our responsibility to do all that we can to fight global warming and CFLs are a good start. Here is a quote that says it all:



"You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give."

-E.O. Wilson

Answer 629

I try not to inspire the use of "eco-friendly" florescents because they contain mercury. What I do ask is that people find ways to cut back on electric use. Do you need three light bulbs on or will one suffice? It's simple things like that.



And really, lights use very little electric when compared to other items in our house. Some of the biggest offenders are heating, cooling and hot water heaters. If we can cut back on or make them more efficient we'll save more electric than going with flourescents.

Answer 630

I would urge my friends and family to research the matter and make up their own minds. I am not convinced that any type of light bulb is more eco-friendly than another. Each type of light bulb has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, the newest florescent bulbs are manufactured with mercury. Proper disposal of used florescent bulbs will be problamatic. I fail to see how that would make the bulbs more "eco-friendly". Be careful when you are looking for quick fixes to problems which may not even exist.

Answer 631

I don't know about creative, but my best friend had all new eco-friendly light bulbs and a new refrigerator for her by the electric company and her electric bill is now almost 1/2 of what it used to be. Also, maybe the government should step in, they usually do anyway, but usually too late.

Answer 632

I think you go at the manufacturers. If enough people make noise about this, someone will surely say "hey, they're still making antiquated bulbs that are bad for the environment than these other Eco-safe bulbs, and yet they still continue to make the old ones?" The company will surely release some sort of statement saying "How much are company cares about the environment..blah...blah...blah.." to try and smooth things over. Simply put, embarrass them into it.

Answer 633

I can think of three reasons: 1. They last much longer than incandescent bulbs. 2: They don't get nearly as hot. 3. They're a lot cheaper now and more reliable. A company (C.Crane Co.) now sells LED lights that are supposed to last 50-60,000 hrs and not create any heat. More importantly, they use 90% less electricity according to their report.Their website(ccradio.com) has more info. The major drawback is that they aren't cheap...yet.

Answer 634

Explain to people the benefits of using eco-friendly light bulbs. Saving the environment, saving money, etc. Also convince lighting companies to stop producing incandescent bulbs. If they switch over to producing these newer style bulbs people will have no choice but to buy them.

Answer 635

One sure way to inspire them to switch is to hit them where it hurts in the pocket book. For the most part Incandescent light bulbs can be be switched out for florescent or even LED bulbs. I would support federal legislation that would ban incandescent bulbs in about 3 years and in the mean time add a federal fee that would add about $5 to the cost of of each incandescent bulb sold. That would help convince people to switch, since you can buy a compact florescent for about $2.25 on sale and or in bulk.



My home is all florescent with a few LED lights.

Answer 636

I've been using compact fluorescent bulbs since 1982. at the time i worked for a company called u s general. they got some samples, and gave them a try. they worked great! been using them where i can since. be careful!, however the bases on ones intended for outdoor floodlight use are not compatible with the narrower base found on standard outdoor floodlights, and will not fit into most outdoor floodlight fixtures on the market today! but I've uses them in outdoor porch lights and the like, with little problem. however if you live in a cold climate the bulbs will not be very bright below 20F.

Answer 637

Start a contest to see who can save the most in the shortest time. Get the new lightbulbs for all the lights, keep the receipts for the total cost. Now check you monthly electric bill to find out who saved the most money and who pays for their bulbs in their savings first. Whoever wins, then they get their bulbs paid for, one bulb for each household who participated in the contest. This also encourages people to turn out lights and unplug appliances when not in use.

Answer 638

I don't know about creative, but just telling my friends/family about these bulbs,,, I think my enthusiasm let them know I was serious.

My husband and I saw these at Menards, and altho they're a little more expensive, the display looked really good so we bough 2.

We put them in our bedroom to see how they looked.

The next payday we replaced every bulb in the house, and threw out the entire supply we had even tho the bulbs worked.

I'll never have any other bulb, I love these!

Answer 639

Give holiday, birthday or other special occasion energy saving gift baskets with eco friendly light bulbs and other helpful items. Offer to help a family redecorate a room and throw in some light bulbs to help out.

Answer 640

The money they save on the electrical bill, the brightest of fluorescent bulbs at a fraction of the power. If everyone in North America were to change/replace a few incandescent bulbs with a fluorescent ones you would be able to shut down about 30 coal fire generating stations that woul greatly reduce green house gas emissions.

Answer 641

I would recommend - in fact, I think I'll give it a go myself - to buy eco friendly light bulbs as gifts. Christmas can be a nightmare, trying to think of imaginative gift ideas. But if we buy everyone an eco friendly light bulb with a card wishing them a cheery bright festive season....its clever and its practical and its very useful. Once people have these bulbs, and realise how long they last and how cheap they are to run, I guess they will start buying them, themselves. If you have a really good friend...fit out their whole house! What a great wedding gift....2 years worth of eco friendly light. It's original and in today's age of giving a damn about these things...I guess it would be well accepted.

Answer 642

If you want your friends to use them, you have to use them yourself.



I started switching to the eco-friendly light bulbs. Mainly, because I live in an older house and our wiring is about 30 years out of date. I am trying to be kind to the power system here by using bulbs that use less energy and thus less strain on the wiring in our house.



Also, they last MUCH longer. I hate changing light bulbs and that was one reason why I am switching and to help our enviroment as well.

Answer 643

Let them know how that they can save a great deal on electricity costs. My roommate and I barely spend over $100 for 3 months of service in our area. Our new apartment came equipped with all energy efficient bulbs. Initially, I thought there was a mistake in our bill, but we've lived here for almost a year now and I haven't seen significant change in what we pay. Hope this helps!

Answer 644

I would buy the bulbs for them as a house-warming gift, Christmas gift or just-because gift. My parents live in a different state and are over seventy years old. When I visited them a couple of years ago, I'd brought the eco-friendly bulbs as a gift and installed the bulbs during my visit.

Answer 645

My husband and I changed all of our light bulbs in December from the incandescent to the florescent. We spent about $300 (please note - we have a lot of lights - 74 in total - and also bought the most expensive types of recessed lights and globe lights for our bathrooms), but we can already see that we're going to save $300 on our electric bills this year and for the next 5-7 years to come (that's how long these bulbs last)! We're "kicking ourselves" for not having switched our lightbulbs sooner.

Answer 646

I switched to ecofriendly bulbs 100% 2.5 yr ago. 1) they do not last significantly longer than regular bulbs so the mony u save on electric is balanced by the extra cost. 2) they donot work well if exposed to cold and burn out quicker. But I would still keep using them because they help cut green house gases. Also by using these in combo with solar and wind energy we can help lower oil consumption & save lives lost due to the oil conflicts in the world.

Answer 647

stop calling them eco friendly. they aren't the solution to the false alarm of global warming. they are a way to save energy. some people might liek them, and others might like the regular bulbs they have now. try and convince people to use them because they save money, not the planet. then again, these so called great light bulbs could be similar to the great water saving toilets that they sold us on in the past.....and those suck. they use more water than they save because you have to flush them 3 times to get the load down. pieces of junk water saving trash. and the media is abusing this lighbulb issue saying that switching light bulbs will save the planet. the planet won't get destroyed because we don't switch over to eco friendly light bulbs. besides, light bulbs won't destroy the world.

Answer 648

If they were more affordable, everybody would buy them. Over-time savings doesn't compel most to dish out the extra cash. They want cheap now for the most part. Lets face it, a conventional bulb runs about 25-50 cents each, a four pack for 2 bucks. Im sold on conventional until the technology is cheaper.

Answer 649

I know this doesn't pertain to the question, but it's never made sense to me.



Listen, people don' like change, so why can't you make an energy efficient light bulb that looks more like a conventional light bulb? It's like hybrids; if it's design looks stupid, then you're less likely to buy it. Change the design and keep the price close to that of a regular light bulb and people will buy it.

Answer 650

I'm all for using the eco-friendly bulbs. I think it is more up to the manufacturers and retailers to make the prices of these bulbs more famliy-friendly before they see widespread use. At Walmart, you can pick up a 4-pack of standard bulbs for a couple of bucks or spend $5-$8 for just one or two bulbs. The budget-conscious, paycheck-to-paycheck family is going to have to go with the lower priced choice.

Answer 651

My answer would take an act of Congress! Have the Gov. put a hefty tax on the regular light bulbs and also subsidize the compact florescent bulbs, making them cheaper, so that people would be more likely to buy them.

Answer 652

Tell them the cost savings that will be realized once they change over. The bulbs can be bought cheap in bulk and when I changed over, overall electric bill was cut by 1/3. A worthwhile investment. Plus they last for years. I still have the same set on my garage door opener for 11 years.

Answer 653

If the stores stocked warm fluorescent that were the same light temperature as incandescents more people would use them.



We bought some "energy efficient" bulbs and disliked the cool greenish blue light, so we replaced them with regular "energy wasting" bulbs.



There are warm flourescent bulbs available, it just takes some effort to find them.

Answer 654

We like the plan of having discounted packages with a dozen or so of them at suppliers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Fred Meyers etc. We believe the discount should be paid for by mechanisms like the Oregon Energy Trust.



There could also be a interest center displaying how much a set of them slow down an electric meter over the conventional.



The short lifespan the mini florescent have in a standard fixture that causes them to overheat is a problem. They don't reach their advertised lifespan there as yet in my experience. I have changed over to them exclusively as of about 6 years ago everywhere possible.

Answer 655

1. Have a contest.........

See who saves the most $$$ by switching out all of their old bulbs with the new ones.

2. Ban sales of the standard old bulbs to the public sector, forcing them to change.

3. Provide some sort of tax break or other benefit to the bulb producers, giving them a greater incentive to make the new bulbs and phase the old ones out.

Answer 656

Simple. For eco-friendly bulbs to be 'switched' to, they need to be eco(nomically)-friendly. The masses would migrate to using these bulbs if they were priced LOWER than regular bulbs. The majority of people care about the environment, but if doing something negatively affects their budgets, putting food on table and paying bills becomes more important than saving the environment. Sad, but very true.

Answer 657

Time for a little dissent here, if that's allowed 8^) --- I HATE florescent lighting! It makes me feel like a ghost and very ill at ease. I assume everyone knows that florescent lighting is not constant lighting but a kind of rapid strobe light, flashing on and off, causing God-knows-what kind of weird stimulation to our nervous systems.



Additionally, they create electrical pollution which is also harmful to our health. From "You And Your Health" (link below)



>>>Until the 1980s, electrical power was almost always used continuously. However, since then most of our electrical equipment uses power intermittently, in on-offcycles, over 20,000 times a second. This rapid cycling creates radio frequency (RF) transients--also known as dirty power, electrical pollution, electrical hash, etc.. Ironically, many of the sources of EMFs that create dirty power were developed to save electricity, such as light dimmer switches, halogen lighting systems, and screw-in florescent light bulbs. Unfortunately, there is some evidence that exposure to these RF transients (dirty power) EMFs may pose a unique health risk with preliminary studies suggesting a possible link with several illnesses recently on the increase: asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes

Answer 658

Our local power company teamed up with Walmart to offer the bulbs at an incredible savings. ( I don't remember exactly, but it was less than $6.00 for a pack of 12.) Also, the local media really played up the fact that they last so much longer. We found what works best is to stop pushing the environmental aspects and appeal to people's inherent laziness of not having to replace bulbs as often, as well as save money, and they will jump on board!

Answer 659

Have local governements and businesses provide funding for purchase of a cache of CFLs that may be obtained at the local utility office for free or at reduced cost (at the same cost of standard incandescent bulbs). Application form required, and up-to three bulbs per household. Additionally, offer .25 cents for up-to 3 incandescent bulbs turned-in with paperwork. This would result in families not waiting until incandescent bulbs burn-out to replace them with CFLs.

Answer 660

One effective method by which to accomplish this is to get a small grant from your local electric company, to be used for the purchase of such bulbs. Offer the lightbulbs to all your neighbors as part of the neighborhood watch program, to be used in their front porch lights as a deterrent to crime. While you are handing them out, point out the advantages of longevity, and the savings generated by the increased efficiency. Encourage them to purchase additional bulbs from local retailers for use inside. I



t is a well known marketing priciple that when you give something for free, the recipient feels obligated and is more likely to take an action you recommend. Since there is no personal financial gain in it for you, the trust factor is likely to be very high, which also encourages complicity.



You should probably know that these bulbs contain mercury, and should be disposed of properly. Few people comply with this requirement, and mercury is leaching into landfills and water tables as a result. Be careful what you wish for, Grasshopper.

Answer 661

My two youngest children are notorious for needlessly using electricity by forgetting to turn off lights, tv's, games, etc. when not in use. When I received my last electricity bill, I gave them a challege. If we brought the bill down by $10 next month, I would give them each $5. If we brought it down by $20, they would each get $10. It's working like a charm! They brush their teeth in the bathroom by night-light instead of turning on the overhead light (3 60-watt bulbs), and decided to go outside and play yesterday instead of stay in and play their Playstation! I wish I would have thought of this sooner because they have really become conscious of how much energy they have been wasting.

Answer 662

If every household in the United States changed one regular light bulb to a eco-friendly light bulb, it would shut down 3 nuclear power plants. Let's start changing those lights.

Answer 663

Require the makers of these eco-friendly bulbs to accurately rate the wattage or lumens. We were greatly disappointed after switching to eco-friendly bulbs several years ago because a 100-watt eco-friendly bulb doesn't come close to the brightness of a 100-watt regular bulb. Requiring manufacturers to be honest about brightness ratings or comparisons might not be the most imaginative solution to this problem, but in my mind it is the most daunting obstacle to acceptance. We stopped using them for this very reason.

Brighten up, eco-friendly bulb-makers, and be honest!

Answer 664

Years ago the Rochester Gas and Electric CO. gave free of charge replacement light bulbs, you bring in a bad one and recieve a new one in exchange What needs to happen is the first new tube type should be given free as a trial. Mail one out to each home owner with the power bill.

Answer 665

There is no inspiational way to do this. Just as some state prison systems deny the inmates the use of tobacco, and some in that group make it a felony to sneak tobacco products into the prison system, make the use of traditional light bulbs a felony and give citizens a reward for tuning in their neighbors who do not use floresent bulbs.

Answer 666

Each bulb purchase contains a 20% purchase price refund card. You, the buyer, fill out your name, address etc. Hand it to a friend, co-worker or enemy, tell them about the bulb. They go to a store and buy one (or more), the receipt is duplicated and along with your coupon(s) returned to the manufacture who then mails you back 20% of your friends purchase price for the bulb(s).



The increase in purchases allows production cost to decrease, allowing the purchase price to drop so more people are comfortable with the investment. The cost of the rebate is covered by increased sales in the short term and repeat purchases in the long run.



Combined with the current concern for energy efficiency, global warming and the product qualities, manufacturing and distribution marketing campaigns should be able to absorb the rebate requests actually submitted with ease.



It's Pyramid marketing in simple form.

Answer 667

My public utility heavily subsidizes the purchase of eco-friendly bulbs...at least 50% cheaper than local retail stores, including the Home Depot type retailers. It's terrific, but the bulbs still need a lot of development. When they come on, I'm reminded of a cheesy government lit hallway. They make a room seem cold.

Answer 668

Get your power company to follow what San Diego Gas & Electric has done. Ralph's Markets, a big chain out west, is selling the compact florescent lamps, 4 for $1! Individually, they're over $6. SDG&E is subsidizing the balance. The money they spend to make the lights 25 cents each, is less money they have to spend for a new multi-billion dollar power plant. Smart thinking.

Answer 669

Well first we need eco friendly bulbs that work as good as regular bulbs. The floresent bulbs I have used have been disappointing. They are not nearly as bright as the regular bulbs even when I buy the highest rating bulbs. And outside they do not work as well in cold weather. They take forever to warm up before they are at full brillence. Ray

Answer 670

One of the drawbacks to compact fluorescent light bulbs is that the light color temperature is low so it produces is a yellowish dull color output. I have used standard compact fluorescent lights only to conserve energy and sacrificing the dull yellowish color output. But I tried the Sylvania Daylight Extra light bulb. It has a higher color temperature that produces a color that is better than even traditional light bulbs at a very low wattage consumption. The price of these bulbs are a little pricier, but very well worth it for conservation and home decor purposes.



I have purchased these at my local hardware store such as Lowe's or Home Depot.



They are worth trying out for yourself...

Answer 671

Make the eco-friendly light bulbs sized correctly for lamp shades and for existing light fixtures. Many people buy these, but then they are too long.

It would also be nice if these bulbs gave off a warm light instead of the blue-white light now available.

Answer 672

Eco friendly? I beg to differ ... they can buzz, cause radio interference, some vinyls deteriorate from fluorescent exposure and the bulbs contain mercury which makes them a disposal hazard. Then there's the problem with physics, you can't get 60 watts of light from a 14 watt bulb. Even with energy efficiencies converting less light to heat, energy just converts to another form of energy, you don't get more from less.

Answer 673

Hi -



I think awareness about these eco-friendly light bulbs is being raised pretty effectively. One thing that also needs to be addressed is the disposal of these light bulbs. They cannot be thrown in the trash because they contain mercury. There needs to be a number of recycling places (such as the store where they are purchased, perhaps) established for the safe disposal of them.



Susan

Answer 674

To make it work, eco-friendly bulbs should be cheaper to purchase AND operate...

.

There is hope in the future that carbon nanotube light sources will be as inexpensive, if not less expensive than current incandescent bulbs -- and far less power-hungry than a tungsten filament bulb, flourescent tube or even an LED light source!

.

Read more about it here:

Carbon nanotubes to be used in light bulbs

by Richard Wilson Friday 29 September 2006



US-based carbon nanotube technology firm Nano-Proprietary has announced that its subsidiary, Applied Nanotech has entered into a license agreement with Shimane Masuda Electronics (SME) to manufacture the first light bulbs based on the technology.



SME has developed a carbon nanotube electron emission based lighting device, and the deal will result in SME manufacturing carbon cold cathode products in Japan and to sell those products in Asia.... more follows in link:

Answer 675

You have to explain to them maybe you can't see it now, but that you will save energy and money, in the long run. Then send them to this link http://www.goodmart.com/light_bulb_energy_saving_calculator.aspx



It is a calculator that explains the cost and energy savings.



For example:

If you have 10 bulbs changed from a standard 75 watts (approx. $1.00) to a Energy Star 23 Watts ,compact fluorescent bulb size, (approx. $5.00) and you use about 10 hours a day of use.



The savings would include:

In 1 Year:

Estimated energy savings per year 304 kilowatt hours

Estimated savings per year $25.33

Estimated ENERGY STAR® pay-off 9 months

Estimated ENERGY STAR® lifespan 4.1 years



In 10 Years:

Estimated energy savings per year 3040 kilowatt hours

Estimated savings per year $253.30



A little bit goes a long way.

Answer 676

Buy the lights for them! If the environment matters, we should contribute directly to the solution. If a utility company wants to save money on fuel and expansion costs, they should subsidize the more efficient light bulb or water heater until the old technology is understood to be obsolete. Most people can't see beyond the initial cost, but we all pay for the operating cost.

Answer 677

I think the light bulbs are great, i use them, But lets face it, you bring a horse to water, and make him drink it, Many people will use both types of bulbs, unless they stop making the old types. I think the new bulbs save money and cost as well, as they last longer and youll pay less electric when you get a bill. Just my thoughts on this. TONY

Answer 678

Well since the government intervenes on any and every other issue concerning our lives.....push to have to old light bulbs taxed to the same prices as these newer eco-friendly light bulbs. Then its up to the consumer to decide if they want to pay the same price for a light bulb that isn't going to last as long as another.

Answer 679

My entire family uses them, they're great. I just tell people that they're a better buy in the long run because they last much longer. Also, they're more Kid friendly for people with younger kids that like to touch things. Compact Fluorescents don't get as hot as Incandescents, meaning less hurt fingers due to curiosity.



I think it's important to show just the practical sides to them, instead of just the environmental sides, which sadly, many people aren't concerned with. Praising the uses rather than the results will most likely get a better reaction.

Answer 680

The best way to get people to use more CFLs would be to remove the deadly mercury from them, and then make them cheaper, longer lasting, and illuminate a higher quality light than incandescents.



Or you could hire an army of fascist lawyers to extort the courts into passing legislation outlawing the sale of any other type of bulb. That would be the most totally awesome way, because lawyers rule!

Answer 681

If we REALLY want to get serious about this, the government needs to put a tax on conventional bulbs that makes it more econmical to buy the new environmentally friendly bulbs. Then, when people go to the store and see that it's cheaper to use the new bulbs, they will buy them. As long as the old bulbs are cheaper, people will still buy them.

Answer 682

Back to costs again - Although the cost of an incandescent is $6 (for 6 bulbs) vs. $6.98 for for 1 eco-friendly bulb, the total cost of purchase and running is $42.00 vs. $13.58. over 6000 hours. That is an enormous saving for both your wallet and the environment.

Answer 683

Don't tell them about the possible effect of photic driving caused by fluorescent light bulbs, which can produce headaches and possible Epilepsy. Fluorescent light bulbs flash at 60 cycles/second, if you have a cathode ray tube in the room this can cut this number in half. Humans perceive about 15 cycles/ sec. but this can go higher when depressed etc. Therefore the flashing is recorded by the brain at a subliminal level and causes photic driving of the brain receptors.

Answer 684

It saves electricity thus making you save extra money/ budget,. A 16-watt CFL produces the same light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb at a quarter of the energy cost. Check out the site below for more information.

http://www.meralco.com.ph/Consumer/Tips/energy_sav_info.htm

Answer 685

I reckon, re-bate might do good. Or buy one get one free. Especially in Rural part of Country. City people deal with lots of rubbish and litter. And you hear about the trash situation on the news quite a lot. Thus people take bit more serious about environment.

In Rural area, people tend to throw them away into their own back yard; aka woods. Because trash is seen as an individual problem, unless, it's a big waste, like electronic goods i.e Dish Washer.

Income is another issue in rural area, and purchasing is done in bulk, so incentive such as re-bate, might be an good idea.

Answer 686

CFL (compact fluorescent bulbs) produce about 70% LESS HEAT than standard filament bulbs which can mean slightly lower a/c bill in the summer time.



CFL's come in several colors such as yellow bug lights, blue, red, black, orange and green.



And yes certain CFL's ARE DIMMABLE.



CFL's will normally last from 6000 to 8000 hours before they burn out.

Answer 687

I don't think creativity is necessarily needed. I was in Lowes buying standard bulbs and the cashier said, "Did you know these compact fluorescents are on sale for 99 cents each?" I bought 10 of them and put 7 in when I got home. They're cheap, they last way longer and they help my electric bill!

Answer 688

I propose a "Energy Santa" on your block leave these bulbs for their neighbors - in fact if you know them well, change the porchlight yourself to the new CFL bulb. I guarantee that it will get people using them and talking about energy use and global warming. Read The Inconvenient Truth, The Weather Makers and Field Notes from a Catastrophe and pass them around to your neighbors.

Answer 689

1st of all, if you buy them individually, they can cost up to 5$ a piece, that isn't going to work for anyone. I got a 10 pack for $15.00 at Sam's Club. And Actually, I didn't really know anything

about them. The 1st thing I noticed, they don't get burning hot like the old ones would, They last longer, they don't get hot at all, so I've got them everywhere.

If you can AFFORD IT, the Best way to Inspire anyone is to BUY

THEM a Value Pack when you see them. People just don't like to replace things that are not broken nor do they like to buy things that they don't get a good price on. I've got 4 sisters, the 2 I like I bought them a value pack, the 2 I don't like I gave them the old bulbs I replaced.... I have 3 brothers also and I just told them about them & they bought them....

Answer 690

Fig-



Why should you believe in global warming? Why trust millions of years of isotope data, NASA and 99% of the world scientific community when you have the "no-comment" of Exxon?



Make it benefit the consumer instead of making guilt movies? Lol. More like-wake up and smell the coffee- movies. Do you have any idea what Katrina cost this country -forget that-any idea of what the implications of global warming are for the world economy? Get beyond capitalism101-if you did-you would understand that there are entities out there who will lose more money than you and I could ever imagine if efforts to provide people with an alternative consumable in a market they control are successful.. To derail such efforts, they will assert themselves politically spending more than anyone could ever possibly match-you could never compete, period.(Killer-capitalism 101)



Not unless the public wakes up and rallies with you...

Answer 691

Global warming is inevitable. Whether try to save the world by using less gas, recycle, and use energy efficient bulbs this will not make a dent in saving the world. Let's face it, we are doomed. Let not have spend anymore money on saving the planet but rather on very strong sun block, when the ozone layer depletes itself.

Answer 692

I wouldn't do it.

It is up to the individual person to make that choice. My husband brought them home and installed them a few years ago. And we no longer have them. We have never been more agitated in our lives. Our children were antsy and the sibling rivalry increased. We just moved into a new house that had some of those lights. We left them in but are planning on replacing them. We conserve energy in many ways, including not using the lights in the day and turning them off when we leave a room at night.

If you really need light and want to conserve try installing more windows and using solar to brighten things up at night ( I live in the Northwest and solar works just fine).

Answer 693

Are these bulbs really eco-friendly? Certainly a lot more energy must be used in manufacturing fluorescent bulbs than with regular incandescent bulbs. Also, when disposing of them, what happens to the chemicals in the tube and ballast? Are they toxic?

Answer 694

I use the eco-friendly bulbs, but I have to say that the bluish light that they emit is a bit garrish. If the manufacturers could come up with a way to soften or warm up the light by tinting the glass around it or something... that would certainly help.

Answer 695

I keep wanting to switch to more energy-efficient light bulbs but they are expensive. If they were cheaper it would be easier for people to switch. To switch all of my 13 lights in my house it would cost me a lot of money. I buy the cheap ones and haven't switched them out since I have been here 2 1/2 years.

Answer 696

I would have to say the reason some people do not use them is because of how much they are. Yes, they do last longer, but a lot of people still cannot afford them. Make them more affordable to buy and I am sure a lot of people would be more out to buy them. I mean you can go to any wal-mart and get light bulbs fairly cheap and that is what people normally buy. If I furnished my whole house with these it would cost I'm sure. And yes I do probably have a higher light bill. But, like I said, make them more cost effecent to buy.

Answer 697

If these lightbulbs are so energy efficient why are we using the old ones? If global warming is such a big problem why are we not required to use these lightbulbs? If the United States of America cares about the environment and the future of young childern like myself, then why don't they pass an energy efficient bill requiring everybody to use energy efficient inventions like this lightbulb? It may not help if one person uses it, but I can guarentee you if the United States, 25% of the world's energy consumtion, uses it. It will make a difference.

Answer 698

My supermarket recently had a sale on 23 watt (100 watt equivalent) bulds in fourpacks for a dollar a package. I replaced all the bulbs in my house and stored some spares for less than twenty dollars. The brand is Greenlite and if they can provide sufficient quantities at that great price, people will willingly change over to them.

Answer 699

Maybe this is something our Government should be looking at, instead of aruguing over petty things, and funding pork projects. A nice tax break on these items would certainly help to promote them, hey better yet, LED light bulbs, which last longer than the typical flourecent ones, and use 10% of the energy...

Answer 700

As an aside, this will not work for everyone.

In certain rooms, we have used fluorescent bulbs-- but cannot in every room in our home because those wavelengths of light give my daughter and son migraines.

Both have been diagnosed with Irlen Syndrome, which is under the larger umbrella of dyslexia. Their brains cannot process this lightform-- what about them?

More research needs to be done before incandesent lights are done away with!

Answer 701

Give them to people as Christmas gifts or birthday presents. Attach a note showing the cost savings (you can use the spreadsheet shown below). One CFL bulb may save them $50 or more over the lifetime of the bulb, so a four-pack that you give to them is like giving them $200! For most people, this dollar value is above the threshold needed to get their attention.

Answer 702

I would wear a backpack filled with eco-friendly light bulbs to the houses of my friends and family. I would then throw away or smash all of the non-eco-friendly light bulbs and then offer the eco-friendly light bulbs as a replacement. Of course, depending on the amount of friends and family I decide to visit, this expedition could cost a tremendous amount of money.

Answer 703

To me its kinda interesting how some states in the US is planning to make regular light bulbs obsolete. In malaysia,its common for every household to use those long white tubular eco friendly light tubes, the kinds you have in offices, in our homes. I mean rarely you see a malaysia house with a regular bulb.



The main reason, we prefer the bright white light from some of the fluoroscent lamps from the orange light from regular bulbs.



i mean for me its suprising that only now people are suddenly excited changing to eco friendly light bulbs, even though many offices and other commercial building have been using them for years.

Answer 704

Give them as gifts. When it comes to light bulbs, most people will use what they have, so make sure they have some. Wait for a sale and buy some in bulk; then add a set to whatever else you would normally give them as a present for their (birthday, or holiday). Add a note asking them to give them a try the next time they blow a bulb and let you know what they think of them.

Answer 705

The problem with these bulbs is that they have to warm up. Even if you put a 100W equivalent florescent bulb (actually 23W) in a lamp, it starts out at about 40-60W of brightness and then gradually gets up to about 100W lumen strength in about 2-5 minutes. They need to make these lights as bright as an incandescent bulb from the moment you throw the switch. Also, many of these lights sometimes throw out that funky office lighting glow (reminds me of the office scenes from Joe Versus the Volcano). They need to apply the soft white process to these bulbs and make them more like incandescent lighting, then I would change all my lights to them. I do use them at my rental property though to save on expenses.

Answer 706

I haven't actually done this yet, but I'll tell you how I was convinced. One of my friends bought a package of three of the bulbs and had installed two of them. He was praising them and I was impressed by the brightness of the bulbs even though they use considerably less energy. I said I might get some. He gave me his third bulb and I put it in my bathroom. Now both of us have them in all our rooms. We live in an apartment complex that is all electric and the energy bills are out of sight. Anything we can do to save is welcome. I intend to buy some more and give a bulb to other friends to try as I see them.

Answer 707

This is so basic!

Really easy.

Ban the other type of bulbs. This is happening right now in Australia. Once the option to buy them goes... and considering the much limited lifespan of the traditional bulbs... then people will have to buy the other kind. No games or incentives. Simply remove the worst choice possible.

Answer 708

Do not make it a moral, righteous issue. Make the prices of the bulbs reasonable so their children don't have to miss out on activities they like. Make it a positive change. The human species and our planet have survived and prospered for many years with incandescent bulbs. Don't sell it with dire consequences for humanity or it will sound like a scam of the self-important. I have switched because of the longer life and better light.

Answer 709

I have changed almost all my light bulbs to ecofriendly bulbs and I think the best way to get them to start using them is to make up a beautiful gift basket of their favorite things for a birthday, anniversary or whatever special occasion and a package of them wrapped in colorful paper and tied with a beautiful gold bow. Make them the center of attention and place a note letting them know that you care so much for them that you wanted them to have the best lighting so that they will look their very best! Say that you love your bulbs and that you hope that they will love them too. I always share great finds with my family and friends, and this is another great find - 13 watts of power puts out 60 watts of light - how great is that!

Answer 710

It's simple. Have a week where anyone that brings in a standard lightbulb can exchange it for an energy efficient light bulb for free. with no limit. This would get everyone I know to change the bulbs.

Answer 711

I wouldn't even try. The light from them is dim and unattractive. First they need to make an eco-friendly bulb that puts out a more acceptable light. If they did that, I'm sure a lot of people would be more willing to use them.

Answer 712

The answer is so simple: SUBSIDIZE! If switching to compact florescent serves a greater social good, then government should subsidize their price! My local store recently had a loss-leader sale on the 75 watt equivalent bulbs for $1 apiece. I bought 20 even though my home is currently 100% switched out. I'll need them eventually & you cant beat the price.

Answer 713

Let the markets and product quality continue to have free rein. My point is this. These are advertised as working or lasting ten years. NOT!!! Two - three years is all I have gotten out of them where a normal bulb lasts a year. Build a better mousetrap and they will come, but they won't buy it unless it is proven. I am an electrical systems designer by trade.

Answer 714

I am still amazed that the big box stores ( HD, Lowes, Walmart, etc... ) have not figured this out. Two of the best applications for these are in garage door openers and "drop cord" type lights. Since there is no filament to break, vibration is not a problem.



To date, I have never seen anyone advertise this application. How many regular bulbs are vibrated out of existence each year in garage door openers??

Answer 715

Tell them that the light is much more flattering and better for your eyes. Reduces crow's feet around your eyes ;). Then mention how much cheaper it is to use the compact florescent over all.



One uncomfortable fact about compact florescent, however, is that they use mercury. Unfortunately few municipalities have any recycling specifically for these bulbs. Frequently they break when disposed and leak mercury. The primary manufacturer is Sylvania and they don't have any plans right now to address this problem. Any ideas out there?

Answer 716

Well, all I know is I live here in South Korea until 2008. All they sell here are the eco-friendly light bulbs. They last longer, they're brighter, and they're not expensive. I know that when I come back to the United States, thats the only thing I'm going to buy.

Answer 717

I have used eco-friendly light bulbs for years. I use them especially in my outside lights, and Except for when we had the Hurricanes they are still burning. I put them in as soon as the electricity came back on and they are still burning. 4 years!!!!!



I also use them where ever I have out of the way lights that are hard to change. The one in my laundry room is burning for 7 years. I dated it when I put it in and it was Sept 30, 2000. When ever I have to replace a bulb i put them in. I think there are only 3 lamps without eco-friendly bulbs.

Answer 718

I think a lot of people don't like energy saving bulbs because it takes a while for them to warm up and reach full brightness. Its annoying when you turn a light on to look for something and its still dull.



Cost shouldn't be an issue as the are only 99p each in supermarkets in UK.

Answer 719

First put all your old electric bills together from the last twelve months. Figure out your montly average. Then at your next billing cycle, change all of your own light bulbs over to the eco-friendly ones. Save your bills for the next three or four months and by then you should have sufficient "proof" of their economy. Show this to your family and friends and see if this inspires them. Money usually does.

Answer 720

My 94 year grandma calls them by their proper name,



"Electric Light Bulbs".



That's because she remembers a time when there was no electricity and no convenient lighting. The old ones are eco-friendly compared to burning kerosene lamps. We tried to get her switch to the "new" bulbs, but she complains that the lighting in not as bright and she's scared that she will break her hip just to save a few pennies. And she is right, the lighting of the new bulbs is of poor quality.



But go ahead and ban the single greatest invention of the last 100 years and harass seniors. Make the new bulbs better and cheaper than the old ones and everyone will switch. We all don't live with as much natural sunlight as Hollywood or Australia shining in our windows.

Answer 721

Give people money, or get the companies who sell them to sell them for cheaper price. The cheaper the better. Because not everyone can pay for a high cost bulb to do enviromentaly safe. Hey if I could afford them I would buy them I would even buy front loader if I had the money too. I would go with energy savings all the way...just don't have enough money.

Answer 722

Of course, you could attempt to provide incentives, to induce consumers, as well as commercial customers, to purchase eco-friendly light bulbs. However, most people are creatures of habit, and are leary of why an incentive might, even, be necessary. Thus, I believe disincentives might be necessary to promote eco-friendly alternatives to, for instance, the incandescent bulb. This might be in the form of a tax or duty on such bulbs, driving the price higher to coerce (read: push) consumers, et al., to try alternative light bulbs. As more eco-friendly bulbs are demanded, economies of scale will, in the intermediate term, drive prices to a point at which they will be near the original price of the non-taxed incandescent bulbs.

Answer 723

Tell your friends to have more sex. Why do this you ask? Well, by telling your friends to have more sex you save money in a lot of areas. You usually turn the lights out or low while "performing" then after you have a tendency to lay around with the lights off. That way you are saving a lot of energy. Also switch to energy eco-friendly batteries for all of her "toys" this also helps save the earth. See, sex is the answer to all the worlds problems!!



"Tell me where I can go, and I betcha that I'll see you there"

Answer 724

I think LED lighting will make this happen. The beautiful colors and long lifetime that is coming in a couple years will give people more reasons to change. I hope to have my home incandescent free within a year, all CFL (where I don't care about color) and LED (where I do). When people see the results they will ask about what I am doing and that will give me an opportunity to explain about CFL and LED. I hope to be free of CFL within a couple years as well, the color rendering is relatively poor (for now) and they contain mercury which should be banned.

Answer 725

Make them more affordable. Generally when I go to purchase light bulbs I do in fact purchase the eco-friendly, halogen, energy saving, 5 year life bulbs, but in doing so it is also costing me my arm, leg, a couple ribs and my first born!



I know it saves me in the long run having to not purchase light bulbs for a long length of time but God as my witness there are times when the light bulb dies unexpecedly and a rather short term of time rather than their propaganda boasts 5 years or longer.



I know this goes for a lot of people (as it does for myself), but i feel ashamed for having spent a small fortune on long lasting eco-bulbs when they so often disappoint.

Answer 726

Why stop at CF bulbs, why not start using LED lights that only consume about .7 watts vs 7-12 watts for CF vs 60+ of regular bulbs? These types of bulbs only cost about $7 and last for a lot longer... Just something to think about....

Answer 727

I just gave people a tour of my new place and didn't tell them it was CF bulbs until later. That and how much I saved on energy was pretty convincing. Though the best way is probably for the government to put a tax on the other bulbs.

Answer 728

Good question! I gave one 100 watt equivalent bulb out to each of my friends for Xmas ( I used a colorful cellophane cookie bag) along with a printout i cut and pasted from the energystar.gov site, which uses the slogan "CHANGE A LIGHT BULB, CHANGE THE WORLD." It highlighted the benefits, talked about the myths, and also had tips for other lighting changes in the home. For the cost-conscious, emphasize the utility bill savings. One of my friends wanted to wait til the incandescent bulbs in her house ran out, but I pointed out that with our high electricity costs in my state, in the two year life of the bulb, she'd lose out... probably pay $40+ more in extra energy costs for the ten bulbs in her living area...to save the cheap incandescents.

Answer 729

Since fluorescent bulbs give off an unpleasant form of light perhaps we should look into LED (Light Emitting Diode) and QLED (Quantum LED) based lights. Research has shown that Quantum Dots can be used to create lighting that is much more efficient and easier on the eyes.

Answer 730

Drop the price of the bulb down. The price they charge is very expesive when compare the cost of saving, it did not save much. if the bulb cost $2 .People will change their mind and I think they still make profit. Then utilities will complain and raise the electricity again. Find the way to prevent that too.

Answer 731

Please remember everyone that compact fluorescent bulbs can NOT be placed in the trash! They need to be recycled as they contain mercury. If they break in your trash, they will spread mercury everywhere. If they don't, they will contaminate the landfill. They should be disposed of with other household hazardous waste or recycled through a special program. We should set up the recycling programs as easy to find and access before we encourage everyone to switch, otherwise, yes we will use less energy, but we'll polute the world even more.

Answer 732

I think it actually needs to start with companies that manufacture them. Make the light bulb look like a light bulb. I personally don't like the spiral light bulb but would buy energy efficient bulbs that actually look like a regular light bulb. Sounds simple enough but I think this is one of the reasons why people are not buying them.

Answer 733

I have completely converted my whole house to compact fluorescent with the thanks to some wonderful eBay sellers in California. I could never have afforded doing it without them.



Please don't take my post as a plug for eBay or its sellers. It is merely a suggestion and my success story. The price of these bulbs can be very daunting to consumers, especially when they count just how many light fixtures they have. For people who can't afford to do it all at one time, may have a better chance to do so at lower costs through eBay.



Price motivation is usually a good inspiration. Example is as well. Inspire your friends and family by converting your own home and explain why. If that doesn't convince them, save your electric bills for them to compare.



When I opened the package, I told my son who was intently peering over my shoulder asking what was in the box, I told him it was a gift for both of our grandchildren. When he saw them, he understood. Which leads me to another inspiration.........

..........

....

....awareness.

Answer 734

I have the bulbs in my home and to tell you the truth, they do not put out enough light. The light they do put out is a dingy yellow unlike regular bulbs.



My answer: Improve the bulbs to be as good or better than the old ones and everyone will change on their own.

Answer 735

I think anyone would be willing to participate if you attract them a monetary gain. If the manufacturers would give an automatic rebate with the return of the 'other' light bulbs when purchasing the eco-friendly light bulbs. I think this could do the trick.

Answer 736

I think getting them on TV shows and commercials in the background would be a good way to start to subconciously slip them into people's minds. Then also having a campaign with conscientious celebrities could help.



Using them in your own house and leading by example would be good.



A public service announcement that shows how easy they are to use, the benefits to you adn the environment, and that you dont have to change your wall outlets at all would be useful.



They need to pop up more in general because I am just not seeing them enough. I need them to be all over my subconscious and have that feeling that they are just another everyday thing that I need.

Answer 737

Lower the price a little, I like my eco friendly bulbs and you can get them with yellowish tint (I think its a certain number on the bulb that tells if it has a yellow hughe to it..not sure, anyone know)? I know some people dont like the florecent light some put out. So, use them youself and pass the word

Answer 738

I gotta be honest here, I have a few of the "eco friendly" bulbs and they suck. The light they cast is of poor quality, with a yellowish tint to it that makes everything look awful. I had one in the bathroom, but I looked sickly when I was trying to put on my makeup in the mirror. Got rid of it. I keep them in the hallways, where it doesn't really matter, and I have them in the barn, but as far as the rest of the house goes, I unscrewed them and went back with the regular 40w incandecent bulbs. I wish they cast a better light, but I don't like everything in the house (myself included!) looking jaundiced, plus it gave me a headache that went away as soon as I went back to the incandecent lighting. Fix the color of the light, and more people will buy them. Most of my friends gave them a whirl, and all went back to standard bulbs for the same reason I did.

Answer 739

The best way to inspire your friends to do anything is to do it yourself and show them the spectacular results. If you have totally switched to eco friendly light bulbs, then brag to your friends of the great savings on your electric bills. And be prepared to show them comparative electric bills, before and after the change. If that doesn't convince them, then nothing you can do will. Some times, the light bulb has to want to change...

Answer 740

I guess you mean AFTER I inspire them to address significant and meaningful issues that impact their lives. Every 12 seconds someone in the United States dies in an automobile accidents. 60% of those killed would have survived if they had been wearing seat belts. Religious fanatics protest at the funerals of fallen American service members. The death of an ex stripper is the most news worthy event of the year, and you think light bulbs are the burning question on our national pea brain?

Answer 741

Showing them your reduced electric bill might do the trick! Giving them as gifts is a great idea through. I use them as often as I can, but have found that they don't work so well with motion sensor lights ( they seem to burn out quickly with this type of setup) or with dimmer switches (they don't dim well). Except for those two rooms in my house, I use eco-friendly bulbs everywhere else!

Answer 742

Please do NOT continue harping the 6000 hour cost comparison to people who haven't made the swtich. Yes it's better, but it's chump change and completely invalid if someone (like my kids) breaks the bulb early on (it's happened twice). Don't assume everyone will do it for the long range good when they are focused on today.



The real answer is utility or government subsidies to dro pthe price down to 2x regular bulbs (short to medium term). Then decreased demand for old along with increased demand for new will help bring supply/demand curve and manufacturing costs into line for a long term price drop.



In the meantime, the "enlightened of us" need to keep:

1) Using them,

2) Promoting them,

3) Gifting them.

Answer 743

Tell them about the Myth Busters program.

They tested the eco bulbs. They found that for the same amount of light. The eco bulbs uses

only 1/9th the energy.

Answer 744

One must be aware of the fact that these bulbs contain mercury and must be disposed of properly - which may not be practical for many people. Further, the ones I have purchased were packaged in hard plastic "clam shell" packaging which is much less environmentaly friendly than the paper packaging used with standard bulbs.



So, if one is to "inspire" the use of these bulbs, one must be able to deal with the 2 issues mentioned above.

Answer 745

Convince them that they are really at home and not still in the stark, white, flourescent lit box at work. Although you would really have to sell it because let's face it, they have yet to make a flourescent bulb that has as warm a feel as a regular bulb. But the issue is switching to "eco-friendly" bulbs so that we can make room for charging our cell phones, PDAs, laptops, mp3 players, hand-held gaming systems, and cameras. Maybe if we could all curb our need to be entertained switching to "eco-friendly" bulbs would make sense but we can't so why switch?

Answer 746

You could give them as gifts and lead by example. I use them in my house in all but the landlord controlled fixtures. I got my steadfast grandmother to use them by doing the math. First I put one in her favorite reading lamp, and she was amazed at the amount of light. Then I figured out the wattage used by her bulbs and the eco-friendly ones. I Counted the number of bulbs used in the house, especially noting the ones that were on at the time, compared them to her electric bill (per watt rate), and showed her that she could save a lot of money each year by switching. Then the kicker was letting her know how much longer they would last...saving her trips onto a footstool or calling me down to replace them. I am proud to report all her fixtures are changed! Now to work on my landlord....

Answer 747

Fluourescent lights are bad for you. I'll stick with candle light.

Taken from http://www.gaiam.com/retail/gai_content/learn/gai_learnArticlePrint.asp?article_id=1780



Health Effects

Migraine headaches, loss of concentration, and general irritation have all been blamed on fluorescent lights. These problems are caused not by the lights themselves, but by the way they are run. Common magnetic ballasts run the lamps at the same 60 cycles per second that is delivered by our electrical grid. This causes the lamps to flicker noticeably 120 times per second, every time the alternating current switches direction. Approximately one-third of the human population is sensitive to this flicker on a subliminal level.



The cure is to use electronic ballasts, which operate at around 30,000 cycles per second. This rapid cycling totally eliminates perceptible flicker and avoids the ensuing health complaints.

Answer 748

Me and my wife bought some lightbulbs and handed them out along with a brief fact sheet to people walking into a supermarket. We advertised the 4-pack for $1 inside the store (price is due to PGE subsidies). We thought if we could get just one person to switch out the bulbs in there house, our mission was a success. After we had handed out all of our bulbs, we went back inside the store to see how many had been sold, and the shelf was completely wiped out!

Answer 749

Offer a big $$$ reward to the first manufacturer that produces an eco-friendly bulb that actually works as good as the current incandescent type. As soon as "they" do, people will switch. Yes, I have tried the eco-friendly bulbs. Sorry, they just aren't there yet.

Answer 750

There is a problem with these bulbs, which is that they cannot be thrown in the trash-- they contain mercury and need to be properly disposed of as "hazardous waste" --- unfortunately, there are FEW places where you can do this. Until this problem is solved, they are not yet an environmentally viable solution. Once recycling/disposing of these bulbs is made easy to the consumer, they will be awesome. This is something the BULB companies need to address a.s.a.p.

Answer 751

I agree... give them as gifts. I always struggle what to give my parents each year, since they really have what they need. I plan on surveying their house for style & wattage of bulbs without them knowing. Then I'll show up and change out all the bulbs & let them reap the benefits.



I practice what I 'preach'. I have changed out over the past few years every single bulb in my house to an energy efficient bulb.

Answer 752

Unfortunately, most people make decisions like this with their pocketbooks. CFL's are now getting cheap enough that people actually save money in the long run. With electric rates getting higher, more will embrace use of these efficient bulbs. The government could greatly influence such decisions by increasing financial incentives to "do the right thing".

Answer 753

How about not changing your light bulbs in your house or outside of the house for about seven years. Also its helps out with the electricity bill in long run and the cost of buying regular light bulbs all the time.

Answer 754

I can not believe that they still manufacture incandescent bulbs!

They should be outlawed, period. What excuse is there to use them? The fluorescent bulbs fit in all of the fixtures now. I have

been using fluorescent bulbs for 8 years now. It is unthinkable for

me to pay 4 times the electric cost for incandescents. What is the

excuse??

Answer 755

I think these light bulbs are the best I even have them in my porch lights and they have been in there for almost 6 months so if you don't like to buy a lot of light bulbs this is the way to go and they do help save our planet and a real budget saver to

Answer 756

Money. These light bulbs use 1/3 the energy and burn 3 times as long as the old bulbs. They only cost twice as much. Do the math. You save.

Answer 757

promote everyone to give a bulb a day to a friend or family member. The cost of one bulb equals a combo meal at some fast foods places and we have no problem buying that multiple times a week, so why not give a bulb!



most of my lights in my home have the new bulbs! we love them!



Thanks,

Mike

Answer 758

The easiest way is tax the regular light bulb and make them more expensive than the CFL. Then take that tax money and invest into eco-friendly technologies.. Such as how to dispose the CFL correctly without leaking out the mercury.

Answer 759

friends and family level: You have to create discussion. Education and information can change people's attitudes. Next address their concerns about the new technology and how it can become applicable to their needs just like the Jurassic stuff they you and still address these needs... and then some. It saves them money they can use better somewhere else. Create talk and discussion .... Lead by example... information... Value addition by more savings.



At the Country Level Much more difficult. Banning. Legislation, Lobbying with environmental guys who have some clout changing the laws of your country to respond to ecosystem friendly technologies like CNG, alcohol, hydroFuels, PowerCells etc. maybe then there could be some change. The political Formula needs to be TailorMade depending on what country you're driving at.

Answer 760

Some small bulbs will not phase out for a while: Little ones for chandeliers, candalabras (or whatever they're called) and Christmas tree lights.

Answer 761

I don't see how creativity has anything to do with it. When I see incandescent lamps in a table lamp that's on a lot, I ask how they can afford to burn so much money. Most people are just stuck in a rut but start switching as soon as they realize they will be able to actually see their light bill smaller and not have to change their difficult light bulbs nearly as often.

Answer 762

I am a college freshman at Duke University, and we run an Eco-Olympics for freshmen every fall to encourage eco-friendly habits in a friendly dorm vs. dorm compition in energy saving and recycling. During our kickoff event, "dormstorming," members of Duke's Environmental Alliance goes into every dorm replacing students' incandescent light bulbs with CFLs for FREE. Environmental Alliance obtains these CFLs from the University's Facilities and Management Department, who gladly pays for about 500 of these CFLs since it saves them money in the long run.



From my experience, I can say that this method was very effective. Students were enthusiastic about switching to CFLs since it saved the dorm energy (and because it was free!) Not only did we replace many incandescent light bulbs, but we introduced hundreds of freshmen to CFLs and how eco-friendly they are.



Though we all aren't college students, I can still see applications for this method, specifically in towns and villages. A community effort to mass distribute CFLs for a reduced price or for free could produce the same effects: switching many light bulbs, saving energy, and teaching citizens about eco-friendly habits. Maybe this approach can help inspire not just your friends and family but also your neighbors and the greater community.

Answer 763

the best way to get everyone to switch is to lower the cost of friendly light bulbs and make it the customer more aware of how much they can save. When I walk into stores I do not see the bulbs unless I go to that section so bringing the bulbs front and center brings awareness for when its time to change bulbs.

Answer 764

Give compact fluorescent bulbs as presents. Instead of telling people to switch, put your money where your mouth is. Why not make an eco-friendly gift basket next time you need a present.

Answer 765

I don't think it is necessary for people to switch to fluorescent light bulbs in order to help the environment. Personally, I hate the color of fluorescent lights. Just the thought of them being in my house is nauseating. I personally prefer the warm color of an incandescent light bulb. It seems to set much more of an inviting and comfortable ambiance. Don't get me wrong. I am all for helping out the environment, but let me suggest another option.

For instance, if an individual decided to put their incandescent light bulbs on a dimmer switch they would have multiple opportunites to save more energy and increase the longevity of their lamps. Sure the lights aren't burning at maximum potential, but your eyes aren't going to notice five footcandles of light. You all remember as a kid watching your pupil dialate. Your eyes adjust to the light around you. By running your lights at 90% of the rated wattage, you save 10% electricity and increase your light bulbs longevity by double. If you only ran the lamp at 25% of it's rated wattage, that would save 20% electricity and increase the light bulbs life by quadruple. 50% saves 40% electricity and increases the life span to 20 times as long! Thus, you are helping the environment without compromising your own tastes. It is true that you get more wattage for your buck by using fluorescent lights. If you are the type of person who likes your house to be lit up like a grocery store, then go for it. All I am trying to do is offer a simple and elegant solution for people who want to help with the environment but are unwilling to change to fluorescents bulbs.

Sincerely,

James P.

Master Electrician

Answer 766

Eco friendly bulbs are not so friendly, to start with. Light spectre in these bulbs is NOT alike white daylight. Like most fluorescent tubes they contains too much blue and people look pale rather than the pinkyish healthy flesh we see in broad daylight.



Results? people don't like to look pale because they appear to be sick. Girls put on a lot of makeup and they end up anxious or depressed and looking like overmaked up clowns. Nobody knows how much these lightbulbes are responsible for the wave of depression-related illnesses all over the world. But it would be great to do a research to find out. Interested anyone?



The solution would be to make eco bulbs with a warmer light color. One that enhances the tone of your skin rather than killing it. One that doesn't generate depressive or angry moods, one that exalts your expression, rather than making you look miserable.



That way even I, who strongly despise them, would use them.

Answer 767

I believe that if the bulbs were closer to the size of regular bulbs that my get more poeple to use. I bought some of these flouresent bulbs buy they would not fit in my lamps at home. Maybe a longer adaptor that screws in? One sure fire way to get people to switch is to bring up the fact that they can save money on electricty using these.

Answer 768

Use your electric bill with a before and after cost comparison . Money talks , especially if the cost is calculated over a full year. Ask them if they can notice any differance in your home's lumanosity . Also find out if you can get a rebate on the purchase of the new bulbs. Lastly ask if you can help with the installtion.

Answer 769

Share your experience! I have purchased low-watt, fluorescent bulbs, and the bulbs are great. The bulbs easily fit into lamps, they operate cooler, a 7-watt bulb can put out 45 watts of light. Furthermore, the bulbs last a long, long time.

Answer 770

You can't, for two reasons. First, these bulbs are loaded with mercury (read the label). You are solving one problem while creating another.



Second, in most applications you don't save any energy because these bulbs are not dimmable. I use less energy with my current bulbs dimmed than these "eco-friendly bulbs" on high.



It is a fantastic marketing gimmick though: getting people to replace perfectly functional bulbs & needlessly filling our landfills with more toxic waste.

Answer 771

This is for every one, when ever you find that there is a bulb on and you dont need that just switch off, that helps in reducing the energy consume, the new tech light bulbs are so efficient that they consume less energy same output.they last longer and ordianry bulbs and believe me i am saving more that what i used to pay. one can do little to save our planet this is very less compare to the others but less is more effective, less makes the different.

Answer 772

dear lawr i learnd from katrina i learned from the power outage and i made a difference i planted trees like evergreens in the areas were the sun dont shine i planted bushes wildflowers and trees i changed out so many of those bulbs its redicuouls i dug some water gardens for runoff or water retention i hung so many bird houses platforms i cant count no more but some of the elders hold on to these old laws that habitat is useless and im getting so angry there assaulting my freedoms by telling me what to do in my own yard there telling me to cut down habitat when i saw people on the roofs in katrina like help so im trying to make a diffrence and these bad people come to my house assaulting my freedoms and i dont want to go postal they wont leave me alone i want clean air i want my oasis i want to be a big star like you and if i had money to blow arround on so much stuff i would buy a huge ammount of land and designate it for conservation but im trying to make a impact at home cause thats were it starts i got the message i use it some people git crazy with you and they wont lay off all cause you want to make the world a better place later lawer im doing all of what i can and i pick up the environment and i recycle all of what i can and i git alot in my neiborhood and i do tell people about those bulbs some people git flacky cause its in there best intrest later

Answer 773

Okay Mr. Bender,

I usually don't answer celeb questions.. but here I go!

First off I have learned that incandescent bulbs are cheaper to buy initially and really do not save much money or electricity! As tested on Myth Busters! The money you save is on the purchase of fluorescent bulbs in a period length of time.. meaning you don't have to replace them as often.

I understand that every little bit helps in the big picture! But we don't look at the big picture.. we look at now and today! I can buy a four pack of bulbs for 99 cents! And save Money!



So like everything else the best inspiration is MONEY!

Make it affordable to save our planet!

Make the change pay off! Send in proof of purchase and receipts to our electric supplier for discounts or coupons for replacement of such energy saving products.



Money is a great way to inspire! And absolutely nothing wrong with it! TAX Breaks from the proof of purchase!



Reward the folks for today of a change that they make not for themselves but for the future! Something they will not be around to see. So give us something to see now!

Answer 774

Give them a gift of a pack of the bulbs along with Al Gores DVD about Global Warming. Put them in a cute gift bag with a note that says "I care, how about you?"



Make it a point not to write on the tag attached to the gift bag, instead put in a separate note. Tell them that you did not write on the gift tag because that way the bag becomes reusable, and ask them to do the same when re-using the bag for a gift. In this way, not only are they helping the environment by using energy saving bulbs, but they are saving our forests by using one gift bag passed on and on for gift giving for many years to come.



Just a side note, My daughter and I are both light sensitive to florescent bulbs, so if anyone knows of an alternative, please let us know.



God Bless,

Kathy

Answer 775

hmmm.....light beers, diet sodas, no smoking, hybrid vehicles, exercising but for some reason we cannot or will not shut off lights we don't need to have on and those very lights are wattage guzzling incandescents (the SUV's of light bulbs).

I cut $10 per month off my electric bill by using either flourescent bulbs or the "green dot". That's $120 per year. Why WOULDN'T anyone change over. In two months, you get your money back that was spent to purchase the flourescent bulbs. hmmm.......

Answer 776

The eco-friendly light bulbs must be as cheap as the Edison light bulb. It is too expensive for people on a tight budget to pay high prices for the new bulbs.

Answer 777

One way, make them cheaper up-front than incandescent bulbs. If Mom/Dad is shopping and 1 incandescent bulb is $1 and a more efficient bulb is $4 the long term savings probably are not going to be considered.

Answer 778

Raising the price of standard incandescents, or lowing the price of "green" bulbs, or a combination of the two, will be all the incentive needed to get everyone (not just family and friends, who don't really matter in the grand scheme of electric conservation) to toss out the old, polluting bulbs.

Answer 779

Changing light bulbs will not have a HUGE Impact on the environment

This is a lie,set to have the politicians take away are freedom of choice.

Answer 780

I went on the internet and printed out figures for my grandparents energy suppliers and showed them how much money they could save by switching to energy efficent light bulbs. They bought the bulbs then I fitted them in every lamp in the house.

I have also used glass paints to colour the bulbs shades of pink,blue and anyothers you can imagine and this quickly catches the eyes of people who suddenly want them I even had my cousins painting bulbs which they hung up in their rooms.

When you appeal to peoples pockets and their imaginations anything is possible.

Answer 781

We need better looking compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Surely with all the beautiful neon light designs of the past, industry should be able to design better looking bulbs than just the "screw" and the "tube". Those two design do not lend themselves much to aesthetic quality when used as replacement for incandescent, especially in place such as old chandeliers or open fixtures. In addition, new chandeliers and fixtures are also needed to be designed specifically for CFL's in terms of aesthetics.

Answer 782

I just thought of one movie.. I don't remember the title... but it's pretty simple.



You choose three close households(family or friends) and give them Eco-friendly light bulbs for free (SECRETLY) with one condition written in a note. " If one receives and likes the new light bulbs, the one needs to find other three households and give Eco-friendly light bulbs as same manner."



So it will start with myself(1)

Then I can spread it to three households(1+3=4)

And then three each households will spread it to other three households(1+3+(3*3)=13).........

.............The number(households with eco-friendly light bulbs) will increase exponentially.



This way, by the end of this year, we might be able to see Christmas Trees with Eco-friendly light bulbs everywhere in America!(hopefully?!)

Answer 783

I agree that we should give them as gifts. Also, when they go on sale at Lowe's you should stalk up and change every light bulb in your house!!! Simply telling others about them is probably the first step. Many people don't even know that they are out there. They probably think that they are some funky shaped light bulb used as decor. The squiggly light bulbs are in!!!!

Answer 784

Send me a supply of light bulb and I will arrange for my family to come over I will have the light bulbs on display in different styles of lamps and tell them I have been conducting an experiment for the last week to see how long they last and if they don't blow each of you will receive two bulb to continue in the experiment. You report back to me after a week and if they don't blow then I will give you four more bulbs and to give the two I gave you to two other people to conduct the same test and so on.

Answer 785

They need to come down in price - although I know they are more cost efficient over the long haul, spending $4+ per bulb is a big deterrent when the others can be $.79 for 4. Having a sample for people to try or even coupon to get them to purchase it initially may get people over the price thing.

Answer 786

Make them cost effective to purchase, via government grants or better production techniques. When the cost of the eco-friendly light bulb is more than the energy you save, there is no incentive to purchase the light bulbs.

Answer 787

Well, if you're not convinced of global warming and feel that changing your incandescent to a more efficient light bulb is useless, then you should consider this: if we continue to consume energy at the current rate there will be no resources to fuel our energy demands by the time your grandchildren are reading books to your great grandchildren before they fall asleep. Just something to ponder. Energy is not magic. Educate yourself, then educate others. Lead by example.

Answer 788

Tell your family and friends that if they don't switch to "eco-friendly" bulbs that they will become racist, bigotted, God fearing, evangelical homophobes who hate the environment, think the Iraqi war was right and that global warming is a bunch of liberal lies. That will surely shame them into doing the right thing,



Come on you green idiots. The bulbs have mercury in them. How safe is that?

Answer 789

Well, wouldn't it be fairly simple to stop making the regular bulbs and make only the eco-friendly?

I mean the price is going to be forced on us anyway, like gas, electricity, cable, phones bills, etc? You know anything that the companies can make money off of us with and we don't have a choice but to use it or buy it!!!

Answer 790

First to inspire my friend's and Family would be hard considering the price for the bulbs.. If the bulbs were sold in an Dollar Store or cheaper then they would buy them.. No one can afford to buy those type of bulbs cuz they are too expensive.

Answer 791

I recently had a big birthday party and I requested "no gifts". Instead, I requested that everyone change at least 1 bulb in their house to a CFL bulb and bring 1 new CFL bulb to the party. We held my party at a very popular new club/lounge in downtown LA. The extra light bulbs that were brought to the party were distributed to strangers at the club. Think Globally, Act Locally!

Answer 792

I don't know how come people not using the eco-friendly light bulb. I used those eco light bulb since 1999, Those light bulb didn't fault on me ONCE. Since those light bulb last longer and save Energy (really save your PG&E bill), I changed all the light bulb to eco-friend light bulb in my house.

Back to the question, if PG&E can give BIG discount on using eco-friendly light bulb. I guess people might think about it. How does PG&E know people using those light bulb? They know, cause the bill will cut it half.

Answer 793

GIve the manufacturer's of ecofriendly light bulbs special tax incentives to subsidize margins and then price the bulbs well below "traditional bulbs"



80% of America is going to buy the cheapest bulb regardless of its ecofriendliness. Make it happen immediately by giving the average consumer a price incentive for the greener bulb

Answer 794

I'm not at all excited about switching. Eco-friendly lights (essential flourescent lights) are hard on the eyes and tough for people wearing contact lenses. Have they really been tested? I'll bet that they do more damage to vision than that which is reported. Countries who use eco-friendly lights have high percentages of wearers of glasses. Also, they don't provide soft lighting essentially taking away a sense of ambiance.

Answer 795

Just show them the lights, especially the cool blue daylight ones. However environmentally friendly that they are touted as seems to ignore the (eventual) disposal of the bulbs because they contain certain amounts of toxic or hazardous wastes. Be sure to be a responsible treehugger and read the entire box so that you know how to properly dispose of these new energy savers.

Answer 796

Have a dinner and ask each guest to bring five incandescent bulbs as a donation. Arrange with a local utility company or hardware store to provide compact fluorescent bulbs for free or at cost, and provide them to your guests in exchange for the bulbs they brought.



If a municipality is seeking to have its citizens switch, then they should give one free compact fluorescent bulb in exchange for every five incandescent bulbs. This one for five ratio will reduce the likelihood that people will buy new, cheap incandescent bulbs merely to obtain new fluorescent bulbs.

Answer 797

Demonstrate that the quality of light is no different, but the power bil is dramtically different!

My testamonial:

I had 65 interior and exterior lights on my proprety. After replacing 53 (those that are on a riastat do not apply to this technology) I saved over $200.00 ON MY POWER BILL!!!

There is no quality of light difference.

You could also have a rebate for sending in the older bulbs.

Answer 798

By inspiring them to do a little research and realize light bulbs have no significant impact to our environment. This whole topic is nonsense, much as the over-reaction to global warming. We need to take practical and responsible steps to protect our environment, but humans bear little responsibility for changes to our climate

Answer 799

I have plenty of friends who think that energy conservation, global warming, pollution reduction etc. is a farce concocted by liberals and eco-extremists. I think the government must take a leadership role and ban incandescent bulbs. Once they are no longer available, my friends will be "inspired" to switch to compact fluorescent.

Answer 800

Live by example, If that doesn't work, buy them some of their own. I currently have Energy Efficiant Flouresent bulbs in every light in my house, as a effect I now have my friends and family buying them as a result. The love they fact they are saving energy and money at the same time...

Answer 801

Manufacturers and Distributors can give rewards by serial number on light Bulbs, in cluding cash, replacement bulbs. This would require some eco-friendly advertising event, which could be tied into EPA Funds.

Answer 802

Make them closer in light spectrum to either the sun or incandescent light bulbs. Most of the ones that I have tried give off a bluish light that is not strong enough and stains the eyes.



Design one to work in an enclosed fixture. I tried to use one in an outside light and within a day it has shattered, it was not sealed, just enclosed and the temperatures were mild.

Answer 803

Very simple increase taxes on electricity every year until

the price of electricty has doubled in five years. At the same

reduce income taxes with a similar amount for the average

tax payer. People who waste electricity will eventually get smart.

Cant get simpler than that. Same thing should be done to oil and other fossil energy sources. Cant be simpler than that.

Answer 804

I believe the reason people don't use them on their own is the price. I know when i go out and see them i think "i can get 4 regular ones for the price on one of those", so i think to save, specially since i have alot of lights. Giving as a gift is a brilliant idea, letting people learn that they are worth the extra money will work better than any persuasion you could do through words

Answer 805

You don't need a creative way to market something that is going to save the user money. You just need to brake the cost of using an energy efficient bulb vs an old school Edison bulb, for a month. This way the average consumer can say "wow i can save money!" or "who's Edison?"

Answer 806

compact bulbs are very energy saving ,but very ugly color.The new (cw) or cool white compacts give off a much brighter and whiter light.Also the variant colors compact gives off frusterate people.L.E.D are the future lights.but for now I say try the cw compacts.usually I say to get a 75 watt or higher. the 75 use about 18 watts and 100;s use 23 watts..they re more pricy at the start but no worry when you leave them on.

Answer 807

With all due respect, lightbulbs won't change a thing. Global warming is coming, get used to it. If all Americans cut back on burning of fossil fuels, there is still China, India, Korea and many other big economical countries who produce tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. We can do all that we can to attempt (however unsuccessfully) at slowing the affects of Global Warming, but the best thing we can do is adapt.

Answer 808

I have been a home owner for nearly 16 years and in the same home. I have used the ecofriendly bulbs in the living room lamp nearly all of those years and changed that bulb only once. The bulbs last forever.

Answer 809

They are horrible. I even dread going to hotels that use this bulb. I suffer from a eye disease and it places so much stress on my retina. To just flagragrantly use these bulbs without any conscience is just another form of abuse. These are another way of high stress instead of a form "home should be soft place for relaxation". For years we have had the cool flourescent lights of an office to bear to only run home to the warm lights of home. Why not keep it that way? ljm

Answer 810

Eco -friendly lightbulbs may be expensive at first, but after long use (and they do last MUCH longer than conventional lightbulbs) your energy bill will go down. If you don't break even, you'll actually SAVE money. You could also buy them one at a time. Everytime a conventional light bulb goes out, replace it with an eco-friendly one!

Answer 811

Simple. Increase the cost of incandescent illumination until it is less expensive to use eco-friendly lamps. Unfortunately our vast majority of population is not eco-conscious. We are very predictable and will always go the path of least resistance (or cheapest), or ego-serving as in the case of our favorite monster autos. It does not matter that a fluorescent lamp burns 10 times longer. If an incandescent lamp is cheaper, that is what we will buy.

Answer 812

Show them how much it save energy for the eco-friendly light bulbs versus the regular bulbs. OR Raise the price of the regular bulbs.

Answer 813

I'm all for saving energy. Thing is, most of the people who are pushing for change have no REAL answers. They just want change.

These bulbs will damage your eyesight. Ask anyone who works 8 hours a day under them. Airforce pilots are FORBIDDEN to study under this type lighting because of the damage it will do to their eyes.



Several people who I know have to wear tinted glasses because they have to work all day in this environment.



Light bulbs are the least expensive energy using item in your house, maybe you could cut back on air conditioning? No, guess not, you couldn't sacrifice YOUR comfort.

Answer 814

Don't go on about how they save energy or are good for the environment... that just polarizes people who feel entitled to use up resources and don't believe in global warming and the like. Instead, tout them as money-saving devices... point not to the decrease in energy consumption but to the decrease in consumer's electric bills. Point out that people who use the bulbs get to keep more of the money they earn. People like to save money... they don't like to be told they can't or shouldn't have or do things.

Answer 815

These bulbs save money but its not dollars per bulb is pennys. They are supposed to last 7 years but I have had some that didn't make it 2 years. At that rate I lost money! Date the bulbs and if they fail make them returnable to where you bought them. It's not like I can change 10 bulbs and see $10.00 off of my monthly bill, but i need to know that it didn't cost me a extra $20.00 to have these bulbs. Date them for usage.

Answer 816

Clarify the packaging and remove the Mercury warning labels - I went to buy new lightbulbs the other day with limited knowledge of the existence of new eco-friendly bulbs. I specifically looked for them, 100% intending to buy them if possible, but was unsure what I was looking for and strongly disuaded from purchasing them by the 'Product Contains Mercury' label on the back. How can adding Mercury to lightbulbs be eco-friendly?!

Answer 817

ummm...well here is a easy question. There is a 60w bulb for 3 dollars. And a eco-friendly light bulb for 10 dollars. Naturally I will buy the 4 dollar one because its cheaper. If you make all eco friendly materials cheaper, then people will switch in no time.

Answer 818

More than likely the old type of light bulb will no longer be made as to make way for the new types so in time this scenareo will change the way folks "light up"

Answer 819

10 times longer.

Considering that they're so efficient that they only release a small fraction of the heat given by traditional light bulbs, providing 'cold' light.... Considering this, they should be selling themselves!



In fact we use them at home :-) and we kn

Answer 820

It would take nothing as drastic as marketing ploys or things like that. All it would take would be for Walmart, the largest retail store in the country, to sell only the Eco-Friendly lightbulbs, and considering people spend 26 million an hour 24/7 365 at Walmart I think they would catch on pretty fast.

Answer 821

Our family actually bought these light bulbs as Christmas gifts for our parents this year. I also believe that if parents start using these light bulbs, then it will become a "normal" thing for their children to purchase them and so on. I also think that it would make a good fund raisier for schools to sell instead of candy and things we don't need.

Answer 822

Go back to the research in the early 80's. It is being suppressed for some reason. Look at Canadian research, too. There are serious problems with so-called "eco-friendly" light bulbs and with doing away with incandescent bulbs. Something's very wrong with this "Earth Muffin" movement. Please look very carefully into this. There are especially dangers to children's health. Someone's trying to save a buck and there are too many people these days who see nothing wrong with Soylent Green ethics.

Answer 823

I'm not so sure this is creative, I simply point out my new light bulbs (often)! and remind everyone I show how much better they and what an impact they have on the environment ( and their light bill!) I have persuaded some people into changing.

Answer 824

Tell them how infrequently you have to change the CFB's. Tell them what they had heard about the CFB or experienced years ago is no longer true. The modern CFB's are great. And they pay for themselves from the energy saved. If nearly everyone changed to CFB's, the need for new electricity power plants would be delayed for a long time. Tell them the action is a good example for our youths. Some will still not switch to the CFB. That's life!

Answer 825

THe bulbs are great in all but a few cases. IE...they make a GREEN tint to skin tones so for women putting on makeup before they go OUTSIDE and photographers, they are a bain. ALong with the fact that in areas such as medicine and audio/video recordings, not just the color change but a "hum" noise is added to recordings in studios that use them, requiring a seperate earth ground that still adds some noise to recordings.........otherwise you would be UNWISE not to use them.

Answer 826

You must be joking! Flourescent light is UGLY, and the difference in cost vs. tungsten filament is negligable! Guilt-tripping people with Title-24 guidelines by invoking GLOBAL WARMING is ridiculous! The pop-science theory that humans are "responsible" for global warming is narcissistic junk science. The sun drives our climactic cycles, and although it seems that indeed we may well be facing a new 'ice age' as global temperatures continue to rise, forcing people to switch to flourescent bulbs is an absurdity, and an idiotic attempt to legislate Interior Design.

Answer 827

First, you must educate everyone about the true costs, and performance of this product.



I purchased these bulbs and installed them in all my lights. But, they blew out long before the claimed 10,000 hours. after contacting the manufactuer about the guarentee, I learned that the claim was based on a four hour per day burn. The two dollar each cost was definately not worth the money.

Answer 828

Change the over all design.. Sell it as a conversion that not only makes life easier for the whole family or business but is more Eco-friendly as well.. People are more apt to respond to consumer advancement and ease of life on their part as technological innovations as opposed to just doing it for Mother earth sake... If your looking to make a huge impact you just let me know until then keep up the mediocre work.. respectfuly jason Howery consumer.. and inventor

Answer 829

Make "Sunshine" bulbs, or something closer to the light "Reveal" bulbs or Ottlites cast. I bought the "daylight" ones and I'm not happy with the coldness of the light. I have full spectrum light tubes in my bird breeding room combined with wide spectrum lights that I find very pleasing. My household has mostly switched to the screw in florescents to save money on our energy bill. We are trying to turn lights off and be responsible but it hasn't reflected much thus far on our monthly bill.

Answer 830

Develop a CF bulb with a more attractive light (high CRI = color rendering index) and no turn-on delay: this is what I hear complaints about. My place uses CFs everywhere except the bathroom, because skintones still look bad in their light, and also a few fixtures where the CF bulbs are too large to fit.

Answer 831

They should drop the price cheaper than a standard light bulb. Provide a discount if so many are purchased at the same time.

For example, buy 3 get 1 free.... I would buy more if I could afford them.

Answer 832

My friends and I have already switched as many sockets to those as possible. The problem isn't desire to switch, the problem is DIMMER SWITCHES. These bulbs are dangerous in circuits with dimmer switches and photoelectric cells. I can't use these bulbs in my bathroom, on my porch, my living room, ceiling fans, or dining room. That doesn't leave many sockets left to switch over....

Further, the largest users of electricity in my house (and I suspect most people's houses) are the laundry and temperature changing devices (heaters, air conditioners, fridges, stoves, etc.) Switching to these bulbs would barely make a noticeable difference in my electric bill.

Answer 833

A lot of people have probably already said this, but I've found the easiest way to convince people is to, one, lead by example, and then tell them how much money they'll save on their power bill. People need motivation to change, and if you tell them how much money you save, it'll give them a good incentive to do the same. That's how I convinced my mother to switch every bulb in her house, and she's saving about $20 per month. Getting her to switch was a good step all by itself because her social life is infinitely larger than mine, and she's taken it upon herself to try and convince everyone *she* knows now. It's like a string of dominoes, or a pyramid. If you convince five people, and those five people convince five more people, that's 25 people. It can only grow from there.

Answer 834

There is no good way, it will have to be a gov't mandate because these things are horrible. I tried them in the garage first and would not put them in the rest of the house. I went from 60 watt regulars to 100 watt compacts and had less light. Also, 1/2 of the fixtures I have they don't fit/look good in.

Answer 835

Hello, I think the eco friendly bulb needs to last longer and be cheaper, we replaced all of the bulbs in our home with them and have spent the last 2 months putting the old bulbs back

Answer 836

Don't sell incandescent light bulbs anymore. The consumer will have to decide to live a life in the dark or switch to the eco-friendly light bulbs. There.

Answer 837

I would imagne anyone would want to change over to eco-friendly bulbs if they know they can save money on energy.



Some people are interested in doing their part of save our environment, and some people are not. I can try and sell them on the idea through any angle, but ultimately, they have to make the choice.

Answer 838

Easy... you don't inspire. You just go out, get the eco-friendly light bulbs, bring it to their homes and then change all of their light bulbs yourself. What are they going to say, "no you can't do that"?? If they tell you to get down from changing the ones on the ceiling, then you simply tell them that they can either help you change all the light bulbs instead of just watching, or risk possibly being sued for personal injury if you should fall while attempting to do it on your own.

Answer 839

Dear Mr Bender,

I wanted to let you know that some of us cannot have fluorescent light around us all the time. The wavelength disturbs my vision, and gives me terrible headaches. We have fluorescent units in the cellar, garage and storage barn, but they cannot be in the living area. I have a chronic immune system disorder and sunlight and fluorescent wavelengths both hurt my eyes terribly. At my job I have an incandescent pink light on my shelf "blocking" the fluorescent. It helps, but I still need to wear tinted glasses.

There are many people with immune disorders such as lupus, CFIDS, etc.. for whom fluorescent lights are not an option.

But. I recycle like it's a religion. I use eco-friendly cleaners and wear natural fibers. Just wanted you and yours to know some of us wish we could use the bulbs but simply cannot.

Peace and thank you for your good works.

Answer 840

No need to go to conversation groups. I would, and have,simply given out boxes of those spiral long lasting energy saving light (they aren't bulbs they are more like swirls) things to my friends and family.





No need for a campaign. One person has a bigger voice than a thousand commercials.



Pass them out. People have an affinity for a free product. They feel indebted, and obligated to prove the product which they used for free actually contributes to the benefit of the world.

Answer 841

Buy some bulbs for friends and family. Let them know what stores you got them from. Tell them why they should continue to buy the bulbs; dig into what you know about the environment and why they should make a difference to. Hey, if we can tell our friends why they should go see a great movie we can sell them on a light bulb!

Answer 842

My grandparents were talking about buying eco-friendly light bulbs. I Myself switched 3 years ago.What I let them know to encourage the switch is that my energy bill is a lot cheaper and if you purchase energy star bulbs they will give you 10% back of what you paid for it during tax time (ex: $50.00 worth of bulbs for house $5.00 back on taxes) remember to save receipt's a little goes a long way not to mention the money they are shaving of the power bill each month. Grandparents called me last week to let me know they switched. : ~)

Answer 843

Hold a trade show and only have these bulbs on display as well as booklets, pamphlets, flyer's, stickers and every kind of promotional material possible expounding the benefits of these bulbs.



My journey with them started when I saw them at a street fair here in Italy and they have proved to be cost effective. I don't regret the change over.

Answer 844

Hi.I am a profesional mover and usally we do not pack light bulbs.But from my point of view I think they should be wrapped in paper 2times,and then placed in a small box,that has paper on the bottom,a lot,and then place all the light bulbs in there,standing,and after filling the box,and makeing sure they do not shift,put paper on top,close the box,tape it,to be more exact,and then write what do you have in it and also TOP LOAD,for you to know,or whom ever is takeing it to the destination,that it is light and fragile.So it just takes a little bit of practice and time to do it.Ooooo,by the way a small box,is considered to be a 1.5cube,or around that.HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE.

Answer 845

If you can afford it, buy them on sale in bulk. Then:



1. Stealth! Switch them yourself (where they are not visible) when no one is watching! Sort of like Santa Claus. Give the gift of energy and cost savings.

2. Appeal to cost savings and convenience! Offer them to them for free and install them yourself. (See if you don't get a free dinner or something out of it!)

3. Can't afford to be Santa Claus? Offer to sell them at your cost and install them for free.



People are statistically more eco-friendly when it doesn't cost them time or money!*



DESIGN: One thing that has bothered me is that (what seems to be) the standard e-f bulb size is larger than the standard regular bulb size. So the e-f bulf doesn't fit or protrudes. All e-f bulbs should be made to fit where a standard one will!



*ok i admit it, i don't have any stats on this.

Answer 846

These bulbs are fine if they are in a fixture with a shade or a cover on them. But what about the lighting fixtures I have like my ceiling fans and recessed lighting. These bulbs would not be at all attractive in these fixtures. Are there any of these bulbs that are designed for such situations?

Answer 847

Show the benefits and downfalls of the product. Encourage stores that sell them to also recycle them. Do these lights contain mercury? It's rumored that Wal Mart is lagging in the recycle thinking department. Encourage usage via your neighborhood watch groups etc. Put a tag line on your email. Encourage manufacturers to offer coupons. Sell them with new light fixtures.

Answer 848

Impose an energy use tax at the federal level on regular incandescent bulbs, perhaps 25 cents on smaller household bulbs, and higher taxes on larger wattage bulbs. Use the money collected to fund energy saving assistance for low-income households.

Answer 849

Make the sellers or manufacturers of these bulbs give us some help with recycling them.

I know they are great for the environment in one sense, but they also contain mercury which should never find it's way into land fills. The makers should be required to offer safe disposal.

It's a mixed bag isn't it?

Answer 850

CFL's are aggressively marketed as reducing energy usage which can fight against global warming. But did you know that all fluorescent bulbs contain mercury? Fluorescent bulbs should always be disposed of through a recycling agency or as hazardous waste. Check your county/city for recycling facilities or request your supplier (Wal-Mart sells CFL's) to provide recycling/disposal.

These bulbs are great! Let's keep them from possibly contaminating our landfills, aquafers and water supplies.

Answer 851

I am a residential lighting specialist certified by the American Lighting Association. I would NOT advise anyone to change to CFL's (compact flourescents). The light they produce is dim and of a spectrum that does not permit alot of contrasts in colors and shadows. Presently they are not available in wattages that are appropriate for task lighting. For those that are affected by seasonal visual disorders, these are opposite of a remedy. Green as they may seem, we miss one very important flaw. Each bulb contains a small amount of mercury. To encourage wide-spread use of these CFL's without managing their disposal brings us all back to where we started and with poorer eyesight and headaches. When I consult with a client on saving energy, I may suggest CFL's in closets or places where good illumination is not necessary. What I suggest is this: turn the heat DOWN, do LESS laundry, dry clothes OUTSIDE if possible, turn the temp on your hot water heater DOWN. Drive LESS--try to put all your errands together for one day. Use LESS water. Get a TOASTER OVEN for baking and heating meals (I wrote a cookbook on toaster oven cooking "Pop It In The Toaster Oven." Turn DOWN the air conditioner. Get FANS for every room to circulate heat in the winter and cool in the summer. These are the major energy drains. I fear that emphasizing CFL's will just further diminish our perspective of a dire impending energy crisis.

Answer 852

Tell them it lasts for 11 years, which it does and tell them it uses 1/3 of the energy of a regular light bulb, which it does

Answer 853

everything starts from our conciseness about what's around us, i believe people know that there's million types of light Bulbes around and most of them are available right now for a very low price, they are energy saver, it gives a different harmony to the place when there's cool lights, plus they very durable, it's amazing and it's helps every house to look almost the same in the inside. in addition the nature of the night time is made to relax the muscle of the eyes! , from my own knowledge we have to work together to encourage new technology and fight the global, we have to do it it's never been an option but they just recognized it when they saw (scientists) changes.

Answer 854

I start by not telling them that the bulbs actually aren't eco-friendly. They contain lots of mercury which threatens animals and contaminates ground water. I also omit the fact that it is virtually impossible to have them collected by hazardous waste handlers and even if they did, the bulbs would break in transport and endanger the workers. That way I'll inspire them to keep using the "eco-friendly" bulbs.

Answer 855

The manufacturers say these light bulbs last for 7 years ! But they don't. They burn out as quickly as regular bulbs and cost five times more ! The best way to make people to switch is to make them cheaper and last longer.

Answer 856

I own a number of these... and don't use them exclusively because I've had problems with shadows, delays upon startup, and they often appear to produce a dimmer light than their common competitors. If they worked just as well as traditional bulb, more people would use them. The word is out that you save money using them.....in the long run.

Answer 857

For me, it would be nice to have a simple way to recycle the new bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a neurotoxin. Throwing these in the trash is an environmental hazard. 300 million Americans throwing these in the trash and you have an environmental catastrophe. Before we start pushing new technology, we need to make it simple and easy for consumers to properly dispose of its toxic elements. Until then, I'll stick to the old ones.

Answer 858

Money.

Show people the amount of money they will save in a year.

Illumination.

Supply data showing how they are even brighter than incandescent bulbs.

Education

Most people have no idea just how much these small things add up, if multiplied by a million.

Answer 859

Hi!

Having the Federal government place a tax on standard base incandescent bulbs of a value such that the fluorescent bulbs are cheaper.

Answer 860

It's very nice to use, cut back on energy consumption, etc., but what do you do with the bulbs after they no longer function? How about advising people how easy it is to recycle these new energy saving light bulbs - perhaps by repeatedly advertising where they can be recycled until the where-to-recycle info becomes old news?

Answer 861

IMPORTANT!!!



If you or someone you know has lupus, fibro or MS they should NOT use these bulbs!



Any fluorescent lights cause a strange reaction in our brain/eyes and can even impair our judgement. They make me feel drunk and I can get lost in my own house after being under fl for 15 minutes or more.



Our eyes "misread" the types of light emitted from these bulbs...it's impossible to go shopping for very long since most stores use them as well. Imagine seeing gold glitter in the air so thick you can't see past it. It is a terrible reaction to these lights and no matter how "green" you are it's not possible to live with these lights!!

Answer 862

First of all, cut the self righteous "save the earth" crap! It makes people who have brains not want to buy them. 30 years ago it was, " we're heading for another little ice age". Now it's this "earth is burning" garbage. Tell people that they are new technology and superior to incandescent bulbs. Don't say stupid stuff about how they are just as bright as incandescent. Just tell them the truth, they are superior to incandescent due to longevity and energy savings which lead to lower light bills. I know you think that people will run to the store to "save the earth", but Americans, to the tune of 75%, don't believe the crap about recycling and lightbulbs "saving the earth". You sanctimonious, global warming, mind numbed robots are really getting on my nerves. You're pathetic too!

Answer 863

I would put together a gift basket with Compact Florescent Bulbs for my family and friends, along with eco-friendly cleaners, an Inconvienient Truth on DVD, and a book on global warming.

Answer 864

Put a cheap case around it so it looks like the old bulb,,even though the inside still glows, and is cheaper to operate,,it will still fit in alot of the old lamps that have a shade on them and other fixtures,,besides the outside covering may make it harrder to break,,be and the older folks may accept it better...Paul Fowler,,6094580176 57 year old average guy with a very bad back,,collect SS..just say who you are when you call or I will say Paul isn't here.

Answer 865

I give a package of 4 bulbs as gifts. In the beginning people were laughing. After using the bulbs EVERYONE have thanked me greatly. Everyone has said they have not had to replace one bulb and they produce excellent light.

Answer 866

Give friends and family the eco-friendly light bulbs as gifts for holidays. Also, the retailers and manufacturers should lower the price on those items, so that people can afford those bulbs.

Answer 867

Do what the federal government is doing in Australia. Over the next three years there is going to be a phasing out of conventional light bulbs.

Answer 868

I don't know if there is a creative idea, but the fact that the eco-friendly light bulbs last longer and use less energy than regular light bulbs is motivation enough!

Answer 869

First introduce everyone you know and don't know to www.climatecrisis.com. If you are going to give the light bulbs as a gifts download the action flyer pdf from the web site and include it in the packaging. When the gift is opened make sure you discuss the flyer with the recipient and make sure everyone in earshot is listening. Say a prayer with your feet moving.



Action now!

Answer 870

The bulb doesnt work with dimmer switches, hence I cannot use them as most light switches in the home are dimmers, I belive this is a problem in most homes, as well as the light casts a blue tingy light that isnt bright enough and causes headaches after periods of time. Simply put we need better technology.

Answer 871

It is real easy! I tried these bulbs and they didn't last very long. They said they would last 10x's longer and they didn't. For me as a consumer to use them they have to be worth it. Had a bad experience with them. A regular bulb cost me about twenty-five cents these cost much more and didn't last that much longer. I had a bad experience with them. I guess if they want me to try them again they will have to give me some. I drive a Prius and really am into helping with ecology but these bulbs just didn't do it for me.

Answer 872

I don't know about motivation, but being on welfare, I appreciate the lower use of electricity when my bill arrives.



I stock up on these fluorescents, mostly the 13W/60 Watt equivalent when I find them on sale, and throw away perfectly good conventional bulbs for the utility savings! I don't even wait for the old conventional bulb to burn-out.

Answer 873

I have moved 3 times in the last 5 years, and every time I take my florecent bulbs with me. Along with that and reweatherstripping doors and windows I think I drop my bill 50%, I'm sure if I was a power nazi and actually unplugged TV's, cell phone chargers etc... that have a standby mode, I could save a bit more.

Answer 874

A little app that i built.. http://www.terminalfusion.com/lightCalculator



Calculates the cost of using regular lights vs eco friendly lights over 1 hour / 1 month / 1 year & 5 years



Based on a Kwh rate of $.08

Answer 875

Just like state governments forced the auto industry to switch to a more friendly auto emission standards, require bulb emission equivalent via efficiency that would guide consumers to switch habits and buy a more eco friendly light bulbs. States can impose a special tax (like they do on cigarettes) and so on...

"Inspiration through taxation".

Answer 876

Threats of bodily harm usually work pretty well. There are also other scare tactics, like forced deportation or calling them and hanging up numerous times. Maybe forcing people who don't have the light bulbs to register that they are eco-unfriendly and create a website letting people know who the eco-unfriendly people in their neighborhood are would work well. There are many options, most of which would have nearly instantaneous results.

Answer 877

I would suggest that anyone considering using these "eco-friendly" bulbs check into the fact that they have mercury in them. They require (after failure) to be deposited in a hazard material waste dump. But most people are not aware of this. They are VERY dangerous to the environment if just tossed in the local land fills. The mercury WILL get into your local water supply.

Answer 878

Make them live up to their hype. I have purcahsed 10 compact fluorescents and had 3 fail within weeks. That includes a $10 flood. I guess you get the energy savings by sitting in the dark.

Answer 879

Sell them stock in the company. I don't know why, but the ones I tried cost $7-$10 each and did not last a year before putting off a foul odor and fizzling out. I went back to the old kind until the quality improves. With a burnout rate that high, my friends can make themselves rich, buying from themselves.

Answer 880

make a movie starring Will Smith or Johnny Depp, or any big time star (excluding Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz), and have the plot about how these light bulbs are being financed under some terroism plan, and that all the people that have them in their homes will have electrical goods tapped by the Terroists govt, and that eventually all these old light bulbs will set fire to their homes when they start to suspect that terriosts are in their homes. Make this movie the same message that Jaws gave to Swimming, like The Blair witch project gave to camping, and what Psycho did for showers. Make this move as real and scary as possible, that these enemies of the West countries are using light bulbs to destroy our country!!!!

Answer 881

I say legisllate a property tax cut. This would encourage people to use them and it would save them money. It could be as simple as sending the recipts for the lightbulbs in with your tax return... While your at it you might as well legislate a bill that taxes other non enviornmentally friendlly light bulbs for the damage that broken used light bulbs do to the enviornment. Or provide ample recylcing oppertunitites to the customer with bennifits simmilar to tax cuts or even providing eco friendly light bulbs for recycling their old ones. Lots of solutions to one problem, we just ogtta take them one at a time live green or die!!

Answer 882

Small and large employers should invest in one bulb per employee as a "benefit." Make it an event by greeting your employees at the door as they come in for work and handing each person a new bulb to try. Attach a simple message to each bulb showing the cost savings and environmental benefits.

Answer 883

Expose the truth. Of the 28 Cf's we purchased 8 years ago, only 11 of those are still good. The 10 year life advertised on most packages is obviously overstated. However the apples to apples comparison with incandescents for energy savings is real, immediate, and a monthly kilowatt consumption on your electricity bill will be proof to you and yours of the coinage saved.

Answer 884

First off, go over the difference in $....for example: A regular light bulb will last this long...and uses this much energy @ this $ amount on your electric bill. As opposed to the eco-friendly bulb which will last ?this long? and uses this much ?energy? and will cost you this much on your electric bill.

Second, BUY one for a friend or family member, let them try it out and see how it measures up to a new regular bulb. (It WILL last WAY longer) AND it will save them $ on thier electric bill!!!!

Answer 885

I would invite my friends over for a movie night and then sneak in Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" (because they probably wouldn't come over if they knew that’s what would be on). It's an inspiring movie and makes you feel obligated to do something. THEN, I would throw out some information like how florescent bulbs may become mandatory for California residents, they are cheaper, and last longer. Who could resist?

Answer 886

I bought the light bulbs and showed them and talked about them to family and friends. Since then I know of four of those homes that have bought and used these bulbs. Be a good example and spread the word.

Answer 887

Through the use of advertising in magazines or on T.V.

A slogan would be very effective for this. For example,

" A funny solution to a serious problem" accompanied

by a photograph or drawing of the bulb. This could go

a long way in building public or community awareness.

Answer 888

I compare it to the evolution of video game remote controls. Remember Atari? The incandescent bulb is the same design that Thomas Edison invented last century? There is now a more efficient, sophisticated design that not only produces less waste but saves money!!!

Answer 889

I think the hardest obstacle to overcome is getting others to pay the intial cost of the bulbs. I'm in college and my roomates and I would talk about getting them but neither of us would ever come off the cash to purchase them. I ended up purchasing them as an extra gift on top of what I got them for there B-day. They ended up doing the same for me and now our whole place is lit with them.

Some times it takes more than motivating to get stuff done. some one has to act. So go buy your friends a pack today!

Answer 890

To get my family to use energy efficient light bulbs I gave them as stocking stuffers for Christmas. It was a bit odd, but it got them hooked, they didn't have to change bulbs nearly as often. Also if you buy then in bulk at one of the whole sale stores you can find them at an even better price. They are also great for those high, difficult to change over head lights.

Answer 891

I don't know that it is creative, more directly to the checkbook. I know that sounds non-environmental but....hitting home for most people. After replacing all the bulbs in my home with energy efficient bulbs I literally cut my power bill (PG & E) in HALF!!! I paid over $140 in one month for electricity and the following month it was merely $60 with no changes in my lifestyle other than the changing of bulbs.

Answer 892

Lower the prices of them. Educate people on how much longer the eco-friendly light bulbs last as compared to the ordinary ones.

Answer 893

I don't think compact fluorescents are the answer. The light is terrible. Let's skip fluorescents and go to light emitting diodes (LEDs) instead. They throw off a more intense and pleasing light for far less energy than even fluorescents use, and supposedly we are not far from LEDs becoming as common as the lightbulb.

Answer 894

You know what would be cool if you didn't mind a few holes in the wall or ceiling. Have a contest and take a BB gun and shoot out all the noneco-friendly lighting in the house. the loser has to replace the bulbs with the good ones.

Answer 895

Well, I can say that price is the motivator. When you go into the store and see 4 bulbs at $1 and these energy efficient ones at $5 ea. you will tend to spring for the cheaper ones.



I think we should consider offering these bulbs like condoms. . . free to all who want.

Answer 896

Simplified answer. Bring down the cost of these eco-friendly bulbs to that which will compete with incandescent. I can go to about any store and purchase a 4-pack of incandescent bulbs for $0.99, making it at $0.25 per bulb. I had purchased a 6-pack of fluorescent bulbs for $11.00 and change just a couple weeks ago. Broken down cost is about $2.00 per bulb. Very feasible for me, but for others who are trying to feed their families and pinching every penny they have, they are going to go for what costs them the least.

Answer 897

Make them tax deductable. This world would be more eco-friendly if it benefited people's wallets. It cost me over $150.00 to change my entire household's light bulbs and I personally did it for the environment but I've been around enough to know that people are motivated only by what benefits them and in this day and age the only way to do that is to let them know that it's benefiting their taxes but lets get serious, would the government go for that? I don't think so..............

Answer 898

The most effective way is actually the stupidest and simplest way.



First we must see what we are REALLY discussing here. We are talking about how to save our Earth and prolong our time here before we die or Earth dies and kills us all with it.



So how do you do that?



Easy. Stop producing eco unfriendly lightbbulbs. Give them the business of producing only the eco friendly ones.



We people aren't fussy about which light bulb to use. As long as it brings light.

Answer 899

For me, I realised that it may cost a bit extra NOW, but if you read the package, you will see that these bulbs last for YEARS! And, they save you money each and every month on your electricity bill. I am proof of the savings. I am the cheapest person I know, and if I can buy them not only for the environment, but for my reduced electric bill, hopefully other people will understand that this environment we live in is because of US! When will you take a stand?

Answer 900

Use them.



If you expect to have your message listened to, set an example. Replace your 60W incandescents with 13W fluorescents that will outlive your Rottweiler and give the same light output, but NOT IN DIMMER CIRCUITS.



If you replace 10, you have reduced your usage to 130W if they are all on, versus, 600W for incandescents. Use your electric bill to find the cost of 1KWh, and do the math to show the savings in real money. I am sure the producer can generate an "Al-Gore-Rhythm" to calculate savings.



Whatever your ideology, it is foolish not to save money by using fluorescents.

Answer 901

2 parts. If you are really concerned about global warming , then you know that COAL plants are the problem. Lobby for Nuclear power generation. A shoe box will hold the waste of a family of 4 after 40 years using nuclear, coal will produce 400 rail cars of waste. As for creative, bring a compact with you the next time you go over there. They will NOT object to you giving them a FREEBIE to SEE the difference! Nuclear gives US ALL the advantage!





>.......Jimmi

Answer 902

Get your friends together and make a contest. The goal of the contest is to see who can lower their electric bill the most in the course of one month. Mention the lightbulbs as the easiest start. The winner gets treated by the rest of the group to an evening out, or whatever you want the prize to be.

Answer 903

Just go buy the bulbs and change them out. Its not discussion worthy, unless the bulbs are very expensive. No one will make an issue about a light bulb unless there isn't one when they need it.

Answer 904

The left's arrogance in thinking that mankind can influence global atmospherics is emblamatic of the abject failure of our education system to prepare the last couple of generations to cope with reality. They prefer the soundbite "wisdom" gleaned from Al Gore and other such fame seekers.

Use whatever lightbulbs you wish - you are not impacting the environment much less making any change in global "warming".

Answer 905

Forget creativity! If you're are serious about this (and other initiatives to combat global warming) the ONLY solution is to follow Australia's lead and have the federal government ban incandescent bulbs. Anything less will not work.

Answer 906

Don't by them at all. They may save energy but you have to use more of them to get the same amount of light. I know this from personal experience. Plus I don't want to feel like I'm at work or the doctors office when I am in my home.



Please, light bulbs causing global warming, I thought it was SUV's.

Answer 907

Simple!



Switch from the archaic fluorescent tube lights of the past to the sexy colorful led lights of the new millennium.



See the ColorKinetics website for an example of how the face and color of light is changing.

http://www.colorkinetics.com/



I’m not an owner or an employee but I am a proud shareholder because I have seen the light and it comes radiant colors.



LED lighting is cool, sexy and the next logical evolution in energy conservation.

Answer 908

Subsidize the manufacture of fluorescent light bulbs to make them more affordable. Replacing the recessed incandescent lighting in my kitchen and bath with fluorescent cost $56 plus tax, to say nothing of the rest of the house. Maybe we could transfer some tobacco subsidies (bad for us) to eco-friendly lighting subsidies (good for us)!

Answer 909

I considered buying some bulbs and giving them to each house on my short little block (about 12 homes). However, this came about when I actually thought, I wonder how many people properly dispose of these bulbs (like the packaging says) since they have mercury in them. I thought then, perhaps I could collect people's used CFL's and recycle them for everyone, assuming that they have CFL's. Then it clicked well I could provide one CFL in the first place to get people started.

Answer 910

I'm tired of your left wing nut jobs, with your doom and gloom, it has been like this for 40 years, the Earth is doomed and the left wing nuts want all your money to fix it. Hey IDIOTS why are the polar ice caps on Mars melting. (no Suv's there) and why is the antartica getting colder and more ice there. I'm buying the biggest SUV I can find and I use 100 watt standard light bulbs. I'm tired of your fear

Global cooling didn't work in 1975, but this is the new fear. YOU IDIOTS.

Answer 911

Give one or more (a package) as a gift to a friend or family member. For example a Mom or Dad can give one to their kid of any age and offer to install in their bedroom and tell him/her about that special light bulb. A kid can give the same gift to his/her parents asking them to change the light bulbs in the garage, yard, or any place in the house where it could substitute another less efficient light bulb. Have fun doing it !

Answer 912

Make a gift of them. My mother bought me one bulb and I liked it so well I put them in all my light fixtures. They do give off a nice light and if a lamp should tip over it will not burn the lampshade. I know because it happened to me with an incandescent. once I switched my cats tipped the lamp again and no burns. So they are great gifts and will be happily used and catch on

Answer 913

You can scare them into believing that regular light bulbs will give them cancer and that these new "eco-friendly" light bulbs won't. Then a few years later, put out a false report that these new light bulbs will actually improve skin complexion. They will be a huge hit. Then, if you need any more propaganda, just model your behavior after our current government's policies.

Answer 914

Have the companies stop making the old style bulbs.



Let your friends know how much money you saved with the new Eco friendly bulbs.

Answer 915

Creative? Lie to them and tell them that they work just as well as regular bulbs and that they last 4 times as long. In short, repeat the claims of the companies that make them. By the time they realize you were lying and that they fail frequently and in much less time than claimed, they flicker, and are too dim, the earth will be frozen, or melting and bulbs will be the least of their worries (at least that's what Al Gore and his band of merry doomsayers claim).



By the way, I speak from much experience.

Answer 916

Laws about lightbulbs? Please! How is this going to protect our life, liberty or ability to pursue happiness? There are a few wackos who believe that they will have a significant effect on the environment, so they will change to halogen lights if you tell them they're great for the world. Otherwise, maybe you should just let people light their homes in any way they see fit. If the cost effectiveness of halogen bulbs is desirable to them, they will use them. If not, they won't.

Answer 917

Make the eco friendly bulbs work with dimmer switches. Most do not. Also, the color is much different than incandescant bulbs and not very easy on the eyes for reading.

Answer 918

I wouldn't try to convince anyone to use these, just the opposite. I've tried some of these bulbs. Or should I say bought and returned. They don't fit current lamps in the house or outdoor fixtures. If they do fit, they stick up above lamp shades causing brightnes and glare. In fact, I would simply call them a waste of time and money, until lighting fixtures are redisigned to accomadate these forms of lighting.

Answer 919

People usually want to lower energy use and save the environment. However, these light bulbs are still a lot more expensive than traditional bulbs. If the gov. regulate or lower their prices, more people will be motivated to buy them.

Answer 920

Give them Lamps with the light bulbs already installed and a note saying something about an eco-friendly gift.

Answer 921

Kids in the Madison, WI area have been doing double duty... Selling eco-friendly light bulbs to family and friends with proceeds going toward their school. An awesome idea, I think!

Answer 922

Hi,

I think the cost of the eco friendly bulbs is higher than the regular bulbs, if the price drops and equals the price of regular bulb and the government takes away permits to manufacture the regular bulb, the companies will be forced to manufacture ecofriendly bulbs and there we have a solution.

hurrah

Answer 923

Shouldn't it be enough that these eco-friendly bulbs supposedly last a ton longer than most of the other light bulbs out there??? Now it seems to me that everyone wins...the consumers and the environment!!!!

Answer 924

Here are two bulbs, Bulb A and Bulb B, comparible in cost and light output. You only have $500.00 in your budget per year for energy costs.



Bulb A costs $1000.00 a year to operate.

Bulb B costs $ $300.00 a year to operate.



If you had a choice, which bulb would you rather operate?

Answer 925

This year, instead of baking dozens of christmas cookies, I purchased packages of eco-friendly light bulbs and attached a note that said, "If we want to protect the earth for our children, how many people will it take to change a lightbulb? Let's find out together!" I wasn't sure how it would be rec'd, but friends and family LOVED it. I would suggest that, instead of the usual birthday, wedding, or housewarming gift, we share these wonderful lightbulbs. I think people are just waiting to be enlightened! (-:

Answer 926

Aren't they more expensive than normal light bulbs? I wonder how long it will be until people start saying how unfair it is to make people of low income buy these bulbs. Next, taxes will be raised so they can be given out to people that can't afford them. Sounds like a real great idea.

Answer 927

Why have you decided to call these bulbs 'eco-friendly'? Unless the manufacturing process of these bulbs has recently changed they are anything but eco- friendly. They contain Mercury and no information is given by anyone on just how dangerous these bulbs can be. Please, be my guest, check it out, read the labels on these bulbs then search the web for the toxic effects of Mercury.

Answer 928

ecofriendly light bulb is easy to install and replace, no need to call a professionals or handyman to do the replacement and safe to use.

Remember that a single compact bulb last longer compared to incandescent bulb. the burning hours of compact bulb is ten times than the incandescent bulb,so imagine how many times you will replace your bulb compare to compactflourecent light.

Compact fluorescent bulb consumes less power compare to incandescent bulb.a 25 watt compact bulb is equivalent to 75 watt incandescent bulb.

Answer 929

Have the company's that make the lights send free bulbs through the mail. This way people can see how well they work without putting out the money.

Answer 930

The most creative way is to increase the cost and decrease the supply of incandescent bulbs. Most people wont know or care about this issue...so dont make the bulbs so available.

Answer 931

First of all you could start with creating a practicle compact fluorescent bulb. If you enjoy the blinking /strobing effect or the tempermental fragile construction than change from incandescent. I personally recommend the double enveloped halogen for true color resolution.

Answer 932

I actually discourage people from using them. They make you look like a zombie and take all the color out of the room. The light is so unnatural. They have a horrific fluorescent glow and many health hazards associated with them. Yeah, skin cancer and death now for a healthy planet 200,000 years from now. Fluorescent lights have also been linked with bouts of depression and headaches. Woohoo! No thanks. I'll keep my soft comforting bulbs I can buy for 25 cents each.

Answer 933

Back when I lived in Chicago, Commonwealth Edison had this cute little program, where you brought your electric bill into their store and they gave you light bulbs. Imagine what would happen if all the power companies passed out coupons for free CFLs with the bill. If most people are like me, after they get a taste of the savings, they will naturally gravitate to CFLs. But until they get the first taste of the savings, persuading them can be very difficult.



So, until the utilities start sending coupons to their customers, I'll pass out free CFLs to my friends. I'll even offer to put them in for them. Once I get them hooked, I'll ask them to do it for their friends. The cascade is inevitable.

Answer 934

How about instead of worrying about lightbulbs we worry about stopping the war in Iraq. Global Warming is inevitable, 99.7% of global warming in the atmosphere is due to natural causes like ocean vapors, volcanoes, etc. ONLY .5% of the greenhouse gases emitted are from human pollution like smokestacks, cars, etc. Please quit being uneducated consumers. The global warming propaganda behind these bulbs is so big businesses like GE can make more money, on a new product. Global Warming is real, however, it is inevitable. We as humans need to learn to adapt to our future environments, not change our lightbulbs.

Answer 935

Make the bulbs fit all fixtures. I love the idea of using them but the wide bases will not fit in my wall mounted lights. If they had the same profile and size as standard bulbs I WOULD use them all the time.

Answer 936

These bulbs suck!!!!! I switched out all the bulbs in my house with these bulbs and out of 8 of them 4 of them have burned out around 14 to 16 months. That is a far cry from the 5 to 6 years they were said to last. Any way I went back to the cheap ones. They are not worth the extra, extra, extra, extra money!!!!!

Answer 937

The fact that CFL's last significantly longer than incandescent bulbs is a major factor for me as I hate replacing light bulbs. Saving money on electricity and lessening greenhouse emissions are a nice bonus.

Answer 938

Let them know that the new eco-friendly bulbs are not your grandfather's flourescent bulbs. The light from the new bulbs looks very similar to regular bulbs - not harsh. If that's the case, why wouldn't everyone switch?

Answer 939

I have been using eco-friendly light bulbs for years. I’m inspired by the energy savings and the longevity of the bulbs. Financial inspiration is what needs to be emphasized.

Answer 940

Get them to understand the money savings from heath care costs fuel costs and more . I understand it takes more energy to make and to destroy the "Eco" bulbs. Also we must insure that everyone pays and equal price for going green and that those on the top do not get rich at the expense of those on the lower pay scale.

Somehow lets spread the pain and bennifts of going green across everyone.

Answer 941

Show them what the USA did in Iraq and tell them the truth behind Mr. Bush war: (Iraqis did not use the Eco-friendly light bulbs.)

Would like to face such a war by not using the Eco-friendly light bulbs? of course not.

You know it, run to the closest 99 cent store and buy a bunch of them for God's sake. I don't like to see troops in the USA streets.

Answer 942

Charge a lot of money for the regular light bulb and make the eco- friendly ones cheaper

Answer 943

If you own a home with about 25 lights, you can replace them with CLFs and have your return on investment happen within one to two years of purchasing them. I bought mine at E3living.com, they were shipped right away and they were great to deal with. I would definitely recommend them, they have other eco products also, like crank-up dynamo radios, water saving products and LED products.

We've replaced about 80% of our lights with Compact Flourescent Bulbs and have already seen a monthly savings in our energy bill. This is a good way to do something for yourself and good for the ecology of the world.



www.e3living.com

Answer 944

I changed just about all the incandescent lightbulbs to flourescent, except for the security light on the roof for the garage (that is coming next).



My electric bill has been pretty astronomical because of the activities in the house.



Here are the savings:



9W for dining table vs 75W

39W for each bathroom vs 180W (3 bathrooms total) - that was 560 watts whenever all three bathrooms were in use!

13W per bedroom vs 60W (300W total).

13W for living room vs 60

54W for family room vs 240.



If we are going full bore with a party, that is almost 240W total vs over 1200W.



The patio and doorway lamps were always flourescent.

Answer 945

Regular light bulbs put off heat, use more electricity and do not last long.

The new eco bulbs do not put off heat and use less electricity.

If you are cooling your house and the old style bulbs are putting off heat then your ac will have to run longer and harder to stay ahead of the number of light bulbs you have putting off heat. Eco bulbs use less electricity, do not put off heat and last a whole lot longer. Do the math and Thank a teacher!!!

Answer 946

I say lower the prices, I'd love to get those for my house but I have like 13 bulbs in my house and since one costs $8 it's not worth it... I can get a 8 bulbs for $3...



Mike

Answer 947

Self ballasted compact fluorescent lights (CFL) produce the same light while (a) saving 75% of the energy cost and (b) last five times longer. It is a no brainer!



Richard G Lubinski

CEM, CDSM, CSDP, CEMSC, BEP

President

Think Energy Management LLC

Answer 948

Although they do save energy and the environment, these bulbs need to come down in price. The manufacturers should be expected to assist by keeping the price down and maintaining marginal profit as their contribution. The bulbs are still overpriced.

Answer 949

One need not be creative to inspire friends and family to use eco-friendly light bulbs. Just buy some and give them away as gifts. If you're knowledgeable about such lighting, such as compact fluorescent bulbs, then you'll know the proper size and color temperature to buy, thus making it much more likely that your gift will be used. Besides, once they start using the bulbs and realize the difference in their energy bill, they'll likely start buying more.

Answer 950

So until the manufacturers and retailers make it easy to PROPERLY dispose of them in order to keep the mercury out of landfills, seeping into the groundwater, etc, we shouldn't be so quick to adopt them. Mercury is a neurotoxin, so if the bulbs break in your house, it's very dangerous. If your trash gets sent to an incinerator,

Answer 951

the first time i bought these bulbs i got them at costco and almost the full price was rebated. well this was 10 or so years ago i believe that an energy rebate would help encourage more people to purchase them as they are priced much higher then the others which tends to be a huge deterrent to people on a budget.

Answer 952

just letting friends and family know how much moola they'd be saving and how much cleaner the air will be for their children if they bought the bulbs should be enough to encourage them. the only thing everyone needs to know is that the bulbs need to be >recycled< after use, and cannot just be thrown into recycle bins. they must be taken to recycling centers, or the mercury in them will leak into the environment, which just causes more problems. finding one of these centers might be difficult, but it's worth it to save energy and money with the bulbs.

Answer 953

Make it illegal to have regular bulbs in your home.

Oh my, now global warming is all my fault too. Seriously folks, I understand wanting to conserve energy (hint - I have already installed them in all sockets in my home) but why does it always seem to turn out that regulations and blame are placed on individuals rather than corporations? I guess they have better lawyers than the regular guy/gal that works for a living does.

Ben

Answer 954

Home Depot, WalMart, and all the companies that have these light bulbs could offer free packs of these bulbs with every purchase at checkout.



They sell Eco unfriendly products and can balance their carbon footprint with a project like this one.

Answer 955

Make them cheaper than regular light bulbs, so all the people that shop for cheaper items will flock to them. But let people know why its good, and also give them out for a while, and people may start to come around. I might buy some soon.

Answer 956

No problem. Here's your solution from your own news source.

Here was your headline a couple of days ago.



"Bright idea? Australia pulls plug on light bulbs"



"Australia has announced plans to ban traditional light bulbs in a move Prime Minister John Howard called a practical step toward slowing climate change."



http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070220/sc_afp/australiaclimatetechnologywarming_070220075007;_ylt=AoB_JgoQ0V97Bs6TzWk876prAlMA

Answer 957

Just did a workshop with Dr. Chanoff MD who works with children affected by substance abuse while in the womb. He explain that many of these children are hyper sensitive to fluorescent lights, and that they can and do cause behavior problems.

For more info type in his name and this will lead to his website.

I think all too often we go down a path, thinking it is the right one, and then low and behold it may be for many but for out most sensitive it becomes a burden.

Answer 958

Simply allow market forces to work without ridiculous legislation and 'enforcement'. When petrol reaches $6.00/gallon (as in the UK), electricity approaches $3.00/kwh, and the cost of throwing out trash exceeds $200/week, even the most piggish of Americans will conserve as though they all belonged to Greenpeace!



Besides, with their ubiquity, the costs of alternative energies, low-watt flourescents, and recycling will plummet, making even the 'conversion expense' argument disappear.



The problem with current 'environmental legislation' is that it creates a 'gradual approach' to radically needed solutions, and invites tampering by politicians (such as increasing the strategic petrolem reserve to ease gas prices).



Enough!



Let supply/demand do their work! Whether from a strategic POV (reducing OPEC oil revenue - and Al Qaida funding - to nothing) or an environmental POV (eliminating greenhouse gases and myriad numbers of other pollutants), it makes sense.

Answer 959

I suggest that one would set an example of being truly eco friendly by getting rid of the HUGE SUV THAT ONE OWN AND BUYING A SENSIBLE VECHILE.



We can keep pushing eco friendly light bulbs and the like and drive those high energy consuming vechiles if we want to be a hyprocrite!

Answer 960

The power company in the city I live in held a seminar about energy conservation and all customers who attended received a free light bulb. It had a good turn out.

Answer 961

Scientists all agree that global warming is real and for the most part man-made. Nature has been sounding the warning bells and scientists have NOTHING to gain by telling us the truth. Lobbyists for big energy and manufacturing continue to spread skepticism all in the name of the almighty dollar. I am afraid that the skepticism will catch on faster than wisdom and we will face catastrophic consequences that we can not undo. The doomsday clock is ticking whether one believes it or not. If the Eskimos see it, we had better take notice.....

Answer 962

It might be a good idea to tie in to the price of the more efficient bulbs a charitable donation to a well known and received charity-or disaster relief fund in 3rd world areas and have documentation to show how this money is being used.

Answer 963

By example. We use these bulbs in most of the lights in our home. Our experience is that they don't last much longer than incandescent bulbs, by and large. We are replacing them at about the same rate as we did traditional bulbs. They are saving electricity, but not necessarily money in our home. Maybe our experience is not typical.

Answer 964

I have some in my master bath. They are very nice, however they are quite unappealing. Most light bulbs are exposed. So a more decorative bulb is usually chosen.



So basically what I am saying is: make these more appealing/traditional/decorative and people will by them just for the longevity they offer.

Answer 965

Make them look more attractive. There should be more articles emphasizing how it affects the global warming. Employers should encourage employees to switch over. People who already switched over should tell their friends and neighbors the benefits of it.

Finally when we built our new home we installed all Eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 966

The best way to get people to switch is to lower the prices of these type of bulbs. Most people will change if they can save money now and in the long run.

Answer 967

My concern for these eco-friendly light bulbs is when they burn out. They contain mercury and should not be placed in the regular trash. Not many people are aware of this and finding a facility that can properly dispose of them is a huge problem for most of us. In order for me to dispose of a burned out eco-friendly light in the proper manner, I would need to burn about 2 tanks of gas! I don't think I will try to inspire anyone to change to them until more is done to make consumers aware of this problem.

Answer 968

if cuba and venenzuela can replace all of the old type of bulb with the new bulbs for free, why can't we?



stop subsidizing the oil companies and use some of that money to give every household 10 replacement bulbs. i remember when several years ago the water companies were sending people to replace toilets with low flow toilets for free. i'm sure if anyone was really interested they would find the $$$$.

Answer 969

tell people to use them if they want, but don't ever empower the goverment to legislate the use of light bulbs. When enviromentalists use the government to force people to live a certain way it always ends up the same, we all lose freedom of choice. Most, if not all, of the problems in your life are a result of the government legislating your lifestyle in such a way that you not only lose freedom but also end up paying more of you money in either taxes, goverment fees or to businesses that must meet government's regulations. All this does nothing to help the enviroment but it does cost you money and more freedom

Answer 970

For the informed, it is a matter of price and availablity. For the uninformed (or lazy or indifferent), it is a matter of price, availability, benefits, drawbacks of using other kinds, and the positive/negative effects on the environment. Why should you care? Why can you feel good about using them? Why should you feel bad about using something less environmentally friendly? Answer all those questions in a simple, easy to relate to way that answers all those questions at a glance and makes someone think. Hmmmm. Give them one to try, pat them on the back, and thank them for being responsible.

Answer 971

Why not ban conventional light bulbs and force people to buy the eco ones? The government likes to ban other things like Smoking and have seat belt laws. Why not do this with lightbulbs. I replaced all my bulbs with eco bulbs as they burnt out years ago. Seemed painless to me.

Answer 972

I use CF lights in every light in my home. It helps a lot but I would like to change them to LED's which are even more efficient but are expensive at the front end. But to really lower the electric bill, they need to be a part of the big picture. Insulation, better windows and seals around doors, and energy star appliances can realy help. Also, get rid of sliding-glass doors. They are a sieve....

Answer 973

It's not the most creative way, but it's a proven one. Get it in mainstream. Show a character in a movie changing the light bulb and you'll have millions of fans following suit.

Answer 974

Have the makers of the eco-friendly bulbs send free samples of these bulbs to everyone. Once people see that these bulbs actually are as bright as regular incandescent bulbs, they will be convinced that they are the better choice. They last longer and they are cooler. I do use them.

Answer 975

Just let people know that it will save them on the electricity bill. Especially during the summer when the bills are out crazy!!! If you can out all the light bulbs in an average home you could save $15-$50 a month on your electricity bill...I think its worth it!!

Answer 976

Improve the technology of the bulbs so that they are closer to incandescants. I personally hate the lag time between when I flip the switch and when the light turns on. I also like the full spectrum lightbulbs and they do not make CFC full spectrum.

Answer 977

In my opinion, it's like anything else that is Eco-friendly. Whether it be bio-diesel or bamboo flooring. Those that genuinely care will make the change. Those that don't care have to be economically persuaded. You have to be able to sell the product at near or preferably below the cost of the alternative.



Take bio-diesel for example. You can make it in your garage relatively simply for about .70/gallon, but pay .20-.30 more per gallon than regular diesel to buy it at the pump. If you want to save the world, your going to have to make less profit doing it if you want it to catch on.

Answer 978

One way you can make people use them is to make them the same price as standard bulbs! These eco friendly ones are great but they go for as much as 5 dollars or even more per bulb!

Answer 979

People don't really need convincing, they merely need the motivation. So save them the trouble and buy the bulbs yourself and go around asking, "I'm replacing old light bulbs with compact fluorescents. Do you want to put these in right now, and I'll take your old bulbs?" It takes them two minutes, and it saves them money and saves the environment, and you're doing most of the work for them -- who would say no?



Plus you can buy them in bulk for cheap. But if you're really concerned about the money, get them to buy you dinner in exchange.

Answer 980

In LA, when you take your Christmas Tree to be recycled at a DWP site, they give you a tree seedling and an eco-friendly lightbulb. The tree seedling (sorry to say) usually dies, but if you once use one of the bulbs, the number of times you have to change OTHER bulbs while that one keeps burning is very persuasive.



Give the bulbs out, suggest they be put in hard to reach light sockets, and they will be their own argument.

Answer 981

So called eco-friendly bulbs are not the answer. They are not as bright as Incandesence.

THE ANSWER IS: That every new house be equiped with dimmer switches. I have used them for years and and they make total sense.Bulbs last longer and less energy is used. I LOVE THEM. End of Story!!!!!!!!!

Take your money back out of Floresence Bulbs.

Answer 982

Actually I wouldn't because these bults are fluorescent they are damaging to the eye. I am proof that fluorescent lights ruin your eyes the place i worked at had very bad fluorescent lights much more bright than other places of work or stores. Full spectrum lights are actually better for you and eco friendly.



Full spectrum is known to improve mood especially with SAD disorder during winter.

Answer 983

No need to be too creative. Simply have the federal government give a full TAX CREDIT for the purchase price of any flourescent light bulbs purchased, for the good of the country and the planet. It wouldn't even amount to what we spend in one week in Iraq.

Answer 984

I think that the question needs to be directed to the manufacturers...



The curly queue style and bright white light doesn't lend itself to creating a mood. If the manufacturers were to cover the flourscent light with a regular "bulb" shaped cover that softens the light from really bright to a softer color, I would load up on them.

Answer 985

The prices have to be Lower on these types of bulbs.Not everyone can spend 5 dollars and up a pop for a light bulb!!

Also if we do, give us a tax write off for them.

Answer 986

Price them according to the fact that eco-friendly bulbs are going to be the light bulb leader after the others are fazed out; otherwise the others will not be fazed out and the eco-friendlies will not be the leader. I have them in every light socket in my house but most of my friends think they are too expensive. And MOST Americans just are not willing to pay to be eco-friendly.

Answer 987

If Manufacturers lower the price of the eco-friendly light bulbs to a price lower than incandescent bulbs, comsumers will buy more. Price always motivates consumers.

Answer 988

Ive been using these lights in my garage and they put off good light i think even brighter than regular bulbs and they last twice as long. but they are not too attractive if they are in plain veiw. i would use this bulb if they could make it look more appealing as long as there wasnt a heat issue. maybe a snap on cover that you cant see through that will also allow the light through. just my thoughts.

Answer 989

To make people use eco-friendly bulbs make them as bright and cost effecitve as standard bulbs. I have used the eco bulbs and they take longer to turn on and are very dull. To obtain the same level of light you need multiple bulbs (Hmmm might use more power!!). People do not want to be inconvenienced. you might as wll ask them to use candles! Forcing a person to use a substandard product is ridiculous.

Answer 990

Environmentally motivated individuals are still in the minority unfortunately.

People are "inspired by" money. Simply put a 500% tax on incandescent bulbs. When filament bulbs burn out, the choice of replacement will be obvious.

Answer 991

I purchased these bulbs @ WalMart. They burned out in the same amount of time as a regular bulb but cost 8 x more. I suggest giving out free samples of bulbs that work as they are advertised.

Answer 992

I don't know about creative, but redesign the bulbs so they're cool enough to use in enclosed fixtures. Half of my overhead lighting has some sort of glass globe on it, and you're not supposed to use fluorescent bulbs in them. I'd switch all my bulbs if not for that.

Answer 993

It'll take a lot more than eco-friendly to make me switch again. A couple of years ago when they were offering all kinds of rebates on these my wife and I switched over to the eco-friendly. Most of the new bulbs didn't even last a year. Not very friendly to your wallet. I won't recommend them.

Answer 994

I don't know about persuading my friends, but the manufacturers could help by making them to mimic the standard tungsten bulbs. I use eco-friendly light bulbs but not exclusively, since, for example, the lamp shades on my wall lights do not fit them and I have no desire to change.

Answer 995

Secretly switch out one to two light bulbs when you visit your friends or family... Then hope that they are too lazy or don't have any spares to replace the ones you put in. Don't forget to leave a couple eco-friendly light bulbs behind... you might find them put in the next time you visit.

Answer 996

Please, the effects of switching lightbulbs to reduce greenhouse gases is so small that it won't make much of a difference at all.



When you say that it will reduce the gases produced by 2 million cars, what time frame are you referring to? Australia just passed legislation to replace all light bulbs with these eco-friendly bulbs. They state that it will reduce emmissions of 2 million gallons in one year. The problem is, 2 million gallons is less than 0.7% of all greenhouse gases that Australi produced in 2002. And believe me, their greenhouse gas emmissions have increased in the last five years.



This attempt at reducing green house gases is just another scare tactic by environmentalists to curtail so called global warming. I don't believe in it, so I won't be participating.

Answer 997

Stop manufacturing non eco-friendly lightbulbs.



This will obviously hurt the economy in the short-turn, and people will become extremely aggravated at this, but it will have a much better outcome in the future from an environmental point of view.



This same philosophy goes for getting people to switch to hybrid/electric cars, etc.

Answer 998

Send them a free one and once they figure out how much brighter, and more effecient they are they will most likely want to make the switch. Also the electric corp in my area offered a rebate to those customers taht made the switch.



I want you to know that I am speaking from my experience as they are the only bulbs my wife and I use in our house.



Thanks for Listening



Rich J

Answer 999

Raise tax on conventional light bulbs like they did to tabacco. From what I understand some states, at least in california, eco-friendly light bulbs are sometimes given out for free.



environmental friendly or not, consumers know the difference when it comes to their pocket money.

Answer 1000

Make the color of the light that these bulbs emit something palatable to the eyes—the horrible bluish florescent color that comes from these bulbs is awful and completely distort what things look like. If they make regular bulbs illegal—I’m stocking up before they are not available.

Answer 1001

These florescent bulbs contain mercury. Without convenient means to dispose of them people will throw them away. This will increase the amount of this poison in our ground water. Until this problem is solved we should take all the compact bulbs off the market.

Answer 1002

No need to be creative...the utility company is doing a fine job. Show how much you save using the eco-friendly light bulbs, if that does not impress them...nothing will, that is until sexier eco friendly bulbs invented.

Answer 1003

Unless those curled fluorescent lights have improved greatly, I wouldn't be bothered with them. From a technical standpoint, they really are not all that beneficial to begin with. The coating in them is anything but environment friendly. They tend to produce electromagnetic interference, they do cost more, and tend to be quite fragile. The good ol' incandescent lamp will do just fine for me.

Answer 1004

While we're talking eco friendly bulbs - how about LED technology - Compact Fluorescent is a start, but we should be moving to LED if we REALLY want to save energy.



Here is a link to one company - I am sure there are many more

Answer 1005

$$$$ sign !

I work for a power plant so belive me, I do know about electricity .

Incandescent bulb has a life span of about 1000 hrs ( the more you switch it on and off the lesser the life span) Fluorescent bulb lasts about 10 times that.

We've switched to outdoor fluorescent lights in 1995 (when NOBODY was thinking about "global warming" ) Effect was simple: those bulbs lasted about 4 years ( continuos use) gave us 75Watts worth of light with 18 Watts power consumption and instead changing bulbs once every two weeks, we changed them once every 4 months ( Yes, they do go out)

At the plant we have about 1000 fixtures..do your math. !

Slightly negative side: fluorescent bulbs contain a trace of mercury and need not to be dumped in the landfill !!!

Proper disposal is recommended so teh mercury does not end up in our creeks and drinking water.

Keep Austin (TX) Wierd !!!

Answer 1006

I think with the price of 5 eco-bulbs for only $1.99, people will swtich to it more and more. This price is cheaper than the regular bulb. Even people who do not care about the environment will see the advantages of using eco-bulb. One more thing we can do is make these bulbs available everywhere. People see them at their convenient locations and they will buy them.

Answer 1007

These bulbs are not perfect. You have to convince me that they will not end up being a different kind of problem. NPR aired a segment stating that these bulbs have mercury in them and that we cannot through them in the waste. They need to be recycled appropriately, yet none of the retailers or recyclers are taking them. There is more work to be done here.

Answer 1008

Threaten beatings. If all this positive encouragement of cost savings carrots doesn't get them to change, use the stick! A good smack with a broom handle will certainly get their attention the first time. If they don't switch out of pain avoidance, give em another smack in the melon. If enough of us do this, global warming will be a thing of the past.

Answer 1009

Place those curly tubes inside a more conventional looking frosted glass bulb. Make them indistinguishable from the bulbs we've all had all of our lives. I was just in a neighbor's house a couple of hours ago and noticed that they had these bulbs in a ceiling fan. I have them in table lamps, (behind shades) but they look... wrong in a ceiling fan. Give us a way to pitch in without revealing us as closet tree huggers. :-)

Answer 1010

Do not buy them! It's a rip-off! We bought packs of these bulbs and installed them all round the house. And only have to replace them all after 7 weeks (7 years? must be 7 dog years). Anyone knows the website where we can get our money back?

Answer 1011

Energy Efficient bulbs need to be priced cheaper! I know that they save money in utility bill savings over time, but the up-front cost is prohibitive to many people. Energy utilities and/or regional governments should help offset the cost of the bulbs or offer statewide rebates; then who wouldn't buy them?

Answer 1012

1) Ensure us that it won't strain our eyes the way flourescent tubes at the office do.

2) Give it the slight orange/yellow hue so that we don't look pale in the light.

2a) Give it a subtle color coating to give off any other color than that ghastly white (preferably colors toward the warmer spectrum)

3) Make the spiral/tube take up the same volume as that used by the incandescent bulb.

Answer 1013

We must educate ourselves about sustainability then use what we have learned to educate others. For what person, educated about the consequences, could spend even one more day knowing that by living unsustainably they are contributing to the certain destruction of our planet and with it our way of life.



For change; to make a difference, one must learn how to listen first. That itself is a whole different issue.



This is certainly one of the many steps to take into perhaps change. Go light bulbs! =)

Answer 1014

Deliver 1 bulb per residence in targeted areas along with some coupons so consumers can save a little on there first purchase.

Answer 1015

Motivating takes too long. Just prohibit the sales of old ones overnight, and host a "bring an old light bulb to the store and get 25 cents towards new one" event

Answer 1016

I would tell them "use eco-friendly bulbs for a brighter future! I would also let them know that using them would put more green in there pockets! I use them on a daily bases and rarely change bulbs! with the old ones I was always changing them!

Answer 1017

I changed all the light bulbs in my house to eco friendly light bulbs, I gave some light bulbs to friends and so far they have kept using them and they themselves have gave some light bulbs away. I also sold my car and I walk to work or take the bus.

Answer 1018

I they cost the same as conventional bulbs (that goes for everything else eco related) and manufacturers, reailers, etc. did not try and stick it to the customer on ever environmental saver devise that comes out, people would be more apt to buy them. Fuel efficient cars included! Many people see these items as nothing more than just another marketing gimic to make more money.

Answer 1019

I think you have to overcome the biggest objection - that the color of the light is unpleasant. Why are these so white? Can't they give off more of a yellow light? Can the glass be tinted or the gas changed to make these desirable? I know 2 people who switched to the spiral bulb WHO ARE NOW SWITCHING BACK because the quality of light is aggrevating to them. You had 2 converts - and you lost them.



When I try to inspire my friends/family to switch to these bulbs, they say they don't like the light they give off. Give me something to say to overcome that objection.

Answer 1020

It is an unfortunate fact that human beings are creatures of self interest and convenience. Therefore, in order to affect change to something as simple as the type of lightbulbs we buy there must be incentive to change- or penalization for those who refuse to change. In the case of lightbulbs, the best means to affect change would be to make it not worth it for an individual to buy the regular old energy draining kind, either through a tax on the old kind or a subsidy on the new kind. Same thought applies to promoting eco-friendly cars. All the public information campaigns aren't going to change the sales of SUV until it is economically impractical to do so. Look to the UK's success in more efficient cars because of high fuel costs or London's Congestion Zone tax to promote public transportation as examples.



However, going back to eco-friendly lightbulbs...technological advancements improving the quality of light emitted would surely help. So get on that you engineers!

Answer 1021

I have kept track of my electric bill for several years now. Since I have changed most of my most commonly used light bulbs to ecofriendly light bulbs my electric bill has dropped significantly. All I do is show them the results. Then I tell them that the $15.00 That I save each month pays for the beer that we are drinking.

Answer 1022

Sometimes words are not enough. People react more vigorously to the concrete, obvious things they can see with their own eyes not just speculations. This brings us to the importance of literacy about the subject. It is very important that you approach the subject according to the audience background and understanding. In my culture, I realized that people around me respond to such warnings when it is expressed in relationship to people they care about like family and friends. The topic, “this might happen to your child or grandchild..” has proved to have better impact. People think life is short and I am not going to be here forever. so, we should not make the steps towards an amendment or saving the world too complicated.

Answer 1023

The govt can give us a tax credit on the purchase of these bulbs. Make them tax deductible...



Other than govt:

Have an ad agency (funded by the gov't =) ) create a sexy, success, high adrenaline add (like they do for cigarettes and beer) to make it cool to change and un-cool to not change. Create a catch phrase that people will use (from the ad) and utilize peer pressure (guilt) from this ad and subsequent ads to reinforce the point.

Answer 1024

Lower the price below other types of bulbs - The capital markets will always prevail. Incentives or tax breaks are a way to accomplish the same thing but harder for the consumer, just price them lower and people will choose them naturally.

Answer 1025

Where I live several hardware stores offered these bulbs for huge discounts. Our Utility company offered rebates to the stores to get people to buy. I bought several sets of bulbs and will continue to use them because they have saved me money on my light bills... and the bonus was that they outlast regular bulbs by several hundred hours. This was how our community was enticed to buy the bulbs. Good Luck, bill in Iowa

Answer 1026

well you got to look at the long term rather the the short term in buying cheaper instead of better. these eco-friendly light bulbs are more expensive then the regulars but look how long they last and how much money you save in replacing and you electric bill. the whole matter of it is that its a morel issue because do you want you kids and grandchildren to live i world that that is dirty, disgusting ,and smog everywhere or do you want then to live in a nice fresh environment in and out doors.

Answer 1027

Answers to questions are not usually as black and white as they appear at first glance, and that includes this one.



Some of us have medical conditions/disabilities that preclude our being under fluorescent (aka "eco-friendly") lighting for long periods of time. Effects of being under this type of lighting include nausea, migraines, dizziness, and other symptoms. We CAN'T use fluorescent lighting in our homes for this reason.



What's the best way to encourage those who can use it to do so, and to keep from criminalizing those of us who are unable to and need to keep using bulbs that don't make us sick?



My answer: Encourage and educate, do NOT legislate.

Answer 1028

There's many ideas to sell eco-friendly light bulbs such as giving them as gifts yes that's a good idea but you want the package to look good and to attract attention...When you take a business class you are tought to understand the meaning about selling a good product...so as i said many ideas...you could put it in a bright package catch attention...do commericals...but what gets a humans attention is another human telling him or her that it's a good product...tell me when someone you know walks up to you and say hey i just bought eco-friendly light bulbs what do you think...I want to hear more or ahhh boring...but if you walk up and say hey i just brought a new type of light bulb it's very energy efficant...tell them an interesting fact...idk about you but i've been hearing it'll cut your energy bill in half...but that's just what i've been hearing...see you're already interested...You want to know more...curiosity...plain and simple!

Answer 1029

word of mouth and seeing is believing i think once people start seeing these bulbs used around everyday business there more prone to buy and use them i myself have used these bulbs and i must say that as a home owner it was the smartest investment i have made i imediatly saw a difference in my bills have had them for two years now and have not had to change one best of all wont have to worry for years and that it helpsthe environment is a plus, and thats all i have to say about that

Answer 1030

More people would start using these light bulbs if they were a little cheaper. I have some through out the house. They work great.

Answer 1031

One way that might encourage some is that some cfl's produce full spectrum light, which some believe can be beneficial for people with seasonal affective disorder. This might encourage some who aren't as motivated by energy concerns. Not all cfl's are full spectrum, my understanding is they need to have a color rating of between 4500K and 6500K. This light can also be beneficial to house plants.

Answer 1032

At a school near my house, sudents are selling light bulbs as a fundraiser. I think this is a fantastic way to get people to buy them. Not only do kids go home and tell their parents all that they've learned about them, but they also go into the community and share the info. This gets them noticed, and there's added incentive to buy; education.

Answer 1033

The State of California gives residents vouchers to help offset the cost of the lightbulbs. I can get a voucher for every bulb in my house. While this may not be the most original idea, it is certainly effective.

Answer 1034

Do nothing. Don't use the lightbulbs until our law makers require the retailers of the bulbs to establish a recycling program and accept them for return. These lightbulbs contain mercury and when broken contaminate the environment. Mercury poisoning is bad.

Answer 1035

President Chavez gave out millions of these friendly light bulbs out to the citizens. Thats a good way to start. Unfortunately, the U.S government will never do such a kind act for its own citizens.

Answer 1036

The governing body should impose a law that all retailers should display the light bulb unit cost and average energy use cost per light bulb.

Answer 1037

One interesting factor, as an engineer in concept dot one,

there are so few legal payloads. With a 31 billion dollar principle

I had to build my own stadiums, housing services, airlines,

trains, and lighting and electric at the volume of open trade. In

this case at the millenium it happened to be for 1 billion customers. Imagine if there was such a property. So we always

reach into our own posterity. Traditional value, clients, members, citizens, christians, faithful all have the same master

http://www.christian.com

the great and generous creator, who told us.

Answer 1038

The lower energy costs and the lower heat emissions sold me. When you couple that with the fact that you're helping the environment in even a small way, the facts speak for themselves.



I think a lot of people will be sold by the bottom line (lower power bills).

Answer 1039

Rather than encouraging others to switch the governments should simply set a time-line by which all incandescent light bulb sales will be banned.

Answer 1040

I agree with old guy 124, give them a pack as a gift, there getting cheaper and cheaper. I would have never bought them untill my room mate bought a pack to replace some of our burned out bulbs. I just finished replacing all but one of the bulbs in the house with them the other day. They may be a little more upfront but if anything they deffintally last alot longer.

Answer 1041

Design an 'eco-friendly bulb that actually fits in a 'normal' fixture. In my experience, they are always physically larger than standard bulbs. There is no way I will buy new light fixtures just because the bulb is bigger.

Answer 1042

by doing it yourself.

can we depend on the leaders to set the example?

.....no...........

you have to take the first step.

maybe, you might have to set up a club with your friends and family, who converts the most light bulbs to energy efficient sources, in your house.

or, maybe the energy producing companies could buy and distribute these bulbs at a very good price as some do with energy efficient refrigirators and other appli.

there are many ways to do this.

one very good example:

a lady converted aprox. 1/2 of her house to energy efficient lights. next month her light bill dropped 1/2. so basicly, in about 3 months, the savings she had on her bill, payed for her investment. not a bad r.o.i.

is it expensive at the begining, yes.

..take the first step, buy 1 and install it...

it pays for itself in a very short time period.

the most important point is:

..take the first step to save energy and prevent global warming....



hope it helps.

Answer 1043

Give them free lightbulbs for the entire home and an explanation of how much energy they save. Include information on the effects of the planet vs. the traditional bulbs. Keep it simple!

Answer 1044

I have given some away to friends that are skeptical and told them to just try them, I have yet to get one back and most have bought more of them afterwards. I also bought and changed over all the bulbs in my parents and grandparents house and now they love them as well. Big drop on all of our bills. Every bulb in my house is either CFL or LED, even the vanity lights in the bathroom are CFL Globes.



The best idea is give them as gifts. I give away at least one 8 pack of 13W (60W equivalent) CFL's per month as gifts or for donations ($10 per pack). Last year i gave a pack to each of my neighbors as Christmas gifts. I donated ten packs of CFL's to our church to give away to the elderly last month (charitable tax write-off). They all love them as they are cheaper to use and no one has had to change one yet.



I was even able to convince my mom to give them away as house warming gifts to her customers (she is a realtor) and so far every one of her customers have been thankful. (it costs her $10 for 8 bulbs from Sam's Club, cheap gift!) She was even in the local news paper for giving them away, great publicity.



There are many things you can do to help spread the word and get people convinced that new technology is not always a bad thing. Give it a shot, you'll be surprised.

Answer 1045

Replacing one incandescent bulb with a mini fluorescent bulb saves 500 lbs. of coal at the power plant. Isn't that reason enough?

Answer 1046

Simple..show them the cost savings and the amount of heat that is discharged from a conveintional light bulb. Here in Texas, every amount of extra heat in the summer means higher energy bills too.

Answer 1047

Same amount of light (luminens) for less amps (watts). They last a lot longer and since it is a gas it is not affected by vibrations.

I use them in my outside lights, both flood and compact and they last so long ya freak out when it finally dies. The only thing better would be Mercury Vapor and Sodium, but they are very expensive.

Answer 1048

First, make them more cost effective and then make the shape more desirable to use.



I don't like the price and I have quite a few chandelers and the bulbs do not look asthetic hanging out the end of the fixtures. They also do not fit the smaller glass covers.

Answer 1049

More importantly: you must relay the dangers of the mercury and other hazzardous materials contained in the bulbs. Without proper disposal (usually recycled at local solid waste facilities) the environmental benefits of the conserved evergy would be eclipsed by the environmental damages.

Answer 1050

Don't bother....first of all there is no way that one of these bulbs will throw as much light as an incandescent. Do the research yourself. Also, consider the energy you'll use to drive your burned out bulbs to a recycling center which you'll need to do because they contain mercury.

Answer 1051

Here's an idea.......



MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE DUMB ASSES!



It's easy to think green and eat organic and hug trees when you can afford it. It's cheaper to NOT CARE, eat unhealthy and get sick and die. Unemployment pays waay better than minimum wage and I can't think of a single REAL person with kids to feed who'd waste money on an "eco-friendly bulb" over a cheap 6-pack of GE's from the dollar store. You actually think real people living check-to-check give a damn that their light bulbs may live longer than they will? NO WAY @*#-hole!



Doncha just love America?

Answer 1052

I am doing my best to discourage, not encourage, use of this fraudulent product.



Although these new light bulbs are billed as "eco-friendly" they are really not. If you read the package closely, you will see that they contain mercury, and are supposed to be disposed of as hazardous waste. I highly doubt that most people will go to the extra trouble to do so, and most of these supposedly eco-friendly bulbs will end up adding mercury to our landfills and eventually our water supplies.

Answer 1053

I gave 32 bulbs to someone for a present. I also told them how much my electric bill had dropped. My bill ranges from $74.00 to $174.00 and that is with air conditioning in the summer in Californias central valley.

I actually can't wait until the price of LEDs drop, because they will save even more.

Answer 1054

Buy them each ONE eco-friendly bulb. It is the only way to prove to them how serious you are about it. After they see how much less electricity it uses, and how much longer they will last, they WILL start buying them on their own. It's kind of like a drug dealer who gives a 'taste' of the product for free. They will almost always come back for more!!! It make cost you a bit, but it is the best way to convince them how serious you are about this.



Good Luck!

Answer 1055

Simply take them to the store and show them the 5-year bulbs! I mean, I just can't comprehend anyone not wanting to use them. Sure, they're a little more expensive, but you're gonna save a greater amount of money in the long run by using them... and they last for-almost-ever!

Answer 1056

Buy the light bulbs as 'gifts'. In return,...ask your Friend to track his or her energy savings over the next six months. Out of the savings.... your Friend should reimburse you for your purchase and spend the rest on new light bulbs.

Answer 1057

i have seen your movie and thought it was good but i don't believe in global warming (in the sense that it is caused by us (yet)) but that is another subject however i believe we need to take preemptive measures such as light bulbs and i think the best way to get others in on it is buy a few for them and get any businesses you work at or frequently visit to switch to them to help (tell them the benefits) even write to businesses you don't ever go to and get them to change, write to big franchises(ie McDonald's, Target, etc.) get others going and yourself.

if you have an extra $10,000 buy that windmill that will almost power your own house and can save and even make you money if you sell excess energy to an energy company.

Answer 1058

Inform all of your family and friends about the following website:



www.onebillionbulbs.com



Make it a competition between states and country as to who can change the most light bulbs.

Answer 1059

Make them easier to buy. Like make it clear what size you should get for the same light as a 60-watt, 100-watt, etc. incandescent bulb. I tried but couldn't figure that out and ended up buying a $100 solar-powered walk light.

Answer 1060

Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, making them a hazardous waste product. So until the manufacturers and retailers make it easy to PROPERLY dispose of them in order to keep the mercury out of landfills, seeping into the groundwater, etc, we shouldn't be so quick to adopt them. Mercury is a neurotoxin, so if the bulbs break in your house, it's very dangerous. If your trash gets sent to an incinerator, the harmful mercury gets dispersed into the atmosphere.



READ THE FINE PRINT PEOPLE!

Answer 1061

Simply tell them how much money they will save on their electric bill. I have only CFL bulbs in my home (outside too). They cost a bit more to purchase than convertional bulbs, but they more than pay for themselves in your very first electric bill. There are all kinds of different stores that offer deals on them, and some local government agencies offer incentives to help you buy them. They are very well worth the investment.

Answer 1062

There's no creative way necesary make them affordable and when i say affordable i mean cheap just like the other ones four in a box for $1.99. After that all you would need is one commercial or one add in a sales paper and it'll be a hit in the middle and under class world. Now for the rich you would have to mention that its eco-friendly. You know they always want to help the economy. *so they say*

Answer 1063

I have become a bit of a CFL fanatic within the past six months and my husband and I are always talking up the benefits of using them. We've even given them away as Christmas presents.



My husband is the incoming president of our homeowner's association and I am encouraging him to have a lightbulb exchange for our neighborhood. We're even planning to contact the media and work with other neighborhoods in our immediate area to do the same.

Answer 1064

Easy...



Heavy tax on incandescent bulbs to make them compirable in price to the more energy efficient ones. Then use that tax money to offset a write off for buying energy efficient bulbs.



Essentially, with out interfering with the manufactureing process you have now cured the #1 issue with the CFL's - PRICE!

Answer 1065

Ironically, I just changed out nearly all my household lamps this past weekend.



Before: 11 60W, 3 55W, 1 75W incandescents. Total wattage: 900W



Now: 11 14W, 3 9W CFL and 1 55W incandescent. Total wattage: 236W



So in theory, I've saved 634W in lights. Doesn't seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but I have roommates who ALWAYS leave the lights on.



What's the most creative way? I don't tell them until they are here. Most (including myself) don't like the daylight look of most flourescent bulbs. But these are warm light - more like your typical incandescent temperature. Surprises everyone.

Answer 1066

One of the most effective way have to start from the top. (from manufacturer to retailers) to sell eco-friendly light bulbs at a price like normal bulbs & provide promotions to show how much more efficient it is than normal. Tru that, it can be easily spread tru word of mouth.

Answer 1067

I think that the manufactures need to make these lightbulbs UV safe. They put out UV and before we pass any laws banning the original lightbulb we need to make the eco-friendly light bulbs UV free. There are many individuals that can not be exposed to UV and these bulbs are harmful.

Answer 1068

Ask the Las Vegas casinos to switch their bulbs - if we're really gonna get serious about conservation, let's see the most wasteful & unnecessary light bulb users set an example.

Answer 1069

Give them the light bulbs as a gift and hope that they like them so much they go out an purchace them the next time they need to buy light bulbs.

Answer 1070

Offer lightly tinted (light yellow) flourescent bulbs. We have grown accustomed to the yellow tint of incadescent bulbs and it is a big change to go to a very white light...especially in an old home. Just a thought.

Answer 1071

Practice what you preach. Educate yourself on the benefits of CFL's so you can better educate the people around you. Use CFL's throughout your own house to show friends and family; Then show them the savings on your utility bill. Ultimately mass media and advertising will put the lights out on the antiquated incandescent bulb.

Answer 1072

Make cheaper fluorescent light bulbs. Incandescent is WAY cheaper at this point in time and the cost difference takes years to make up.

Answer 1073

I think if the eco friendly bulbs were as cheap as regular bulbs, they would be much more common. I know that in our house, one of the long lasting bulbs lasted 6 months, and it wasn't worth the money.

Answer 1074

I'm not sure about a creative way, but i can sure pass along to my family and friends the advantages of using these bulbs. I've been using them for years, you got to love not having to change the bulbs for years and they use so much less wattage that you save on your electric bill.

Answer 1075

make them glow yellow like tungsten bulbs (the lights, not the friends and family). "fluorescent" is a dirty word--i recycle, reuse, take the bus, compost, eat organic, don't use detergent, etc, etc, etc, but i simply cannot wrap my head around lighting my home with the white, cold light of fluorescent bulbs. therefore, i think the only answer is to save energy on all the other fronts while allowing ourselves to continue enjoying the warm, fuzzy glow of tungsten.

Answer 1076

I think government officials should phase out the use of regular light bulbs by say 2010. Health Canada is phasing out trans fats by a certain date and most companies have already met that goal. If you make it a law, companies will comply and consumers won't have a choice.

Answer 1077

There should be a nation-wide trade-in campaign - bring in your old incandescent bulbs to a home improvement store for recycling and have them replaced with CFs. Same idea as what I've seen hospitals do with old fashioned mercury thermometers. After that incandescents should simply be phased out of the market, after all, we don't still sell mercury thermometers, do we?

Answer 1078

The first thing we did was to replace all our bulbs. Next we told all our family and friends about the savings we got on our electric bill. They in turn have told their friends. Actually showing them proof of the financial gain has been the best incentive we've found. All our kids have switched.

Answer 1079

I think like others have said, give them information on it. But that doesn't always work greatly. But giving them as gifts, particularly for most used lights, etc, like as housewarming gifts etc. are good ideas.

Also, I don't know about others but I thought it was a really awesome Oprah show which featured topic of ecological friendly light bulbs and ways to go green had some awesome information and lots of wonderful information. More shows like this should be featured to make people more aware of options we can all do.

Answer 1080

We should just explain to people that in addition to saving energy, compact flourescent bulbs have MERCURY in them, which can be a lot of fun!



We can also point out that instead of just throwing them in the garbage when they burn out, like you do with boring, regular bulbs - you're actually supposed to take them to somewhere that handles hazardous waste!

Answer 1081

Have an Economy friendly party. Use all recyclable materials, have recycling bins on site. Not only for trash, but for keeps.

Also, provide Free, low energy light bulbs as party favors.

Answer 1082

Given all the new COAL plants opening around the world the use of a different light bulb is pointless.

Answer 1083

i don't know about the bulbs you are recommending, but the ones that wal-mart is touting seem to be filled with mercury. at least, that's what i read in an article here on yahoo. they are made in asia. what good is that? isn't mercury a nasty poison. i realize it may be a small amount, but , as you mentioned, a little in the wrong direction may not be so good for us or the planet. i think to get people to use something it might be good to sell them a truly good product. mercury? full disclosure and honesty....that might be the way. what's with the wal-mart thing, anyway?

Answer 1084

I don't know how creative it is, but all you have to do to get people to switch to "Eco-friendly" light bulbs is to increase the cost of electricity. This also gets people to turn off light switches and turn off t.v. sets and other electrical devices when they are out of the room. This concept is working for IKEA and their battle against plastic grocery bags. The sales of the Toyota Prius Hy-brid have gone down since the price of gasoline has gone down. Raise the price of gasoline back up; more hybrids. Simple economics.

Answer 1085

It would help if they fit the fixtures that we own. I paid the extra to buy a three way only to get it home and it would in no way fit my lamp. This is not the first time I've had to return the bulbs because they do not fit all fixtures. They need to be designed to fit! In the mean time, I try to be environmentally freindly by living in the dark!

Answer 1086

Make them cheaper and more longer lasting than the original light bulbs. This would even get me to buy these eco-friendly bulb. Even though i dont help the enviorment much.

Answer 1087

Lower the damn price because I'll be damned if I'm 5 dollars for one light bulb its retarded, why not sell them in a 6 pack for like 2 dollars then people will buy them providing that they give enough light.

Answer 1088

Break into their house and install eco-friendly light-bulbs throughout the whole house. It would be a cruel joke since the light that it gives off is horrible. They probably would never talk to me again.

Answer 1089

Most Filipinos are already switch to eco-friendly light bulbs because it is cheaper, various selection of wattage and most of all 30% less on light bills. Switch now to experience new light in life.

Answer 1090

well, you could make regular light bulbs cost a ton, and make the Eco-friendly ones a lot less. People, unless extremely stubborn, would be forced to buy things that are cheaper, and are exactly the same, if not better.

Answer 1091

The only problem with eco friendly bulbs is they make my family sick. My mom has lupus and I have recurring sinus problems. The flourescent bulbs make both of our medical conditions worse. I am waiting for LED bulbs to come down in price.

Answer 1092

To answer this we need to answer this question first:



How many politicians does it take to change a light bulb?



Or maybe this:



How many light bulbs does it take to change a politician?



Or in other words:



Change the politicians first and pick ones that are environmentally responsible. Then with real leadership we can all be inspired to act responsibly.

Answer 1093

For one thing, don't tell people it is "better for the environment!" because to be quite honest, that is NOT why I use them. I actually like a slightly lower electric bill, not having to change them nearly as often AND enjoy being able to buy the "Daylight" bulbs which have a more natural noon-time color temperature.

Answer 1094

Well...just remind them that they will save lot of money at the end of the year. I don't know how much more creative you can be.



Or you can give them a intro gift basket and tell them to try it this way...risk free. You can add a booklet on your gift of eco-friendly light bulbs telling them why you think they should switch.

Answer 1095

How can we convince you to find a more humanitarian effort to support and fund with your excessive expendable income than being the champion of lightbulb technology?



Could you please lend your vast skills, knowledge, and obvious intelligence to a more worthy cause?



You are a tool.

I hope you read this.

And I hope you realize how much of a tool you are and find something better to do than this.

Cause you only chose this cause bvecause it promotes your venture with Al Gore on the energy conservation movie that you guys are trying to shove down our throats.



You want some publicity go lead a revolution in a third world country or something usefull.

Answer 1096

Put together a stylish and fun eco-friendly gift basket for them. Use shredded paper for fill, and include eco-friendly light bulbs and trial sizes of other eco-friendly products like dish soap, body wash and household cleaners. (Organic coffee if they like coffee... they'll thank you for the great taste without the jitters.) A very cool website for personal care products is: http://www.ecos.com/pages/spa/spa.html



Have fun with it and don't make it sound like a lecture - make it feel like an indulgence or special treat. Then ask them to pass on what they enjoyed most to other friends/family/loved ones.

Answer 1097

Not exactly creative, but I would remind them that eco-friendly light bulbs use less energy which means more money at the end of the month.

Answer 1098

Why creative? Just tell them the facts. I have Compact Fluorescent light bulbs everywhere in my home. I almost never need to change them, they save me tons of money on electricity, and they don't throw off a ton of heat, so it is easier to cool my home in the summer. Really, if you aren't using CFLs in your home, you are not too intelligent. BTW I'm a raving conservative.

Answer 1099

I like the idea of giving these bulbs as gifts. Another way might be to throw a "switchout" party. Invite friends and family to bring their old bulbs and exchange them for the eco-friendly ones. Have a few games such as a guessing game about ecology trivia. Be sure to make everyone aware of the long-term benefits, both ecological and financial, of eco-friendly lightbulbs.

Answer 1100

If your friends and family are not yet aware that there is a very big problem with global warming, then let them know! Teach others how global warming effects them. You can explain the differences between the two light bulbs. Eco-friendly light bulbs are the way to go because they last longer and use less energy. By them using less energy, they are releasing less greenhouse gas emissions into the air. Plus, they say by 2010, all incandescent light bulbs will be phased out, so they may want to get used to them now.

Answer 1101

Have access to eco-friendly light bulbs that don't make me feel like my room is being lit with a bug zapper - the light these things give off is awful - way too harsh.

Answer 1102

First, The manufacturers need to make these bulbs more affortable or offer coupons and/or incentives, through shopping resources and utility companies rebates. Further they need to improve them to be more attractive and make the color of light produced warmer. Finally they should advertise in various consumer publications the environmental benefits and energy/money savings.

Answer 1103

Get the companies not to lie about the bulb?

I did switch my whole house to those bulbs, they were suppose to last for years! 90 % were gone in 9 months and trying to do a warranty was a nightmare!

Answer 1104

Just show them your electric bill. We changed out our entire house (2400 sq. feet) with these bulbs. Over then next year our bill dropped an average of over $32.00 a month. That more than paid for the bulbs with a surplus for the year for us.

Most brands of these bulbs last 5 yrs. It's your money or the

power company's money.

Answer 1105

Design a simple aesthetic cover so it looks like a traditional bulb while functioning as an eco bulb. Then advertise as the last 'light bulb' you will ever need. :p

Answer 1106

I will not use those lights. We tried one in our regular evening lamp. It put out much less light and as a result had use another lamp. We went back to regular bulbs from now on.

The saving on the energy is not worth the damage less light will do to my eyes trying to read by it.

Answer 1107

Don't. You will only bother them, and alienate yourself with them further.



France has 58 nuclear power plants. They aren't blowing up or going China Syndrome. The French are proud of them and America should build more



Nuclear power plants account for 80 percent of electrical production in France





Advantages of nuclear power plants against other mainstream energy resources are:

No CO2 gas emissions (during normal operation) - greenhouse gases are emitted only when the Emergency Diesel Generators are tested (the processes of uranium mining and of building and decommissioning power stations produce relatively small amounts)

Does not pollute the air - zero production of dangerous and polluting gases such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, aerosols, mercury, nitrogen oxides, particulates or photochemical smog

Small solid waste generation (during normal operation)

Low fuel costs - because so little fuel is needed

Large fuel reserves - (e.g., in Canada and Australia) again, because so little fuel is needed

Nuclear Batteries - (see SSTAR)

Answer 1108

When my wife and I moved into our new home we replaced all 30 incandescent light bulbs with the newer energy efficient (squiggley) flourscent bulbs; to our surprise the first months electric savings was $30.00. Now I am on a rampage to replace other energy wasters.

Answer 1109

These bulbs are very cheap when u think about how long theyll last and how long it'll be til u have to buy another lightbulb (10 years!!) and easily available that theres no reason not to use them!! I agree that a fundraiser would help promote awareness and get more people to switch..

Answer 1110

Pay it forward - give a bulb to 2 friends to try and ask them in support to give 2 other people each a bulb. Form can be found at www.maniknites.com. 26 tons of CO2 emissions removed so far : )

Answer 1111

Find sources for Flourescent Light Bulbs that are 1) dimable. and 2) warmer than the cool blue that most flourescent bulbs are. I think it is a matter of function.

Answer 1112

Lets just pass down the compounding environment problems to the next generation, global warming won't have a significant impact on humanity during our lifetimes. That way, we can keep up large automobiles & generally wasteful lifestyles.

Answer 1113

First, make them the same cost as a regular light bulb. Second, make them last 7 years like the box said, not 1.5 years like mine did. I'm switching back to incandescent for now.

Answer 1114

Well, I think all of us are used to doing things in a certain way. IT does not mean we don't want to change, it is just in taking the extra step to adapt to something new. One way to inspire your friends, may be to gift them with a few of these bulbs and ask them to try it. Once they have it in front of, I am sure they will try it and when they get used to it, they will go look for it the next time they are at the store.



I have tried other similar things with friends they have worked for me :)

Answer 1115

lower the price , I know the price can be explained by the long life of the bulb. But this is not a way to MAKE people change.

Make the price closer to the price of traditional bulbs and you will sell more.



And the inviroment is the most important factor NOT CEO'S

Answer 1116

Show them your electric bill before and after you switch. I save 30.00 a month by switching to Energy efficient bulbs and frig . The electric company gave me a refund of 50.00 to recycle my frig and 10 for my thermostat for the gas heater,10 for the ceiling fans. My electric bill for a 900 sqt house for 10 days when i first moved in was 75.00. Now it is 30.00 a month. Costco has the best prices for energy efficient bulbs.

Answer 1117

I realize that the fluorescent bulbs are very energy efficient but don't they contain mercury. If that is the case aren't we making a tradeoff between energy efficiency and polluting our environment with more mercury?



If we increase mercury pollution isn't that worse than putting up with an increase in CO2 levels?



Thanks

Answer 1118

Yes, Mr. Bender. How is Quentin?

The best way to convince others to use these miniature neon bulbs would be to make them brighter. I tried them out and they are just too dim. It's a good concept which needs improvement over the candle.

Answer 1119

If you really want them to switch try having a movie party and having them watch "An Inconveniant Truth" It is a real mind and eye opener. It will teach them a lot and hopefully make them switch to eco friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1120

I have them everywhere I can. They cost a lot and only last a few weeks. They are supposed to last five years. They don't last 5 months. The warranty is a lie. I still use them, thinking they will get better. Don't tell me to get a surge suppressor. I have the meter base surge suppressor from the power company that is supposed to take care of the whole house and I have surge suppressors on my computers. I don't think there is a energy gain, because any heat wasted from the bulbs goes to heat the house, so there is no waste. I do have a heat pump which is more efficient than a heat pump but it is insignificant.

Answer 1121

Use them yourself. The bulbs look pretty cool. They also last a long time. I haven't changed a bulb in almost 2 years. Those bulbs are excellent.

Answer 1122

These bulbs are an improvement but remember they have mercury in them. Please make sure to dispose of properly. You can point out that although the do contain mercury, coal fired power plants release mercury, so if you use these you are reducing the amount that is released into the envirnoment as long as you do not dump them into your trash.



Is it true that CFLs contain mercury? Why and how much?

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 5 milligrams (roughly equivalent to the tip of a ball-point pen). Mercury is an essential, irreplaceable element in CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. By comparison, older home thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury and many manual thermostats contain up to 3000 milligrams. It would take between 100 and 600 CFLs to equal those amounts.



There is currently no substitute for mercury in CFLs; however, manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products over the past decade.





Should I be concerned about using CFLs in my home or should I take any special precautions?

CFLs are safe to use in your home. No mercury is released when the bulbs are in use and they pose no danger to you or your family when used properly. However, CFLs are made of glass tubing and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the lamp from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base, and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket by its tubes. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly, learn how to properly dispose.



What do I do with a CFL when it burns out? What is the proper disposal of a CFL bulb?

Follow these guidelines to dispose your CFL properly:

• Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist. To find out what to do first check www.earth911.org (where you can find disposal options by using your zip code) or call 1-877-EARTH911 for local disposal options. Another option is to check directly with your local waste management agency for recycling options and disposal guidelines in your community. Additional information is available at www.lamprecycle.org. Finally, IKEA stores take back used CFLs, and other retailers are currently exploring take back programs.



• If your local waste management agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the CFL in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, you should search a wider geographic area for proper disposal options. Never send a CFL or other mercury containing product to an incinerator.

Answer 1123

got turned on to them because my daughter replaced all her incandescent bulbs..so I have done the same thing. when I started I had one bulb out on my ceiling fan and replaces with the eco and wow the 14 watt eco was brighter than the 60 watt incandescents I also like the idea of giving as gifts, great idea.



I am a political conservative and know a good thing when I see it.

Answer 1124

A lot of people (myself included, sorry) are not that interested in saving the environment. The best way to inspire people to switch is to point out to them how much money they could save on their electric bill. That's why I use what I like to call wallet-friendly bulbs!



The best way to get anyone to do anything is to show them that it affects them in a positive manner that they can see immidiately. Money is usually the best way to do that.

Answer 1125

Giving congeniality that a little a few/little energi will bring very big impact to health of environment and ownself, try to conceive if our world too bold and also too dark surely will hurt our eye, how we earn to work if this dark world as well as expense of medication to cure eye, of course is not cheap, also how many electrics account invoice because us use extravagant bulb of energi. Its moment of us bother about environment and health, love what us have, taking care of what given by God in the form of eye, because eye is World Window , by buying correct bulb is one of the way of us look after health of eye.

Answer 1126

BURN THAT COAL, it makes jobs for lots of people. No really I'm not sure these light bulds do that much, I use them but they do go out WAY before 10 years. Maybe the price of these bulds should go down and then maybe your everyday person will start buying them. They are currenlty about 3-5 times higher than standard bulds so who really wants to push this? If it is the environmentalist maybe they should donate their money to the manufacturer to get the price down.

Answer 1127

The government should help sponsor research, development and distribution of these bulbs. When I lived in Europe 15 years ago (!!), these were the only bulbs in use in most public areas due to their amazing efficiency.

Answer 1128

We replaced all the lightbulbs in our house with higher wattage equivalent eco-friendly bulbs. When our friends saw how much brighter the house was, and found out we actually cut our energy cunsumption by more than 80%, they swithced too.

Answer 1129

Get a celebrity or 2 behind the movement. If they can sell dandruff shampoo and deodorant, they can probably do wonders for getting people to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1130

First make them cost effective. I think that they are on their way to this. In California they are thinking of outlawing incandecent bulbs to help, this is another stupid action by the so called enviro-mental heads to force people to do the right thing. We have both in our home because flouresent bulbs cant be dimmed, so the areas where we mostly dim our lights we have to use incandecents.

Answer 1131

Our family of five changed our household to the eco-friendly bulbs and over a six month period measured our electric bills against last years same months -- 38% savings on total electric bill! Nuff said.

Answer 1132

Well in Australia where I live they are banning old type lightbulbs altogether and you have to use eco-friendly bulbs. I saw it on the news yesterday.

In malls there are often stalls where all you have to show is your ID and they hand you a box of 6 free eco globes and a water saving shower head. All free of charge and if you don't make it to the mall you can often see coupons for the same in the free local newspaper or in your letterbox on a flier.

Our government should give a free 6-pack of eco-friendly lightbulbs to each household as they introduce this legislation and this would effectively educate everyone in the country.

I'm glad I live in Australia as we 'do' things.

Proud Australian.

Answer 1133

What's important to you? Creativity or efficacy?

Every so often, 6-8 packs of ecofriendly lightbulbs go on sale at hardware stores and the like. Since we already use them, and they don't need to be replaced nearly as often as regular ones, we simply take some of that money we've saved and buy a pack for friends and family.



It accomplishes two things-first, since we tell them "we saw these on sale and got them but our bulbs haven't blown in months and we'll never run out at this rate!," we've advertised their benefit, and secondly, by making it a gift, we've taken away the decision whether or not to use them....people use what they have at hand! No one says no to free lightbulbs.



Anyone who switches to a longer lasting eco-friendly bulb notices...and since you've taken the first step for them, they are more willing to keep taking that step-they don't have to make a change.

Answer 1134

Well first off i would ask my friends and family if they have seen "An Inconvenient Truth". If they haven't i would strongly recommend that they do. Once they see that then they would realize how important it is to start doing things to help our enviroment. Education is the key. They may be more expensive but they last alot longer. Everyone should switch to feel better about theirselves by knowing they are helping the environment.

Answer 1135

These bulbs are not the end all be all, If not properly disposed of cause more concern for our environment than the use of incandescent lighting. They contain mercury and that does not degrade, instead it finds it's way into our water making everyone retarded.

Answer 1136

These lightbulbs can save our plant. The government should take over the manufacturing and give them to people. Then we should pass laws and make regular bulbs illegal and put the fines towards projects developing alternative forms of energy.

Answer 1137

What if the war in Iraq is really over oil and by using a better light bulb we save enough oil to make the dispute go away, we can save 30000 lives, what if?

Answer 1138

I. tell them the quality of light of a Eco friendly bulb is lot better than regular bulb and you have reduced the consumption of light as well. Give him/her couple of bulbs to use initially.

Answer 1139

To get anyone's attention, just mention 'saving money' to them. That will encourage them to listen, then to do. Purchasing energy-efficient bulbs will cost more up front, but they will then notice their utility bills being lower.



Since utility bills are one of the larger monthly items due, this should have an impact on their brain when it has an impact on lower monthly bills.

Answer 1140

ACTUALLY we only use 3 lightbulbs in our whole house. we have no overhead lights. the one's there are never used. we never use the light switch. we take advantage of the daylight. we do all our chores and baths during that time. and when dusk comes in i use ONE light in the dining area which gives me light to cook and for eating dinner. after that we watch t.v. and that is enough light. bedtime requires very little light; basically the light from the hallway, which gets turned off when they are in bed. if i want to read and the kids are watching t.v. i have those $10.00 lites that clip on to your book.

the 3rd light is my front porch light which goes off when i go to bed. and all three are eco friend bulbs! i think besides bragging about my conserving energy my life is an example to whoever comes and visits me, has lunch and just hangs out. somewhere in the middle of our visit they will notice i dont have one light on!

Answer 1141

Give them a really nice lamp with the special bulb in it as a wedding/birthday/christmas/whatever gift and then give them a little paper coupon from yourself saying 5 free lightbulbs on me or something. After they see how the bulbs are nicer, they might start replacing other lamps with them.

Answer 1142

It is rather tough to get the populace on-board, especially with out-of-touch administration who just wants to 'stay the course.' But I believe the way forward to get people to change is a mass media blitz starting with the gov't (perhaps the Dem lead congress) to get the message out. Perhaps there could be some forms of incentives built in but doesn't anyone do anything just for the good of our country anymore? ....aside from most of our military members? Eduction, education, education is the answer.

Answer 1143

they need to fix the light bulb they come on to slow and they are very spent you can buy the old style light for 1.00 dollar for 4 and the new style for 5.00 each you cant save that kind of money the also don't give off light for a distance and they relay dint last out side they break or get water inside and burn out

Answer 1144

I put them in all the rooms in the house.I have a wife and Child that want turn lights off.The first month I saved 30 dollars.They cost more but they pay for them self in not to many months.I have to lots of people about the savings but the cost they can't understand.Maybe the cost will come down soon.

Answer 1145

I usually start out with my light bill isn't as high as yours is , but, then I changed over to the goofy looking ones . The ones that look like Spirals . I have had most of my family switch with such a comment . I tell them they are more expensive but in the long run it save money .

Answer 1146

Do like California, and get rid of all incandescent bulbs. My home has no lights but Flourescents and its like daylight all the time they're on. At only 35 watts, Quite an improvement on my budget, as well as my eyes.

Answer 1147

I think it comes down to two things: the almighty dollar and people's concious.



If consumers see that not only will it save them $ in the long run and it helps the enviroment, I think that a good way to market the idea. That would be my motivation to buy the bulbs.

Answer 1148

Fluorescent light bulbs are COOL in temperature....Ask friends and family to touch the fluorescent light bulbs to feel it. Let them know the fluorescent bulbs are much safer for children.

Answer 1149

Easy...Have the government legislate the sale of the "old school" light bulbs illegal. End of story...now everyone has no choice but to use the eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1150

I will not encourage people to use this type of light bulb. We had one these that caught fire on its own. If we hadn't been home at the time we could've been homeless. I believe they are a safety risk which far outways the energy savings

Answer 1151

there is no proof that climate change is the result of humans but this is really a political move soo I guess if u wanna say light bulbs will save the earth go ahead & I will think in terms of ways to stop terrorism to save mankind

Answer 1152

How about driving your Prius instead of your MERCEDES V12 GAS GUZZLER Mr. Lawrence Bender. LB is a TOOL! and a FAKE!!!! He is the biggest green hipocrite. This man is using the Buzz of the green movement. He does not practice green values!!!!!!! Wake Up America do what you think is right. Don't follow Tools like Lawrence Bender. Do your research. Don't listen to Hollywood for your answers.We are smarter than that.

Answer 1153

I think this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of to have a discussion about energy saving light bulbs.

Answer 1154

Tell them that somebody's finally invented something new that actually works better in every way than the old. They're not noisy and flickery like old flourescents, and they screw in just where you used to put Edison's work.

Then be patient.

They've just come out, you know, and people are not as stupid as lawmakers think.

And keep in mind that flourescents are still not perfect. Florescents that work in cold, humid conditions are very expensive. And it may not be long before LEDs or something better replace flourescents; so DO NOT let lawmakers stick their hairy noses into this!

Answer 1155

CFL should be outlawed!!!



Everyone of them contains Mercury. If you dont know by now how bad it is, stop reading.



The amount of mecury in each bulb in small....but a thousand bulbs with its mercury could posion a lake.....no swimming no fishing and no drinking......



Answer.......LED light bulbs.



Much better.....



They give off more light

They us up to 75% less energy than a CFB

They dont get hot....



And no Mercury.....

Answer 1156

By giving them a REDUCED price - 1/2 off when they bring in their old incandescent bulbs. I am not going to change my bulbs and spend $$$ (approximately 800% more) for a lightbulb. I also think this is hogwash - the big problem lies with the emmisions from factories, processing plants, diesel trucks, automobiles, etc. etc. etc. Why is it that the individual is always targeted and made to feel guilty. It is BIG BUSINESS, AUTOMOBILE MAKERS, AND THE GOVERMENT THAT IS TO BLAME FOR THE ******* MESS. SCREW YOU.

Answer 1157

I hope that makes you feel good.....how about nuclear power plant and drilling offshore for oil or Alaska. France has 80% from nuclear (using USA technology) China is drilling just offshore of the USA. Alaska pipeline is loved by the wildlife because it is heated to allow the oil to flow...and you're screwing around with light bulbs. Get off your butt and do something worthwhile like stopping volcanos.

Answer 1158

Me, I persuaded my family to switch on over to Eco-Friendly light bulbs, specifically fluorescent ones through some creative slides.

Answer 1159

Make them watch An Inconvenient Truth.



You can also charge them when they don't use an eco-friendly light bulb. It's the same concept as the swear jar.

Answer 1160

I might start by installing some more eco-friendly light bulbs there where I personally shall use light, and so I might have some entertainment, or do some work, together with my friends and family there where I have put such more eco-friendly light bulbs into use, and so tell people about this innovation.



Another possibility would be to give my friends and family some eco-friendly light bulbs as ... birth-day or christmas or anniversary presents... and so inviting them to try such eco-friendly light bulbs soon in order to see if they like their light and so tell me what they think about this eco-innovation.

Answer 1161

Dont use these bulbs. They contain mercury, they do not supply sufficent light. You cant just throw them away, There have to be disposed of properly. THEY PUT MERCURY IN THESE BULBS. I dont know about you but I dont want my kids exposed to this product that could poison them. I would not expect anything more from someone associated with Al Gore.

Answer 1162

Light bulb trades! On my college campus, there is a light bulb trade once a semester where students may bring in their non-eco-friendly bulbs and trade it for a new, energy efficient bulb. Then they can see the difference for themselves!

Answer 1163

Get your church/synagogue/temple officials to change. We have over 150 light bulbs in our church. We did a drive to have people donate. The savings to the church amount to quite a bit over the course of a year and they are brighter for everyone. The church staff have less ladders to climb to change bulbs due to the longevity and again the electricity savings are significant. Others ask questions about them and get them for their homes once they know the benefits and see them in practice.

Answer 1164

Just gently explain to them that under the Homeland Security Bill - passed by our Republican friends - that non-use of eco friendly lighting is a terrorist act that is punishable by one's being placed onto the next round of National Guardsmen being sent to Iraq

order to be bombed and mutiliated.

Should do the trick on most cases.

Answer 1165

Don't tell them about the poisonous Mercury that are in the eco-friendly bulbs. Don't tell them that if the bulb breaks, a nearby child can breath in the Mercury and get poisoned. Don't tell them that if the bulb breaks, you cannot dispose of it in a regular garbage, or it might poison landfills or where ever your garbage is taken to.

Answer 1166

I use this type of light when ever I can as it puts out alot of light verses the power spent.

My only complaint is that there is a "lag" between the switch movement and power reaching the bulb.

Answer 1167

What has you thinking that these bulbs are so eco friendly? They are hazardous waste as they are processed with mercury a heavy metal. Yes they use less power but are they cost effective? They cost more ,are produced with hazardous matterial, and from my experiance a fair amount burn out way too prematurially.

Answer 1168

working for lowe's in the electrical dept., I have done alot of research. the average household spends approx. $1800 per year on electricity. if you switch out all lightbulbs in your home to the compact florescent bulbs, you can save approx. 30%, or approx. $600 a year. you save about 75% on compacts vs. standard incandescents. florescent wattage of 23 watts is comparable to 100 watt incandescent (standard bulb). 75% wattage savings. PER LIGHT BULB! what more do you need to know

Answer 1169

Have the government mandate that eco-friendly light bulbs are the only type of light bulbs available to purchase.

Answer 1170

Have A buy one get one free sales, get them started.

Note: the saving of New Bulbs compare to old ones, in special ads in Paper, emails, mail, at grocery stores.Give away light fixtures for buying 5 to 6 packs. Get light fixture.

Answer 1171

The manufacturers need to make the light look more pleasant and natural. They have a dull, shadowy fluorescent cast that is very depressing and until they improve the light, I wouldn't consider using them. Watch Tom Hank's "Joe VS. The Volcano". Who wants to live with that?

Answer 1172

well ive not gone to college,so i can only rely on common sense

but,if the government is so worried about it, which its seems like they are,tell the manufacturers to stop making non freindly products, and wow the hole country will have to stop using non friendly bulbs,problem solved.i mean realy these dingalings have a difficult time still figuring out that a red light means stop,and how to deal with yield and merge coming down a get on ramp.

i know this would mean alot of changes in manufacturing plants but..................

Answer 1173

I personally love the new light bulbs, but my wife doesnt like the "hospital" lighting effect. If they came out with a "warmer" feeling bulb, I bet people might take more interest.

Answer 1174

Give them away for free. Duh... or Give them away as gifts...or ask the light bulb joke...how many friends or family does it take to screw in a Eco-light bulb ? answer just one, that wants to help the environment. By the way I have a question. What is the means of disposal on this type of bulb ? Doesn't it have mercury as a by product ?

Answer 1175

if the eco-friendly light bulbs are cheaper, then people will use them. If theyre not people won't. the majority of people will always care first about their own wallet in the short term rather then anything else in the long term. Since you can't change that mindset you have to work off of it.

Answer 1176

I think this is all a scam. The new incandescent bulbs may save energy however they contain mercury and there is currently no safe disposal of mercury. I would rather the next generation be somewhat hotter rather than retarded!!!!!!11

Answer 1177

It's almost impossible to find "eco-friendly" bulbs that permit dimming. Since almost all modern ceiling fixtures have dimming built-in, this is a problem.



They are also too expensive. I'd suggest to my friends and family to use less gasoline, and not worry about light bulbs.

Answer 1178

well most people are deterred by the high price but as i always tell the people who ask for my help in the light bulb aisle the price is higher but over the 5-8 year life span of these bulbs they pay for there selves in the first month plus i tell them they use half the wattage

Answer 1179

British Gas are giving them away again, so get your two free bulbs before you change to a cheaper supplier (UK only) and save more money " and save the World".

Another source of free eco friendly bulbs is to fill in one of those energy conservation surveys ( google to find them).

Answer 1180

Draw green trees on all their lightbulbs with markers. The green glow from their lamps will constantly remind them to get eco-bulbs the next time.

Heh, and if you're lucky, it will also smell when it gets heated... double incentive. :P



Hmm... trying to think of something that might actually work in a practical way... can't think of any really... write a (bad) poem about how great eco-friendly light bulbs are and recite it to them over and over again until they finally decide to buy some. :D

Answer 1181

The eco-friendly light bulb stinks. It provides a bright light, yes, but the light reminds me of an old enemy of mine, the flourescent light. With the hum and all. I'm all for saving the world, but losing the ambiance in my home, no.

Answer 1182

well first id like to say i use them and have been for years i use almost everything i can energy efficient and i think the best way is to show them a pamphlet that shows them how much you save compare to using things not energy efficiency like the light bulbs , DVD players ,radio's, refrigerators etc. it work for me its the reason i switched years ago and have convinced all the tenants in my building to do the same and we save so much money as well a the earth . a lot of company's have the energy star logo your utility co. has the pamphlets you can call and they will send you one

Answer 1183

Describe your experience,



I bought my first eco-friendly light bulb in 2001 for my kitchen sink lighting which is left on all nite. I didn't have to replace it until sometime in summer 2004.

Tell friends and family to use them in the light fixtures they use the most, front porch, bathrooms, and other outside security lighting. Hard to reach light fixtures is also highly recommended.

Answer 1184

Two things: Money and health.

If they are better for our pocket book we will use them. They last longer and they use less energy. Does this offset the higher cost?

I have heard that floresent lights are not good for your eyes when reading. Is this true? Some facts on this would go a long way to sell people one CLF bulds

Answer 1185

I use them throughout my house,,, but I have to figure out what to do with them when they burn out.... Most people dont realize that these bulbs contain mercury and cant be just thrown away. At work we have to treat these things like Hazardous Materials for disposal. My entire family switched over after seeing my light bill.... but now we are all scratching our heads on what do do when 6000 hours comes up and I have 30 of these things to dispose of...

Answer 1186

phase one: i live by example. i have been replacing all my bulbs in my home and office. phase two: i bring them up in conversation and rave about about the savings in my electrical bill from all my eco-friendly gadgets and activities. phase three: then i give eco-friendly bulbs to people as a gift. people tend to be creatures of habit and i find once they have one they are much more likely to get other ones. it's all still a work in progress but i am excited about the process and the outcome!!

Answer 1187

Number one-you will have to lower the price of the light bulbs.

Two-advertise more.

Three-advertise money savings over normal light bulbs using more than one light bulb savings chart in year time period. Generaly household uses more than one light bulb per room. I counted 16 light bulbs in my appartment times 15-20W each comes up to 240-320W comparing to 40-60W equals to 640-960W. Means I can keep my light on two to three times longer.

Four-tell them about environment effect.

Hope it helps.

Answer 1188

I use these light bulbs in my home. They cost more to purchase but they definitely last longer than the regular bulb. By using these light bulbs you save money because you don't have to buy light bulbs as often. So not only do they save our environment, they save YOU money!

Answer 1189

Market the bulbs through a great marketing company like ESCAPE INTERNATIONAL. Or as an incandescent trade in/upgrade offer through A Leader in Network Marketing.

Answer 1190

If the company of tha light-bulbs gave them away for free or added them to other products for example, "buy a lamp get a free eco-friendly light-bulb:"

Answer 1191

I bought those eco-friendly light bulbs and they are terrible. The reason nobody uses them because they are not bright at all. Also, light bulbs are not going to ruin the world so relax everyone.

Answer 1192

In December, with all of our Christmas lights up and running, we decided to switch out our interior lights to the eco- friendly light bulbs. Our energy bill in December it was 148.00. In January our bill was 110.00 and in February our bill was 98.00. The lights cost a little more but in the end it is completely worth it. I love seeing our bill go down each month.

Answer 1193

Show them your electric bill after switching to eco friendly bulbs through out your house. My utility bill dropped 35 percent by switching every bulb in the house to eco friendly bulbs. Im sure they will switch then!

Answer 1194

If you contact your service provider(power company) many have programs where someone will come out and do a energy audit on your home. I worked for the Energy Trust of Oregon and we installed free CFL's in homes. There is almost always the same type of programs in most state, I know for sure in CA, NY, AZ,TX and many more just call and ask for a energy audit and it is free with free CFL's in some areas.

Answer 1195

Make a movie starring Al Gore and show him inventing the eco-friendly light bulb after he invents the internet.

Answer 1196

Quit with the BS about how long they last. I tried one in a reading lamp and found it not bright enough, and was happy when it burned out in just a few months. I can buy 20 real light bulbs for the price of one of those, and real light bulbs do not release toxins when they are broken which those allegedly longer life ones do.

Answer 1197

What exactly is "eco-friendly"? Regular incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy, but are harmless when thrown away. Compact fluorescent bulbs use less energy, last a lot longer, but don't they contain mercury?

Answer 1198

I agree that the best example serves as proof. I would invite the "skeptic" to my house/apartment during the evening, and I will make sure that every light is on in my house. Once he/she sees how bright everything is, that might serve as a lead-in to a conversation. I would make sure that the light in my dining room is also on--as this holds 6 lamps...that's 6 more eco lamps!!!



Have on hand great copies of your electric bill before AND after. Don't forget the chocolates (preferably shaped as light bulbs) and 7 eco lamps to give them.



Work on being a positive force to impact their change. I don't know if eco lamps give off "happier" light; as I am never depressed when my eco lamps are on, but I'm not in "bright" spirits when I go to incandescent lamps at my friends' homes.



Good luck on your search for the best "bright" idea!!!

Answer 1199

Convincing them with facts on the benefits to be obtained, as well as goodwill to the environment for at least to show our children that we tried to do good in our endeavour to modernisation. Savings to be obtained financially in one househod, + sharing of the extra by cost cutting. In all there should be no other available choices of lightbulbs on the market itself so everyone will have to buy and switch to the eco-friendly ones. Knowledge/information is important for this venture.

Answer 1200

The facts ought to help:



The eco-friendly light bulbs:

1) Run much cooler than regular bulbs

a)better for AC bills - they help pay for themselves

b)better to reduce the chances of fire

2) Last longer than regular bulbs

a)they help pay for themselves

b)less hassle changing bulbs

3) Generate a lot more light per $ than regular bulbs

b)they help pay for themselves

Answer 1201

Show up at their house with a bag of energy efficient bulbs hidden in your back pack, a couple of bottles of tequila, and do shots. when your friend passes out, replace all their light bulbs.

This has the added advantage of them not remembering how the heck they got all the bulbs, plus you can convince them that they got 'all environmental' while sloshed.

Answer 1202

I actually switched yesterday. I also called my mother to tell her that the bulbs were buy one get one free at our local grocery store and explained to her how the bulb puts out more wattage of light then it uses and how it will save us lots of money (and lower emissions). I hope she went and bought some, I'm looking forward to the savings!

Answer 1203

First, let me state that I purchased five CFLs about ten years ago, for about a hundred dollars.



Attention: Today Mr Rush Limbaugh on his broadcast station said he would not buy CFLs because they were good for the environment!

If that makes you mad, read on...CFLs save money, and after the initial higher cost is recovered, you only pay ¼ the cost of an incandescent bulb.

Do you see what that means? It means your electric bill is only ¼ of Mr Limbaugh - he pays four times as much for lighting as you do!

Answer 1204

Bring pressure to bear on advertisers, such as Lowe's, Home Depot etc. to advertise these Eco-friendly bulbs emphasizing how long they last and how energy efficient they are. Americans are greatly influenced by advertising- grab the chance to use it to sell energy efficient, eco-friendly bulbs.

Answer 1205

Well, I have had my eco-friendly bulbs for a little over two years. After seeing how well they worked, I purchased one for my mother and told her to try it. She loved it, and went out to purchase more for herself and one for my sister. Its like the domino effect. Just spead the news, someone will absorb the info. I really think they should discontinue sales of the regular bulbs.

Answer 1206

The only problem that I have with the eco- friendly lights is that they are very uncomfortable to my family and my own eyes. They seem to let off a yellowish light. I have tried putting aluminum foil in the light holder itself and that didnt help, I cant push a product that makes people phiscally uncomfortable.

Answer 1207

After you figure this out you should then convince them to switch over to energy efficient exit signs, such as the non-electrical glow in the dark models or the LED versions. They last way longer, do not require much maintenance and are much easier on the environment.

Answer 1208

Force the change: take away other bulb options.



Stores should simpletely stop selling low-watt incandescent bulbs. That's the first step. Onces stores stop purchasing the traditional bulds, manufacturers will invest more in modern buld technologies.

Answer 1209

Buy the bulbs for them. Replace all of them in their house. Ask them to see their utility billd for average use before and after the switch. If the bill is lower using the politically correct lightbulbs, then they pay you for the bulbs.

Answer 1210

I think the only way to do it is by law. Stores should not be allowed anymore to buy the old lamps but only eco friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1211

I bought a bunch at Christmas, spray painted each lightly with an off white. Gave them as gifts with a friendly note about their energy savings. The color of the ones I have used was so unattractive when lit that I painted lightly with an off white color to warm-up there glow and now I am happy.

Answer 1212

I use these bulbs because incandescents flicker in my apartment, but flourescent don't. As soon as a single manufacturer matches the color of standard incandescent bulbs perfectly, everyone will switch. The current bulbs just don't cut it. They are all too cold in the color spectrum and make everyone look pale and sickly.

Answer 1213

I learned that eco friendly bulbs have more harmful radiation than the old style and inside the eco friendly bulbs are more toxic. Perhaps we should do away with all harmful electricity usage?

Answer 1214

they need to be cheaper. in CA, you can buy a 4 pack at walgreens for $1.99, about $.50 cents each. But, I hear in texas they typically go for $3 to $4 each.



and what's with the annoying 3 layers of plastic they usually come sealed in? How environmentally friendly is that? the IKEA CFLs are in paper at least, and the aforementioned Walgreens CFLs have only 1 layer of plastic.

Answer 1215

Quit wasting time and bandwidth for one. This is nothing more or less than relieving oneself in the ocean. It feels really good at the time and has absolutely no effect on the level of the ocean. The usual empty gestures I've come to expect from the green fascists.

Answer 1216

Be an "evangelist" yourself. While I think there's only that much one person can do and effect, collectively as a people, we can make a difference.



In addition to evangelizing, I think things like rebates (from say PG/E) can help motivate people to switch. I've been using these kinds of lightbulbs for years now. I remember saving a good 10% from my electrical consumption as noted by PG/E

Answer 1217

Tax breaks from the power company and or the local government who has to dispose of the used up light bulbs would really be handy.

Answer 1218

Who is it out there that keeps rating the answers before me as thumbs down. I've seen some excellent answers that got just as many bad ratings as good ones. Likewise, I've seen some answers that make no sense at all, based entirely on faulty science or hateful feelings or complacent opinion that received good ratings. Who are you?



I only ask because you are the very people that need to wake up to this issue. We humans cannot afford to keep our head in the sand any longer, and we definately cannot afford to go directly to despair, do not pass go, do not collect $200.



We have to restart our thinking, and we'll need that money to implement our new way of living, if we ever hope to stay in the game. We have almost completely monopolised the population of intelligent life on Earth, and yet we've only managed to build on the first square, and we seem to be spending a lot of time in jail!



What's the point of this rant? If you want to inspire people to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs, for example, you must make the education on the subject entertaining to the listeners. Board games like Monopoly are one way, which teach that investing in things that provide a long term environmental benefit leads to significant financial savings and/or profits.



Other ways to make it entertaining is by listening a stand up comedian on the subject, or show them a success story where a family or business has implemented enviro friendly changes that have improved the efficiency and appearance of the home or workplace.



You could create pictographic, language or numerical puzzles that contain a theme of being ecologically responsible, or play charades, eye-spy, etc, with such a theme. You could do any of a million things that have no default theme, and just add your own.



What I am trying to touch on here is that educating people on being friendly to our only home, Earth, can be about scare tactics that lead to fear, panic, irrationality, and often despair, but by doing so you are being hipocritical. Your asking people to be motivated about something positive with feelings that are very clearly negative. Don't do this, boycott them, avoid those and

reject all that. Throw out everything you own, because you are killing the planet. If you don't stop, your going to hell. Shame, shame, shame!



(ring a bell?)



There is another way! A feelgood way! You decide if it's better or ineffective.



Once the people have been educated on what to do and why, in the paraphrased words of Al Gore, the moral imperative to change becomes unavoidable. Your job is simply to make education fun, and help keep it a current issue in their minds, like the hot news story of the century that it is. Simple really.

Answer 1219

Throw an eco-friendly party, with invites on recycled paper! Give out fluorescent bulbs, with an attatched slip telling how they help the environment. You could also give out evergreen saplings/seeds (or any other indigenous tree).

Answer 1220

Give energy efficient light bulbs to people for every occasion. I would like that they are expensive and last a very long time. Great gift idea.

Answer 1221

Every positive answer you have received is worthy of consideration. I always ask my friends if they have changed to all eco-friendly bulbs and when they say no, I say, oh, you must be one of those rich people to whom wasting money and destroying the planet are of no concern! and laugh.



They generally look at me like I am nuts; but hey, you can't educate those who chose to stay ignorant. And I gave up 30 years ago, after our blood sweat and tears helped end the Vietnam war.



Good luck.

Answer 1222

You have to make a plan to market that kind of bulb to the whole world. Worlwide marketing strategies that have a big impact to convince or persuade people to use the new bulb. Least, a discounted one!

Answer 1223

$$$ and Cents!!!

Last year I switched my entire house over to the energy saving bulbs. It cost me about $80 to make the changes, and I know based on my electric bills I am making a difference to the planet and wallet each time I flip a switch!

Answer 1224

I think by shoving regular light bulbs up their asses and telling them to use eco-friendly bulbs or else. I've just started replacing the regular bulbs in my house with eco friendly as they burn out and figure thats good enough.

Answer 1225

I buy eco-friendly light bulbs for all of the lights in my house. However, my wife does not like how much we have to pay for them. She said that she will not buy them because she believes they are a rip-off. My answer, price them closer to the price of regular light bulbs.

Answer 1226

You can let them know it will decrease their light bill by one third and also they will not have to change a light bulb in years instead of every month. This will save them alot of money both ways, on their light bill as well as buying bulbs.

Answer 1227

I do not want to promote the use of the compact flourescent lights at this time. My reason for this position is that they are not yet technologically ready for mass marketing. In operation they generate electromagnetic radiation which causes interference to sensitive electronic equipment. I do not know whether the radiation presents a health risk, but I do know that it causes interference to radio and tv receivers.

Answer 1228

Promote light emitting diodes (LED) technology.



I purchased new xmas lights this year, and the LED's are really good -- bright and use very little electricity.



Compact fluorescents are still bulky and expensive and warm to the touch, but LED's are absolutely cool to the touch.



So focus on LED lighting, and forget the compact fluorescent route.

Answer 1229

I grew up in Chicago (many moons ago) - back in those days (1950's), there was an exchange program that allowed you to bring in your burned-out bulbs and trade them for new ones - no charge. Why not a similar program to allow trading in incandescent bulbs for eco-friendly bulbs? Who wouldn't like that?

Answer 1230

Slowly take the older bulbs off the market and lower the price of these eco-bulbs.

Answer 1231

Make the intensity and color of the light as much as possible like incendescent bulbs presently used. Also design one that can be used with the tension loops used on many lamp shandes.

Answer 1232

Have them cost the same as regular light bulbs and take the old style off the market.

Answer 1233

Show them your electric bills .. before and after! I saved $40 in one month .... I was out of town half the month... on holiday. That didn't work so well. So I bought some more bulbs, installed them in my friends living room (the light that is used the most in their house). They saved $30 in just that room .. they were hooked after that.

Answer 1234

Just leading by example is usually the best way to motivate people. Have your friends and family over so they can see you making your contribution to the environment and also mention that it helps save a little something every month on the electric bill^^

Answer 1235

Make then dimmable. As an electrictian, those bulbs are not dimmable. Plus even if you get to have every middle class household switching to eco friendly, the rich just keep wasting power.

Answer 1236

Offer curbside FREE recycling of the used bulbs. Currently they need hazardous material type handling. Granted they don't need to be changed that often, but this would be a step in the right direction.

Answer 1237

Cost. That is how a friend of mine convinced me. My family enjoys, to my displeasure, leaving a light on in an unoccupied room. When a friend at work informed me of the low wattage that returned a greater amount of light; I was sold. Ninety percent of the bulbs in my home are now "Spiral Design". :-)

Answer 1238

Make them free. Government subsidized.

Note: A lot of lighting, such as track lighting, halogen, etc aren't compatible. We bought a bunch and realized we don't have that many lights to switch. Or rebates for switching to that kind of bulb through PGE

Answer 1239

Just be aware that if you have electric heat, in the winter these bulbs won't save much electricity because your electric furnace has to make up the heat that your old incandescent bulbs gave out which actually helped to heat your house, believe it or not.

Answer 1240

Lets See, HMM I changed over ALL My Bulbs and my electric bill went from $198 to only $97. Creative enough.

Answer 1241

It is very simple and people hear on that, these bulbs last longer and therefore in the long run cost you less money and less work, I switched to them myself,because I got tired of running around changing the regular ones :-)

Answer 1242

for me the answer was in the math



three green bulbs for 10 bucks or 30 regular bulbs for 30 bucks. in the long run I save 20 dollars every couple of years for 3 lights. How many lights do you have?

Answer 1243

I just try to set an example. Also, I have bought those bulbs or biodegradeable garbage bags or recycling bins and given them as gifts, asking friends or family to try them for a while and see if it makes a difference.

Answer 1244

Our power quality sucks and incandescents burn out within a couple of months due to surges. With the spirals, I barely ever have to climb a ladder. I don't mind the savings either.

Answer 1245

I can't believe this is a ******* question? Here's the ******* answer to the idiot who posed this question. People have to buy light bulbs....if you WANT people to switch, charge the same damn price for the eco-friendly bulbs. People will buy it. Case closed.

Answer 1246

You should be able to claim the expense for tax purposes. If you purchase enough bulbs, it will create a nice tax deduction, and encourage families as well as small businesses to covert their homes/businesses to these bulbs

Answer 1247

well last year I switched to all Eco friendly lights and the bill this year matches the last and all I got was a big bill for them and they are starting to fail. Though I would save more on a 4200 sq ft home. Sorry no real gain.

Answer 1248

not creative- but probably the most appealing. if you have 30 light bulbs that you change to cfl, the overall savings per year would be about $575.00. This assumes you burn each bulb for 5 hours per day. More realistically, you could probably cut that sum in half, but that's still $ 287.00 per year.

Answer 1249

Bring the prices way down. Eco-friendly light bulbs are still too expensive.

Answer 1250

Make them "warm" feeling like the incandescent lights. The cold fluorescents will not be in my house! The new warm fluorescents are not there yet. If forced to use them, society will pay for my psychiatrist when I become depressed.

Answer 1251

Eco-friendy light bulbs are expensive. If manufacturers of these bulbs make them as competitive as regular bulbs then more people will get on the bandwagon.

Answer 1252

Simply tell them $45.00 savings per light bulb if they have 10 in their house that's $ 450 per year in case they can't add and they can use the money for whatever else they want.Just think:$ 450 per year in 10 it will be enough to buy something cool. And if they still don't get it just tell them it will not be available after such and such date.

Answer 1253

I think the most creative way to tell them is.our children's future depends on eco friendly bulbs and other small changes we can make make everyday for a brighter future.and they last longer than regular bulbs.They are also a lot less expensive than they used to be.I bought a four pack at Albertsons for one dollar.

Answer 1254

In all seriousness, teaching people about saving the earth and leading by example are great ideas....

But, in reality, no one wants to hear about it, they just want to save a buck and go on with their lives...



Having said that, the best way (in my opinion) to get them to switch is to tell them the facts:



Just one example:



A normal 100 watt light bulb, uses.... you guessed it 100 watts..

An energy saving 100 watt light bulb is as bright as a 100 watt light bulb, and only uses only 24 watts. Not only that, they last longer then a normal light bulb.



After that... tell them this, even though they "look" expensive,

in reality whats more expensive, a six pack of light bulbs for just about $15.00 (Walmart.com), or your $50.00 - $100.00 electric bill?



So, instead of using 100 watts, youre using about 1/4 of that.

It all adds up,

Example,



What if you have 10, 100 watt lightbulbs in your house?

thats 1000 watts used



What if you have 10, 100 watt energy savers?

thats only 240 watts used.



So, if theyre not interested in "Saving the Planet", they'll definately be interested in saving alot of money.

Not to mention, the only examples i used are about 100 watt bulbs, the lesser equivalent bulbs use alot lower wattage...More money saved!

Answer 1255

How many liberals does it take to change a compact fluorescent light bulb?

Answer 1256

I say.....smack um upside the head! No seriously....I simply bombard them with articles about the enviro friendly bulbs and how other countries are starting to discuss implimenting the use of them. This country (USA) is soo far bassakward when it comes to the environment...no thanks to the Prez! PS...set an example by changing out all your old bulbs! Walk the walk!

Answer 1257

Make the bulbs different realistic colors and tones. Market to different age groups. Give samples away to businesses as incentive and show prospective buyers living examples.

Answer 1258

Even Though they are more expensive then the traditional light bulb, the main thing that sold myself, my family and my friends was the longevity. We have all switched. I think that is a great selling point

Answer 1259

Using echo friendly bulbs

1- means less power consumption

2- means less elec bill

3- means you can spend more on yourself

4- means you are healthier (if you use it to buy Eco friendly bulb)

5- means less fossil flue burning

6-means less pollution

7- means less fule import bill

8- means less cloro floro carbons in the air

9- means less harm to OZONE layer

10-means less green house effect

11-means less global warming

12-means no Lenin OR Lenin

13-means no tsunami and Karina

14-means less UV rays

15-means women will have delayed aging effect ;)

16-means more Oxigen available for you kids



TO BE CONT...

Answer 1260

many of the things people are offering to do are expensive and large scale but if you simply want to tell your friends and family give them the facts they actually care about (like the cost, most people dont care about how something works if it means saving money), give them the name of the bulb, and a picture of what the light bulbs look like so that they can buy them without any trouble. I tried to ad a picture on here but for some reason it won't let me but its really easy to find one, just type in flourescent bulbs in the search engine and push the images button.



Type of light bulb

• Fluorescent bulb



Facts

• Fluorescent bulbs produce less heat than incandescent light bulb (or your typical light bulb). The extra heat produced to make light for incandescent light bulbs use extra energy that the fluorescent light bulbs don’t use.

• Fluorescent bulbs four to six times more efficient than incandescent bulbs (fluorescent bulbs can produce between 50 and 100 lumens per watt)

• Can buy a 15-watt fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb

• Fluorescent lighting uses about 1/3 the energy while lasting 10 times longer than conventional incandescent bulbs. This ends up saving you money because you don’t buy as many light bulbs as you would if you used incandescent bulbs.

• They pay back their cost in less than six months in applications where lights are on 12 hours per day. Which is a lot better than incandescent bulbs since they don’t pay you back at all?

• Fluorescent tubes now come in flattering color variations making them a preferred bulb for kitchens, baths and workshops. And, you can use compact fluorescent bulbs in place of standard fluorescents anywhere in your home

• 15 Watt ENERGY STAR Rated Compact Fluorescent - 2700 Kelvin - 15W/SPRING/27K - Long Star FEIIS15W27 As Low as $1.99 ea. can be found at http://www.1000bulbs.com/products.php?cat=15-Watt-Compact-Fluorescents



The first four bullets were found at http://home.howstuffworks.com/question236.htm which also gives a full description of how fluorescent bulbs work. Bullets five and six were found at http://www.homedepot.com/HDUS/EN_US/energy/en_learn_fluorbulbs.html and the website is very useful if you want to know how to buy fluorescent light bulbs.

Answer 1261

I hope your question is definitely good.I have to answer your question in a very simple manner that is, We should create awareness about the pros & cons of its use in a broader sense by giving more detailed description about the product & its use.These days even a unworthy product is being sold in a bulk only because they are being marketed through the TV media so why not this one.

Answer 1262

well, i think its difficult changing peoples habits, but maybe if you have other good ecological examples as well(including the light bulb pack) like for example changing detergents to ecofriendly indian soap nut which can be ordered on the net and the price is great!! people will start thinking twice about your suggestions, i too love natural things,, ALL the BEST

Answer 1263

There is NONE, these bulbs STINK, They're harsh, unnatural, overly bright, make everything look like the lighting in GIANT RETAIL STORE. Give me a good old lightbulb that provides a nice, soft, diffused, yellowish light......... there's nothing worse than painfully artificial light.

Answer 1264

Encourage them to first use their resources to oppose lobbyists, politicians and novice movie makers who foist silly, unproved theories on gullable people. Then because they need to make up the money given to defeat such lies, share with them how much they can save on flourescent light bulbs and how that money can also go for even more useful purposes like gas for their SUV and charcoal for the grill.

Answer 1265

These light bulbs produce an inferior light. What right does anyone have to push an inferior product onto a consumer?

Answer 1266

I agree with all who said to give the little money-savers as gifts. I got four as a gift for Christmas, and now my whole house is equipped with nothing but the little darlings. I even bought an echo-friendly (save-money-on-batteries) flashlight with the money I have already saved. Give a couple of 'em away, and you will effect change with generosity. Oops! Did I say that in America?... My bad. :(

Answer 1267

Set a date like we did with R-12 freon ,upon which the manufacture of standard bulbs ceases and become unavailable and more expensive as the inventory is depleted. .....For family and friends , simply tell them to get on the right side of Mother Nature and she will pay cash dividends.

Answer 1268

Slogan

"Saving the planet one light globe at a time"

Reason

If a CFG uses 1/5 of the power your power bill will go down 4/5th (Not really but they will see the difference)

Other slogan

"By changing something as simple as a light globe you too can make a difference in saving our planet"

Answer 1269

Easy, just give them one or two, and ask them how they are working in a few weeks. You can then tel them how much they will save if they were to change all the bulbs in the house. Also, give them as house warming gifts

Answer 1270

I like the old incandescent light bulbs. The new fangled bulbs don't fit my lamps. The right to continue using the cheaper bulbs ought to be defended.

Answer 1271

First answer the question why people choose not to use them?, Because they consider them too expensive. You can easily show someone that they sell multiple bulb packages that are very affordable and only slightly more expensive then originally thought. Home Depot sells them in 6,8 packs.

Answer 1272

We learn the importance of loving and championing yourself ... and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected...

Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

Answer 1273

Think of the power and money saved. Don't think about the massive increase in mercury use in all of those compact fluorescent bulbs.

Answer 1274

Go for it! They give off a brighter white light, less heat much more efficient than incandescant and they DO cost less to operate. The cost is a bit tough but they are coming down in price everyday. No regrets here!

Answer 1275

These "Eco Friendly" bulbs are produced in China and they are NOT very friendly to High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radios where they are capable of producing MONUMENTAL amount of noise interference. Those radios affected ARE used by your local police officers, military members, and fire rescue teams, not to mention your local electrical outage crews and many other teams requiring VHF and UHF radios to do their jobs.



The bulbs themselves are such strong radio signal emitters they are likely to interfere with even LAN/WAN communications systems.



In essence, by using the bulbs, we're interfering unknowingly -- maybe the Chinese know this -- with our own national defense communications systems.

Answer 1276

Carbon tax incandescent bulbs at 10%. Carbon credits (10%) for compact florescent and other low wattage/high light output bulbs.

Answer 1277

Send out one free bulb to a select number of households per state, and let the word of mouth do the rest.

Answer 1278

give them free light bulps or create a buy back program to buy their old lights back for a dime .. you can start your pilot program with if you like



make then realize that if they switch their lights to the eco friendly ones they would have saving money every month on their electric bill and also would be replacing fewer light bulbs

Answer 1279

Go over to their house when they are not there.... break in.. steal all of their lightbulbs and then leave just one eco friendly bulb on the kitchen table.



Never tell them that you did it....



It will blow their minds!



Don't forget the bulbs in the fridge and stove as well (just for a laugh).

Answer 1280

Send them to (the evil empire, I know) Wal-Mart to buy them. Wal-mart is trying to improve their image by supporting energy savings, and in this one instance, they are doing a good job. They have them in packs of 8 for very cheap. They are also the instant start kind, which are labeled with the energy-star on the label.



I didn't want to use them either because the old ones took a couple of seconds to light (it matters more than you would think when you just want to walk across a dark room and have to stop till the light actually comes on) These new ones really do start instantly.

Answer 1281

listen, I've tried those pieces of crap light bulbs. I did give them a chance and were a BIG disappointment. If the manufacturers of the bulbs would do more R&D. I might give them another try.

Answer 1282

I think the question is ridiculous. Why would anybody try to convince others to use these bulbs. They are terrible and produce a terrible light as opposed to incandescent. I wouldn't use them if they were giving them away for free.

Answer 1283

Plain and simple: It will save you a lot of money. I have tried to get people to switch, and the only effective way to persuading them to do so is to show them how it benefits their wallet.



It's a sad fact that most people don't care much about the environment. Any environmentally friendly life-changes that take place have to directly affect people's finances.

Answer 1284

Tell all men that not using eco friendly bulbs will result in impotence or turning gay. This will get all men to use these products, because people now are so unbelieveably vain, gullable, and stupid that it will actually work. Better that quoting useless facts and figures.

Answer 1285

Patrick M - Every small step in the right direction leads to solving the big problems. This problem did not evolve overnight and won't be resolved overnight. Every bit of postive and constructive reinforcement will help the cause versus piety and anger.

Answer 1286

Ask them to show you their electric bill. Use one of their incandescent bulbs and show them a CF equivalent. Have them look at their monthly kWh usage and how much the pay for each kWh. Have them do the math...figure out how much they cwould spend if they'd used a CF instead of the incandescent. It's not creative but it gets the point across...especially if they're not environmentally friendly.

Answer 1287

If the light bulbs are so friendly to the environment, why do the bulbs release mercury onto the street when thrown in the trash and are broken in the trash compactor truck??????????

Answer 1288

I may be wrong, but the bulbs I've used do not work woth dimmers, so that is a problem, also the light they emit is not as flattering as incandecent bulbs. If these are corrected I will install them everywhere in my house!!

Answer 1289

How about eliminate the manufacture of incondesent as a gov't mandate. I don't think you would find anyone who would be upset about that other than the current manufacturers of the incondesent bulbs. I think the gov't needs to take a front seat role in driving our energy costs down.

Answer 1290

ask them a simple question...Say: can I ask you a question and you give an honest answer? they will say Yes...of course...Then ask them: Does your electric bill seem high?...you know they will say....Yes....then say:..If I could show you a way to save at least 150.00 dollars a year on your electric bill would you do it?..well

again they will say Yes...then say: If you buy these bulbs you will save at least 150.00 dollars a year and then prove it to them....

You have to create a want (which is the money everyone wants to save money) this is why they would want it!!!! This is the most creative way that I can think of for you to convince anyone to buy these bulbs...I hope it helps you have a Great Day....Dan

Answer 1291

Stop producing the old bulbs. Make the new ones the only ones obtainable

Answer 1292

By including information about where to recycle them. There are very few places to recycle the bulbs when they do die. Its important because they contain mercury and disposing of them in landfills negates the eco-ness of their use in the first place. IKEA has a plan, but almost no one else does.

Answer 1293

This one is simple. Just get your local state Representative to lobby for a tax deduction for homes that have receipts that show they have switched to the Eco-friendly bulbs. Everyone loves a good tax deduction!!

Answer 1294

well the problem with the new compact fluor lights, they have mercury in them,



now led lights last longer and are safer. more expensive up front but only use just a few watts. no joking. i am looking to buy them now. i have been exploring them all day.



find a better way to dispose of the compact fluor bulbs safely and we have liftoff!!

Answer 1295

Tell your friends and family how much they will save with eco-friendly light bulbs instead of regular bulbs. I changed about 80% of my regular bulbs to eco-friendly bulbs. I buy them whenever they are on sale.

Answer 1296

Set up one of each light bulb. but their wires do not plug in ... instead ...



LIGHT BULBS POWERED BY BATTERIES.



Your friends would be shocked to see how many battery sockets it would take to power each light bulb.

Then ask if they want to see how long the batteries would last. If they say yes, hand them a bill to buy enough batteries to fill the sockets and that would shake them even more.



Just ask an electrical shop for battery sockets and how to wire them together. It may be about 66 x 1.5 volt batteries for a 100 watt bulb and about 14 for the long life bulb.



A visual display works better than words ... especially if they have to pay for the batteries.

Answer 1297

1. Tell them you will donate the amount of money they save in electricity in a year to their favorite charity, or to buy CO2 emission offsets or credits.

2. Throw an "Inconvenient Truth" party!

3. Everytime you visit. replace one of their bulbs with a CFL.

4. Buy them all some shares of stock in a CFL company.

Answer 1298

It won't happen, let me give you a real world example. If Americans aren't convinced to buy American cars, what makes people think you can force a flourescent light bulb down someone's throat? For example, people that drive Japanese cars claim "it's a free country, I can drive whatever I want." This is what I believe to be the "war on terror." So this is where I claim "it's a free country, I can buy any kind of light bulb I want." At least I'm not responsible for putting thousands of autoworkers out of work. Sorry.

Answer 1299

The most creative way to inspire your friends and family to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs is to go on the Internet, search for eco-friendly products, and print them out so that they would get a full-length idea of eco-friendly products and the environment as well.

Answer 1300

Show them the documentary Kilowatt Ours

and let them know where their power comes from.

Show them the problem of Mountain top removal and how some people suffer for the source of our electricity.



It also helps that they last a lot longer and your bill will go down.

Answer 1301

Mention how much money they could save on electric bills.



Though my sister tried them, and for some reason, the bulbs didn't work well in her house. It was weird. So, they may not work with some older homes.

Answer 1302

Ladies and Gents,



Buy tons of them. I already purchased 20 or so. I replaced +90% of the lights in my house.



I did not replace the vanity lights because those are cycled too frequently, and florescents don't last long when they are cycled. Also they tend to make all skin, even young, beautiful skin look like garbage. So you can count on your wifey spending 90% MORE on makeup when you try to get stingy with vanity light energy. Forget about it...there are no energy-efficient solutions for the vanity area. Don't worry....it's only 2 hours of wastefulness each day anyway.



Anyway....fill your house with the florescents. If you have enough running simultaniously they tend to overwhelm your eyes and look extremely bright (due to the unnatural color temperature that most of them have).



When your family is over, turn all of them on, in every part of the house. When someone notices how bright the house is and tries to put in their little jab relating your house to that of the president of an electricity company, you can take that opportunity to let them know that you are burning less than half of what they are in their dimly-lit home, thanks to flourescents.



I have used this technique to influence many of my friends regarding energy efficiency.



Also a tip: Buy the color temperature-adjusted florescents, they are SO much easier on the eyes. For those of you who think color temperature has something to do with making sure your clothing configuration matches your mood or something to that extent.........wrong. Color temperature is the color of the light. To put it simply, regular florescents put out light that lacks the red that makes your skin look healthy. Incandescents contain much more red and make your skin look more natural. Color-adjusted florescents have a coating that makes the light a little more natural, more close to incandescent light.



Why did I go off on a tangent about color temperature? Try to convince your mom to buy florescents for her house and you are likely to hear her say that it "hurts her eyes", is "unhealthy", is "dim", "gives me a headache", or something to those ends. If she sees your house with the adjusted light, she is far more likely to accept the small difference in color temperature. The old florescents she remembers have light that looks like CRAP.



Good work people, maybe we're actually gonna get enough people on board to save some energy for once.....

Answer 1303

It would be wonderful if those long-lasting florescent light-bulbs didn't each contain enough mercury to send you to the hospital if you broke one. It would be nice if there were some way to safely dispose of them. Until there is, you are living in a dream world, my friend.

Answer 1304

If I spend $5 on a bulb and it saves me $10 in 6 months on my elect. bill, and it lasts 5 years well you do the math.

Answer 1305

If you really want ecofriendly light bulbs then you should look into LED light bulbs. The LED light bulbs use way less energy then a fluorensent bulb. try www.ccrane.com

Answer 1306

The most significant and most poignant answer is that these lamps use 1/4 or 1/3 of the energy of filament lamps of edisons concepts.



In addition they offer a useable life currently 4 or 5 times that of incandesant bulbs.



Stop *******, though, if you want earth to survive without your selfish desire, or our population is going to double and insure extinctions.

Answer 1307

as a designer & environmentalist - ppl will use the bulbs when the lighting emmitted from them is less heinous! They are aweful to read by, find things by, look at a room with. I use them in areas of the house where good quality light is less nessessary, lavs (not where you put make-up on) kids rooms, closets, halls. but still i hate them!!!

Answer 1308

Well, I'm just a teenager at high school, but I'm highly concerned about how we (people) take choices without thinking on the results or consequences.



I've realized that the best way of making most people turn to these ways of efficient life is to mention, in a possitive, cool way, the benefits they can get, like saving money and their own specie's future; and you gotta mention too what they can loose, in a threatening way, like: the use of these kinds of appliances might avoid our extintion to come in the next fifty-hundred years...



So, would you please help us save ours and your life?

Answer 1309

Get the IRS to give a tax credit to any home owner who replaces the light bulbs.

Charles Flinn

Answer 1310

First, they don't have to be ugly and look like pigs tails. They can and do make nice large round ones. I have some of those. I also have some three way bulbs. They could make more shapes and sizes, like for bathroom fixtures or for ceililng chandeliers.

Answer 1311

Offer a deal they cant refuse! 2 for 1, discount. I remember when my family use to exchange burned out light bulbs and get new ones! Im old!!!!!

Answer 1312

That they just have to place the light bulbs on the fan or something and then make the rest opf your room yellow and twrilly, since the lightbulb is like that

Answer 1313

if you really want to get ppl to use electricity saving light bulbs what you need to do is kidnap a family member to torture. make sure u leava note syaing the person is actualyl kidnapped and not jstu lost or ran away, this is critical. do not remoove body parts from the captured individual as this could turn disastrous if ur discovered, feel free to piss and **** on the prisoner at wil seeing as how u wil be wearing a mask. thank you for your time if you have any questions please refrain from asking them :)

Answer 1314

Give them as gifts..... for SHOWERS & WEDDINGS (couples starting out new--- help them create new & eco-friendly habits; HOUSE or APARTMENT warmings (have them get the landlord on board, too!), GRADUATIONS (or if you give a lamp, be sure to include a compact fluorescent bulb), and DOORPRIZES. And talk them up!!

Answer 1315

make them a little cheaper than other bulbs...promote them on tv...be an example to other by having them in your house...get ur friends and family to also put them in...give out free samples so people can see how much better they are...make people feel better about saving the environment...maybe even phase out regular bulbs so that we can only use eco-friendly ones!

Answer 1316

i know this is a very short answer and not what you were looking for... but how about having somehow getting manufacturer's to simply stop producing the old fashioned bulbs? i for one use the new style, but i'm sure many will not choose to do so. get rid of the choice! you can't still purchase cassette tapes anymore, can you?

Answer 1317

Well my dad got them, as he says " They use 1 / 4 of the electricity that a regluar light bulb uses" meaning a lower electricity bill :P

Answer 1318

Put your name on a mailing list to the light bulb companies. I did, and got the whole of my flat renewed with eco lightbulbs for free.

Answer 1319

I think I would show them a copy of my energy bill before I installed them, and then again after I installed them...the savings in money speaks louder than saving the enviornment to someone who really doesnt care that much about such things. My energy bill is reduced by $80 per month since I installed them... I am worried about disposal though... you can't just throw those suckers in the garbage, they have mercury in them...

Answer 1320

Do what Manitoba Hydro does - offer to pay for them.



You could also promote it as an easy way to do your part for the environment.



Where I'm from, my electric company will reimburse for energy saving initiatives.



But, to answer your question, you could start a contest between friends & family to see who saves the most $ by using the eco-friendly bulbs.

Answer 1321

Well, you can calculate the cost of non-eco-friendly bulbs and the cost of eco-friendly bulbs and then you can see how they change.



NOTE: 95% of the energy spent in a non eco-friendly bulb is heat and not light. Only 5% and less of eco-friendly bulbs is heat and not light.



:)Change the future

Answer 1322

i have given lower income relatives sets of 8 bulbs as gifts.

i also have a somewhat remote farm workshop that has never had grid power, it now has lights using an evergreen brand solar panel, a charge controller,a deep cycle battery, a inverter, and 4 compact flor lightbulbs. several friends have learned about renewable energy thru my shop.

Answer 1323

I bought these spiral florescent bulbs for all my family members as a gift and they were excited to save energy and money! They used the bulbs and experienced them first hand and then told two friends and they told two friends and so on and so on.

Answer 1324

It's eco-friendly and I haven't changed my eco-friendly bulbs for over two years now. There is barely a difference in light quality either.

Answer 1325

I have changed 99% of our bulbs in our home to the new Florescent bulbs. Have one thought though. I know on the long florescent bulbs you are not supposed to dispose of them in the garbage due to a gas in them. Now I wonder how I will dispose of these bulbs when they burn out.

Answer 1326

Well make the Eco-friendly bulbs cheaper to buy, and the traditional more expensive to purchase.



Also give a better shade to the Eco-friendly as most give a florescent glow, which I find not to be appealing....



Very simple.....

Answer 1327

Tell them how much money they'll save. Then write your congress critters and tell them to put a tax on the non-eco-friendly bulbs. Use the tax receipts to fund a middle class tax cut.

Answer 1328

I just showed people my power bill after changing to eco freindly light bulbs. I let the power company do the talking for me!

Answer 1329

Make them work. They don't turn on right away and often leave rooms dark or poorly lit for several minutes. They are also expensive. So, make them cost effective and work better, then people will want to buy them. Quit trying to push them to perpetuate the global climate change myth. It is junk science.

Answer 1330

Tell them to wait for the inventors to make the eco-friendly light bulbs brighter so they wont have to use four of them to make up for the light lost on one standard bulb.

Answer 1331

I am an avid and happy Costco wholesale member. I bought packages of both size eco-friendly bulbs for all my relatives and helped change all the bulbs for them.

Answer 1332

Don't! I'm an artist, and I can't paint with light from flourescent bulbs. It's just hard on the eyes. Incandescent is the way. Edison would have liked it kept.

Answer 1333

A few years ago we started using florescent lights. They just do not cut it when reading. However, we do use them in lights we do not read by.



Also, I think the real challenge is in out door security lighting.

getting the balance between halogen and incandescent and over lighting...



Anyway, the solution may lie in market demand and lower cost per light bulb...



Thanks

Answer 1334

My husband and I bought these for our home - they do not last nearly as long as a regular bulb - WARRANTY =- what a joke - who saves the receipt and has time to ship back burned out bulbs in today's busy life!

Answer 1335

The government should offer a tax right off the cost for LED lights used in

the home & bussiness & a right off the cost for variable balists for companies and a tax deduction for the use of these >

A Solar energy use deduction and cost right off should be given

for Solar glass or Solar panels

Answer 1336

Tell them not to switch if they are smart..



Until the manufactures make the bulbs better.... They suck.. They burn-out quickly and are not bright at all.



Not too mention in California you can't put them in the trash...



I'll take a conventional bulb any day of the week...

Answer 1337

Set the example. When they come over, they see the ecofriendly light bulbs in your ceiling fan fixtures and pose a quizical expression on their faces. After pondering, they ask, "What the heck kind of light bulb do you have there in your ceiling fan?" "Well...." you respond, "It's a new trend in decorating and it helps to conserve energy, as well."

Answer 1338

Find a way to make the bulbs cheaper in price! Right now people just buy what is cheapest.

Answer 1339

they would be far more popular if they didn't emit such harsh, ugly light. i live in mexico in the winter and bulbs such as these are the norm, but they can make a restaurant, hotel room or house look dingy and dirty. if there was a way to have the light look more like a halogen or incandescent, stores wouldn't be able to keep them on the shelves.

Answer 1340

All the rich eco-minded people should offer to buy eco-friendly lightbulbs for their lower income friends who can only afford 99 cent 4-pack lightbulbs on an as needed basis.

Answer 1341

Cross Subsidize and price the bulbs at equal prices (with regular bulbs) with govt and industry participation. You can see yourself in two years these bulbs will replace regular bulbs and lift the subsidy. This is much better than subsidizing farmers in US

Answer 1342

Until the manufacturers can TONE DOWN that ANNOYING white brightness that the bulbs produce, I can't think of any. They need to warm it up some! That will certainly help even ME to switch.

Answer 1343

Q: How many idiots does it take to change the world to a better light bulb?



A: (2) One celebrity to promote it and Jay Leno to make fun of them for having such a crappy career.

Answer 1344

Break into their house and remove all of their bulbs and leave a box of eco-friendly ones at their doorstep. At a minimum you could replace the one used for the porch light so they could at least make it safely back into their home.

Answer 1345

There are stores that sell them for a relatively inexpensive price. You can buy them yourself, give them away to friends and encourage them to do the same once they find they are happy with the product. It is hard for people to change, but there have been great advances in this technology and I find that giving them to friends and family will at least get a few more installed!

Answer 1346

Since I don't believe in global warming, my old, reliable light bulbs will suffice. I would use the enviro friendly ones, but they cost to much, so i use the ones I've used most of my life.



Sam

Answer 1347

I think that stores need to do more so people understand why they need to use these light bulbs first off, second they should be made a little bit cheaper so older people and people who don't have much money can afford to buy them.

Answer 1348

lower the price or have your school or facility create a fun project

where you take home Eco bulbs home and change all the old bulbs..Then calculate what you save and put that money aside for a special trip, vacation, party, or whatever. (:

Answer 1349

Have schools that do fundraisers have a fundraiser to raise money by selling eco-freindly lighbulbs and sell them for like 2 dollars each and but by them for like a 1 dollar or under so that they help the enviorment and the for the schools. My school did that and they raised enough money is enviorment friendly lighbulbs, (5) hybrid cars, and many other enviorment stuff. We riased enought money to actually purchase a wind turbine for the school!

Answer 1350

Lead by example.

Replace all your own incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs or LED bulbs.

Keep track of your monthly use and show that to friends.

Answer 1351

Steal all the bulbs which aren't power saving,and open up a sales booth to sell friendly bulb replacements.Is that creative enough? "Link"

Answer 1352

Buy and use them yourself.If they are really you're friends they will probably be at your house at some point in which case you can have a brightly lit room.That's when you say"You know,that's only a 20watt bulb in there and look how well it lights the room."The bulbs will sell themselves with little effort on your part.

Answer 1353

The light bulbs save you hell of a lot of money on your electric bill my family switched to the bulbs and now we are saving 80 or more dollars on our bill

Answer 1354

Anyone consider the harm from all the mercury these eco-friendly bulbs use? Is the trade off worth it?

Answer 1355

Simple. Follow Australia's lead and stop the sale of the old fashioned lightbulbs. Since the new ones are cheaper overall and use less energy, only people who hate the Earth would use the old lightbulbs.

Answer 1356

Lower the price of the energy saving bulb, and discontinue the incandescent bulb!

Answer 1357

for every one bulb bought , the company should donate one dollar(an amount) towards enviromental issues/organisations. This will not only help the customers buy the product but will also assure the customer of its efforts to protect and preserve the environment.

Answer 1358

Ive actually used them before, one thing I don't like about them is that they don't give off as much light as a normal light bulb. Yeah, they might last longer but what good is it if they don't work nearly as good as the original.

Answer 1359

What's ironic is that people are answering this question online using a 400+ watt appliance known as the home computer. All my lights are off, but my CPU is on, so how do I save electricity now?

Answer 1360

I walk instead of drive. How are you going to inspire yourself and your friends to do the same? To get to a place that I cannot walk, which is very very rare, I take mass transportation. A tiny lightbulb will help but lets get the big things out the way first.

Answer 1361

in australia if you buy a water tank you get so much money back as a rebate from the govermant as a thankyou for helpping the enviroment and if u buy solar pannels i think you get back $200 cash back . so if you tell ur customers to buy 10 light bulbs youl give them two to three out door X-larg lightbulbs free you get the idea

Answer 1362

perhaps if the power company shut off electricity to every residence until they prove they have replaced the power hungry bulbs with the more efficient ones. it would work. wal mart plans on selling 8 million efficient bulbs this year. maybe they have an answer?

Answer 1363

The smartest way to get others to use eco-friendly bulbs is to buy them some. Have them give it a try and then they will see how much cheaper their electricity bills will be.

Answer 1364

just tell them the amount of money they would save. And the fact that they may not have to change bulbs for up to 5 years.

Answer 1365

why not make the light bulbs shorter so they fit into my lamps so i don't have buy lamp shade or covers to make them work. the light bulbs my save you money and energy but ho wants to go out buy new lamps and shades,covers for a 5.00 light bulb. Fix the problem and I'll gladly change over!

Answer 1366

http://www.lightbulbs-direct.com/article_view.asp?ArticleID=4



I like using the site above. It has a Savings Calculator that shows how much money you can save on electricity costs, if you switch to using low energy bulbs. I would save $136.00 a year on my home electric bill!



The only downer is the site shows your savings in British Pounds. You can convert the amount easily using the currency converter at: http://www.xe.com



Showing people how much money they can save will often do the trick. :-}

Answer 1367

My Husband loves those light bulbs. My Sister has just started using them. They look different, takes time to get used to the look of them.

Answer 1368

How about getting rid of coal power plants? Then we will have less carbon, mercury, and lead dust in the atmosphere.



Switch to nuclear. Releases no greenhouse gasses. New ways are coming about to store or reduce/eliminate radioactive waste. And Its completely safe if operated by trained and trustworthy personnel.

Answer 1369

The best friend to inspire people to switch to eco-friendly bulbs are the company itself that manufacture it. It's simple, just let them make the price very low as its introductory...maybe cheaper than the price of the old bulbs...and let it stay for a certain period...when its realized that all people are having it...then let the comapny recover their losses...if they lose? anyway...i myself are having all ecofriendly bulbs at home...my power bills are cut 60 percent....that's it....

Answer 1370

Persons who have less reliable equilibrium than in their youth, whether from illness or simply from age, can do without climbing ladders to change bulbs every couple of months. Besides, these bulbs are better to read by.

I have used them for a year.

For indoor photography, they enable easier color balance, too.

Answer 1371

Bring the price down on them. They are great bulbs, but yet a tad bit expensive. If they were the price of a standard, good quality bulb, then maybe more people would buy them. I have them throughout my home, myself.

Answer 1372

I work as a maintenance tech for a large property management

company,i think if all apt communities would switch over to this

along with some type of incentive from power co this could work

Answer 1373

I think that when your family isnt home, switch out all the light bulbs and when they see what a dramatic change in their bill is, they will want to continue using them.

Answer 1374

We put lots of these bulbs in our house. Problem is they don't last that long. Definitely doesn't meet the billing on the package. Longest i have had one last in one year. So we have switched back to the old version. Very disappointing.

Answer 1375

The manufacturers of the bulbs need to do more advertising to explain why they are better. Thing such as longer life, lower electrical bills and explain the hows and why you really save money.

Answer 1376

Well if it is the best bulb, i would give one bulb per house hold. as anyone knows word of mouth is the best way to sell. raise the price of the bulb to pay for the ones you give away, you lose nothing. and in the end you gain it all.

Answer 1377

Easy - contract Micro$oft to make the old ones - you'll have to rewire your house every time you change bulbs, and when the bulb stops working they'll blame the power company.

Answer 1378

In calif..so cal edison has been subsizing the cost.for instance at ace hardware a 25 watt fluroscent replaces a 100 watt incadescent for 99 cents. at home depot, wal-mart etc.that bulb is almost $10.00.

Answer 1379

Okay first of all ask them if they have ever heard or the lightbulbs and that you think it's a good idea! then you can get the eco-friendly lightbulbs and give them to your friends as presents. Also always talk about all there good feature and how much you like them. Hopefully this will convince your friends/family to use Eco-friendly!!! good luck

Answer 1380

Show them a copy of your monthly electricity bill, the fiscal savings alone should inspire them to be eco-friendly.



Thank you for using your celebrity status for such a thought provoking question. I am so glad to see your are not one of those narcissistic, spot lighting seeking celebrities. Your question sets you apart from others; you know the one who think it is chic or nouveau to ask mundane questions as a decree of loyalty & concern to the world outside their world. Sort of using this medium akin to that of medieval lords relating to the serfs. I am sure to check out your movies or whatever event you'll be involved in. What a great man you are! Excelsior!

Answer 1381

Best way is to use them and talk about them. Praise them on how long they last, and how they no longer buzz and make noise like the old days, and how cool to the touch they are, and how the light is not harsh but more white than before. Be a leader and demonstrate their effectivness.

Answer 1382

have elem. school kids sale them as a fun raiser idea. like new computers for the school or trips to washington dc. cause i think all kids should go to the capital to see our country's goverment building and the white house at least one in there lives. there are people in this country who never have our great country building and white house. if kids would sale 20 bulbs each just think how would be sold in our country. and that a lot each year

Answer 1383

Give eco-friendly light bulbs as gifts, for holidays, birthdays, house-warming parties. I like to give 'eco-care' packages as gifts. In them I include recycled baskets from goodwill, eco-friendly lightbulbs, cloth grocery bags, organic goodies, etc. Friends and family love the gift and spread the idea to their family and friends.

Answer 1384

Yesterday I was at the hardware store and I noticed they've begun selling colored CFL (spiral) light bulbs. They had yellow for outdoor lights (doesn't attract bugs). They also had red, purple, green, blue, neon orange, and a black light CFL. These would be great for parties and of course dance clubs.

Answer 1385

No one is going to switch UNTIL the eco-friendly light bulb manufacturers can make a full spectrum bulb....one that does not totally distort color!

Answer 1386

the only benifits-

time cost valuation / power consumption costs

longer bulb life



drawbacks

more initial cost

bulbs are hazardous waste

different color temp





I will typically use 200w incadescent to light a 12X12 room

or 320w florescent for the same room b/c of the light quality.



this is such a stupid debate

Answer 1387

In our city and surrounding areas, the fire departments give away smoke detectors and batteries to those who ask or need them. Why not approach our city councils and set aside monies for the purpose of giving away the eco-friendly bulbs?

Answer 1388

Stop selling the other ones, or, make the eco-friendly bulbs cheaper than the others...thats the only way.

Answer 1389

Watch aninconvenienttruth A Global Warning video by Al Gore. It is really scarey to see where our world is headed if people do not get serious about the environment and what we can do to preserve it.

Answer 1390

I believe the best way to inspire family and friends is through motivation - motivating someone to do their part to eliminate Global Warming. Environmental legislation and clean energy initiatives are likely key components in eliminating Global Warming. Equally as powerful is the power of one. The power of one person to reduce their CO2 emissions. The difference you can have is real and it is significant. The collective power of change is substantial and undeniable. Please visit www.stopCO2.info to learn what you can do today, because tomorrow can't wait.

Answer 1391

Give them the bulbs as gifts, if they don't like them they can give them to other people. Chances are if they didn't use them as gifts they weren't going to use them in the first place. Who knows, the person that received them as a gift might use them, either way they are now out there to be used and not on a store's shelf.......though they may be in someones closet now.

Answer 1392

Make the regular bulbs burn out faster and faster, so it become cheaper and more economical to use the eco friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1393

Here's a lesson: If you enviro-religious want to effect change, why don't you make it work for the consumer instead of producing multi-million dollar BS guilt trip movies?

Answer 1394

When I as a youngster, the "new" lights were all the buzz because they lasted longer. BUT a report from a study came out that said because of the flickering and the type of light this was, that it caused many headaches and was VERY bad for the eyes and could even cause vision distress and disease eyes. I don't see anything new having been done to these lights to make them less harmful.. and now because it will save a what? save a what?... they want to subject our eyes to the harm that this flickering light source will cause. They make my headache so I know its affecting my eyesight. I woould prefer they are arbitrary and not mandatory.. If somebody else wants to harm their kids eyes..they are welcome but not me and not mine. Thanks.

Answer 1395

Our little changes will have little impact unless we control the use of energy and polluting industries in developing countries like China and India. The Senate, both Dems and Reps, didn't sign the Kyoto agreement because it would cripple our economy.

Answer 1396

Did you know-that if everybody installed just ONE florecent lightbulb in their house...it would take THOUSANDS of cars off the road. That's all we're asking for, people, ONE FLORECENT LIGHTBULB. They last SO MUCH LONGER, and it's SO MUCH BETTER FOR YOU AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT AND YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL. I mean, we all should really start caring for the earth. Here's a thought: If every person in the world picked up ONE peice of trash...how much cleaner would the Earth be? A LOT CLEANER!!! It would be billions of times cleaner. Isn't that inspiring? Or is every human going to sit down in their arm chair and drink water and not do anything?

Answer 1397

By telling them that since I switch to eco friendly light bulbs I have save $7.00 on my electric bill.

Answer 1398

My husband starting using them to light the exterior of our house. The neighbors were so impressed that a lower wattage lamp doubled the brightness outside our home he bought them to light his exterior also. We live on a cul-de-sac and for as dark as it could be it is very warm and inviting. To compare they use 1/4 of the energy. Show people you use them and spread the word through useage and word of mouth....they are wonderful...sorry Tom Edison.

Answer 1399

You got to be kidding...LOWER the price..those bulbs are priced way out of line I dont [public] care about cents saved on watts used I want a cheap bulb

Answer 1400

Make certain you know what "eco-friendly" is before you go and switch your friends over. Compact fluorescent bulbs contain mercury!

Answer 1401

As this is important to you, purchase bulbs and give them to your friends and family as gifts. That may put them on the right track.

Buy enough bulbs for them to use in each room of their house/apartmetn.



Good Luck.

Answer 1402

I think our government should institute a trade-in program, or maybe just a hand out program. They should give away millions of these bulbs or possibly offer a point of purchase rebate to motivate people to buy them and make them more affordable.

Answer 1403

When you approach your 80s and like to read, you will discover that eco friendly bulbs are not bright enough. True, they may be efficient but your eyes will suffer. I know. Been there, tried them and switched back.

Answer 1404

Using these bulbs will not really help against the power of the sun so the point is moot and no need to reccomend them at all.

Answer 1405

Make the cost lower than the average litgh bulb.

Answer 1406

give them as gifts, and lobby retailers to stop raising the prices.

I mean to say that I have seen a large increase in the price of these bulbs since electric companies have raised there rates and

recommended new bulbs.the price for 14w bulb went from about

1.99 to 3.49 each. (14w@60watts of lumens).oh wait a minute I

forgot about supply and demand.

Answer 1407

Advertise a picture of the lightbulb as a blooming flower. Or it could be a sequence of different ads that go together like a flower, then a cloud, then a wave in the ocean (anything in nature that's white I suppose).

Answer 1408

Put a tax on the older bulbs !!!!!



Theyre costing the governments money so tax them, energy efficient bulbs ease pressure on power suppliers and could reduce energy prices on the whole!!!!!!

Answer 1409

Not an answer, but-

CFL’s are great.

We should demand companies that sell CFL’s, dispose of or recycle CFL bulbs.



Do not throw away your CFL’s in the trash.

CFL’s contain Mercury, a neurotoxin. They must be disposed of

properly. Exposure can cause brain damage, especially to infants.

-So said National Public Radio.(paraphrasing)

Answer 1410

Anything fluorescent may be eco friendly, but I don't think it people friendly. Fluorescent flickers and is unnatural, thereby causing headaches. How about someone invents a better fluorescent bulb and they will sell themselves.

Answer 1411

I like to save money. The compact flourescent operates on 25% of the power of the incandescent with the same lumen output . . . PLUS it lasts about 10 times longer . . . PLUS it doesn't put out the HEAT . . . . remember it costs money for your air conditioner to remove the heat!

PS We don't need legislation for this. When you realize the tremendous benefits, you will try it and you will really like it!

Answer 1412

the whole thing is simple. make the cost for the cunsumer lower than that of any other light bulb and the chage over will be instantanious. people buy cheap products! Next question!

Answer 1413

Last Christmas I wrapped boxes of 4 -- 60 watt equivalent flourescent bulbs as "stocking stuffers" . They were well received as a money saver!

Answer 1414

They need to make a better light blub. The eco-friendly light bulbs I use are dimmer and provide horrible light. They do not work in all my lamps.

Answer 1415

I am a teacher and I run a contest for the family of my students that switch to the greatest number of CFB's. They have to bring in receipts that show the purchanse of those bulbs. The student who wins gets to pie me with a chocolate pudding and whipped cream pie.

Answer 1416

Florecent bulbs aren't exactly eco friendly. They contain mercury vapor amongst other things that aren't exactly healthy for you or the environment. LED and other lighting technology might be even better.

Answer 1417

Tell them that the lights will help the global warming, and their briter then regular lights, and thell them that the lights work for longer time.





What i also think, is that every state should switch their street lights to eco-friendly lights, and that will help the global warming allot.

Answer 1418

How about our government taking a environmental stance -- and not allow the other bulbs to be sold. Or, as they do with cigarettes and gas, tax the inefficent bulbs heavily so they cost more?

Answer 1419

Its Simple. Make them cheaper then any other light bulb on the market, also put a brand name on it and sell in Wal-Mart. The world will be healthier in no time.

Answer 1420

Fortunately, we have a CVS Pharmacy within walking distance. So, when they had a 4-pack of eco-friendly light bulbs for $3.99, I bought one. I immediately switched the bulbs in my studio.



Apparently, since they were only the equivilant of 60 watts (13 watts each), they did not sell well. So, they went down to $1.00 for a 4-pack, and I bought 10 packs, gave 3 packs to my daughter, and 3 packs each to two of my sons for their apartments. This left me with 1 pack to finish all the lighting in my studio--including the yard.



Everyone's very happy with them - but none of us have seen a change in our electric bills...

Answer 1421

I would give them as gifts on Earth Day - a bulb in a nice reusable, bamboo box. Give it with a card or big tag with a "blurb" about how much $ you save, how they help the world, how you care and also, how you want them to care too.

Answer 1422

How about instead of switching to compact flourescent, we all switch to using LED's which are 100x more efficient than flo and more durable to boot.



As for the most creative way to do this, lets just tell them. It doesn't cost anything or use up any resources to transmit the message.

Answer 1423

Make the energy efficient bulbs cheaper than incandescent bulbs. Also they need to last longer than regular bulbs.

PD

Answer 1424

If you really want people to buy the eco-friendly light bulbs, reduce the price! It's that simple. That's why I haven't bought them yet.

Answer 1425

I just now got back from ACO! 2 -60 watt bulbs(use 15 watts)are on sale right now for $3.99 with a $1.99 rebate! They last 6000 hours!Saves 75% energy! If that doesn't motivate you to try them?

Answer 1426

I use flourescent lightbulbs and in one room i leave them on 70% of the time for my dogs. They have lasted me over 1 year and counting. Also they have lowered my energy bill a little but they last a long time for the money. In my opinion they are worth the money. So buy them!

Answer 1427

Advertise the light bulbs on TV about what the benifits are, especially how much money they can save you over a period of time.

Answer 1428

The apartment complex I live in changed all the light bulbs in every apartment to eco-friendly light bulbs - free of charge! :)

Answer 1429

The answer is simple... Don't switch...



If you want to save energy and extend bulb life - use dimmers!!!



Why should you have to have tacky, flourescent light (that you can't adjust) throughout your home. Using dimmers does the exact same thing as CFLs, but you can still personalize your lighting...

Answer 1430

there should be a bill introduced , to "slap" a heavy (green)production fine or tax on any company producing or importing incandescent bulbs . the cost of the fines will automatically be attached to the purchase price for the consumer . which would you buy ?

Answer 1431

Give away the florescent dimmer switch you will need to still be able to dim the lights they are expensive. If you have regular dim switch florescent bulbs blink like a strobe

Answer 1432

I think the best way to really push the cost savings of the electricity. There is people making very little or making a great amount of money this product can help.

Answer 1433

Offer to buy them and to replace them for your friends two or three times as often as incandescent. I know this first hand my company relamped and have to do this sometimes within days of installing them. The light quality is not bad but the hassle of getting out the ladder is not convenient.

Answer 1434

Give 'em away!

Give the fluorescence light bulbs to them. They have on sale four for $1.99 or 50cents each at wallgreen, I actually bought 10 boxes and start given them to friend, even going to their homes and replacing the incandescent one.

Cheers!

Luigi

Answer 1435

show them your electricity bill, econo bulbs are cheaper to run and give off less heat, in a sunburnt country this is very important and will also help on lowering your cooling bills even if by only a little, c'mon give em a go it's the aussie way.

Answer 1436

why should we shift to these new bulbs?? the old bulbs create a nice, soft,warm light, these new ones are cold and ugly...someone should work on making the older bulbs more efficient, don't oppress us with this cold new "light"

Answer 1437

Make them so they aren't crap! It takes ages for an Environmentally friendly light bulb to light up a room.

Answer 1438

To be honest, they would need to look better. I hate the light that they give off. If you had enviormentally friendly light bulbs that looked better and cost less than regular light bulbs, there would be no need to try and convince people to buy them. They'd do it on their own.

Answer 1439

Emphasize the cash savings. The average home is a bigger bean counter when it comes to cash than most corparations.



Saving the environment only appeals to some people. But nearly everyone wants to save their own money.

Answer 1440

Not much encouragement is required, because we are so ....cheap and seeing that lower wattage bulbs are available with the same output of incandescent bulbs....



my question for you would be ...........if previous versions of florescent lights have Mercury in them and these new bulbs are florescent are we just deferring our environmental disaster?



next question would be ..........with all the high tech explosions we see in all these new techno-thriller MOVIES aka(Hollywood), how much greenhouse gas is being liberated for the sake of you film producers to line your pockets with cash...? (trust me I see a lot of fires, explosions and all these car chase scenes in your movies , maybe an inconvenient truth for Hollywood)

Answer 1441

If I were you, I would buy a few and as you explain how Eco- friendly they are, hand them a bulb. Suggest them to put to them into a frequently used light socket. Congratulate them for their effort to save the world. :)

P.S. They are all over my house.

Answer 1442

use the light bulbs in your home and tell them that the light bulbs save energy and could save them up to $60 a year

Answer 1443

Set up a recycling and education program so that people will understand the opportunity they present and how to reduce the danger of mercury exposure if they should break or be thrown away in the trash.

Answer 1444

It might be easier if I didn't know for sure that the bulbs contain mercury, are impossible to make with out mercury, and have to be taken to a hazardous waste materials site to be disposed of.

Answer 1445

This is simple... stop making the old style lights and only make the ecco friendly type. If the old style is unavailable then people will naturally use the ecco friendly one. The cost will go down and everyone will be happy.

Answer 1446

Lower the cost of the bulbs (via govt funding) to be competitive with regular bulbs.

Answer 1447

Encourage the manufacturers to build a bulb which will last the 6000 hours which they promise on the wrapping.

Answer 1448

Well i first bought mine about 3 yrs ago . I did not know at that time they would help are enviroment. Well i bought them fo less then 50 cents now look they are much more expensive . Lower the price and that might help. People think about they pocket then they do the enviroment.

Answer 1449

low power consumption equals less cost of electricity, quality the same with incandescent lamp, lifetime , brightness and easy to replace no complicated materials to use, takes only a few minutes to install or replace bulbs. even a 10years old can do this.

Answer 1450

Visit http://www.banthebulb.co.uk

This site contains useful information about energy saving bulbs. Also check the forum and the postings in it.

Answer 1451

They aren't "eco friendly" They contain mecury vapor. In fact traditional bulbs are better. Light a candle instead.

Answer 1452

You can't. People that are calling for mandatory use of these bulbs seem to leave out the fact that they contain mercury. How is that better for the environment?

Answer 1453

show them a copy of your electric bill.

month to month comparison from the previous year

show between a 25 and 30 % reduction in usage.

Plus the bulbs last longer.

They paid for themselves in the first 6 months.

Answer 1454

The US spends $6,000,000,000 in Iraq every three days. Why can't they give a dozen florescent bulbs to every household and business in America? It wouldn't cost even as much as is spent in Iraq in 12 hours.

Answer 1455

Buy for them their first couple of packages. When they see how much light they put out, plus how long they last, I think they will see the sense of buying only eco-friendly bulbs.

We have been using them for a few years and love them.

Answer 1456

Let them know that everything makes a difference, even the small stuff! Starting by something like lightbulbs may seem minor, but if everyone does it it can have an impact.

Answer 1457

i live in australia, and not long ago there was a big giveaway where everyone that lived in our state was entitle to get 3 free energy saving light bulbs. it was a great initiative, and i will continue to use them from now on, as i have actually noticed a benefit in my electricity bill.

Answer 1458

Practice before you preach... if you already have it in your home, host a party and at the end of the party hand out your party "treats". In your treat bags, a bulb and info plus of course the link to 18sec... (I do this all the time with my friends---so far it works.) I suggest that the party not be themed in that way they wouldn't be too obvious.

Answer 1459

Buy a set of eco-friendly light bulbs for them as one of their presents for birthday or christmas. Let them know you really like these light bulbs and had to get some for them to try.

Answer 1460

Give them as gifts at Christmas and birthdays. Also you could lobby your state government(like California) to pass a law making fluorescent bulbs the only legal bulb to sell.

Answer 1461

People love free things with extra value. send 1 to each household . with free pen to prove that these bulbs really do outlast others give them the stats on the savings they get for using them for one year. then give them a coupon to purchase four more for a un heard of price good luck.

Answer 1462

it does not have to be such a hard explanation with the light bulbs we pay less electricity they last longer, and i just buy them. by the way i live in Venezuela in the country side you do not have to go so far about the chage in the climate simples words easy to understand

Answer 1463

I gave everyone on my Christmas list one this year, with an attached message "Think Green" and a short article listing the advantages. I'm sure some people thought it was odd but no one returned them and some thanked me for the chance to try them.

Answer 1464

If you don't want to spend too much money on the Eco-friendly light bulbs, and you end up saving money, because of the light pollution, it will shorten your life. So the money that you had saved will not do you any good later on in life.®





(PS: please do not steal. there will be far more consequences than cud dos.)

Answer 1465

I try to buy one each time I go do my grocery shopping. In about a year I had all I needed.Now if I have a house warming, wedding shower coming up, I buy two to four a month so that I have include them as part of my gift.

Answer 1466

Show them how inexpensive they are. Obviously this is a joke, and a reminder for the companies that make these new lamps to make them as affordable as regular light bulbs....



People will flock to the stores to get them...

Answer 1467

Have uncle same dump billions in to it like the quit smoking campaign, seat belt campaign, helmet campaign, and car insurance campaign. Pass a bunch of laws to make it socially unacceptable to use regular light bulbs, and force us to have the morels we should have been raised with, forced on us with laws and social pressure.

Answer 1468

Save money. Light bulbs only use 5% of the energy they use. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Pretty simple, huh?

Answer 1469

Find an environmentally safe way to dispose of the bulbs since they contain the toxin mercury.

Answer 1470

In retail stores, makes sure that displays with the bulbs contain brochures, highlighting reasons to switch. Make it friendly. Use a figurehead that kids can identify with so they can become excited, and grow up with this engrained in them.

Answer 1471

Get the companies that make them sell them for the price of the old style bulbs.

Answer 1472

It is very interesting for a company to go out and get all this free advice to sell their product. I have a perfect marketing plan with all the points of advancement and the sales. I will not give this away for no charge----sorry but that is how it works--Don

Answer 1473

Tell people the blubs are available at the Dollar Tree store. I bought mine, 2 for a dollar. That is much cheaper then regular blubs in the short term and in the long term!

Answer 1474

Get the lighting companies to send out great coupons. That's how they got me to change to natural light light bulbs! Now I can't live without them.

Answer 1475

That's a good question. How do you motivate people not put put their money in a pile on the ground and burn it? These bulbs save so much money that if your friends don't get it, they need financial counseling more than anything else.

Answer 1476

Most people would not have a problem switching over to anything eco-friendly if it were not always more expensive. Keep the price competitive with items that are not eco-friendly and it will sell!

Answer 1477

the Best way I would do is ..



switch over to ECO friendly light bulbs myself ... consider the benefits ... if you are making a significant saving in your electricity bill .. you can use that as a sales pitch ...



its more like .. see fellas .. I am doing it ... and here are my rewards for making this change ... so why don't you try ...



Speech and practice or vice-versa .. the best seller

Answer 1478

Stop selling regular light bulbs

Answer 1479

Include them as part of a gift -- like a stocking stuffer! I sent them (well wrapped in newspaper) to friends and relatives this year as part of their Christmas presents. When they saw on the packaging the energy saved, and then the high quality of light when they're in use, they'll seek them out as their own primary replacement option. I even encouraged them to use it in their most frequently used fixture, thus saving them the most money and us the most energy. :)

Answer 1480

Give eco-friendly light bulbs away.



That's the only way I'd start using them unless they are cheaper than regular light bulbs.

Answer 1481

I dont believe in global warming,its a political,religious myth,and besides,the flourescent bulbs contain mercury,and other chemicals,my suggestion,find a real cause to fight for

Answer 1482

Create a little song! Not only will it inspire people to use the eco-friendly lightbulbs, but it will prove you went out of your way to create a little jingle just for them so you feel passionate about what you're trying to promote.

Answer 1483

Easy Question to answer! Tell them it will save them money! We switched and we saved about 25% on our electric bill. If it means more money in their pocket people will switch. The only problem is they take a long time to warm up!

Answer 1484

Make them cheaper than normal light bulbs. You know how much people love to save money.

Answer 1485

I lead by example - I've installed them everywhere they're applicable. That excludes high luman applications, outdoor fixtures, fully enclosed fixtures (they burn themselves out prematurely), fixtures requiring decorative bulbs, and circuits on dimmers. So generally they're only applicable in about half of all my 'bulbed' applications. But I really do like the six I've got.

Answer 1486

As green builders we've encouraged our home buyers to use CFLs by installing them in the fixtures from day one. We let them know that one of the reasons their bills are so low is the bulbs, so its important they replace them with new CFLs when the time comes.



Jason S.

Sage Homebuilders, LLC

St. Louis, MO

http://www.SageSTL.com/

Answer 1487

I switched to compact flurecent light bulbs and my energy bill was almost cut in half!

Answer 1488

Print a warning on packaging of non eco-friendly light bulbs that these add to climate damage...just like they do on cigarette packs.

Answer 1489

If the power companies would GIVE each customer a small supply of these they would help the enviroment and themselves due to the fact they would be able to satisfy demand and shut down power plants, plus would not have to anticipate building new plants for quite a while. Humm... if we could shut down video games....:)

Answer 1490

How about educate them to not throw them away in their garbage can as they contain toxic materials such as Mercury!



Fluorescent bulbs are estimated to be the second largest source of mercury in landfills nationwide, the first source of mercury is wiring devices, switches, and thermostats.

Answer 1491

Give away the light bulbs for free as NYC does with condoms.

Answer 1492

economics suggest people are self-motivatyed. If the policy [of using these bulbs is important enough] create an incentive for their use- a tax credit for their purchase and use for individuals & businesses; perhaps even a sales tax moratorium on their sale.

Answer 1493

If we can tax beer, gasoline, and cigarettes the way we do I can't see why these lightbulbs can't be exterminated with some economic controls. The deeper question you have to ask yourself is this: why haven't they done this yet? Do the old fashioned lightbulb makers (GE?) have that much pull with Congress? Wow, now there's a question as well...

Answer 1494

i would change the look of the bulb. i work with electric. and people dont like that it will not match with what they got in the house. a light that does not fit flush with the ceiling look right. or how about a ceiling fan with long like out of place.

Answer 1495

I give then a gifts for fist time home owners. if they have them and see how long the light bulb last they will get the next set for themselves. you can also give them at the time someone goes off to school and at a bridal shower

Answer 1496

Make them higher quality and cheaper than the current non-eco friendly bulbs.

Answer 1497

I like the idea of giving them as gifts. Also the idea of selling them as school fund raisers, instead of chocolate. Playing the Al Gore movie may not go over well with all of the ultra Convservatives, but I am okay with it, and I am a Repub.

Answer 1498

Yeah, the blubs are good, real good. But if you want to inspire people to start purchasing them vs. the other type. (1) Lower the price on them. (2) Stop making the old style light blubs. I know, I work for Home Depot.

Answer 1499

trick them into thinking that humans are causing the earth to get warmer and then tell them that switching to these light bulbs will counter act the industrial revolution happening in china and india where they have no emissions regulations whatsoever. you could also tell them that the whole world could end in the next few years if they dont

Answer 1500

Price them so the poor folks like me who live on Social Security can afford to buy them. At $5.00+ a light bulb, as opposed to 4-for-a-dollar light bulbs, how many do you suppose I can afford to buy?

Answer 1501

if all your worried about is the damn environment you have some serious issues. How about stop and think about how to keep my comrades in iraq more safe or maybe figure out some way to get the military a bit more funding so we have a little more up to date armor come on there is alot more important things to think about that the ******* environment!!!

Answer 1502

We use them in every room in our house. Instead of the typical lightbulbs, we use the fluroescent ones and they have dropped our electric bill in our house, plus we won't have to replace them as often as traditional light bulbs.



So, we've shared this with idea with others and it's convinced others to switch as well.

Answer 1503

TALK THE POWER COMPANIES INTO HANDING OUT THESE ENERGY EFFICIENT BULBS FOR FREE AS A PUBLIC RELATIONS INITIATIVE. THE GOVT COULD THEN ALLOW THEM TO "PURCHASE" SOME GREEN TIME FOR THIS EFFORT. YOU WILL NOT GET A BETTER ANSWER THAN THIS SO THE REST OF THE CONTESTANTS MAY AS WELL CAPITULATE RIGHT NOW. CONTACT ME THRU MY E MAIL AND I WOULD HAPPILY GO ON TELEVISION WITH MY BRAINSTORM. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE :)....PDW.

Answer 1504

Well, I have a good and bad issues. Does Compact fluorescent light bulbs dimmerable? In my knowledge, it would require another piece to ballast to make'em dimmerable(COSTLY, for all your fixtures), and them being dimmed, the life expectancy gets much shorter. Good thing is... they come in odor removable? (Not so sure).

Answer 1505

I would simply say that if our government can waste one billion dollars a day in Iraq YOU can afford to save the environment with eco-friendly light bulbs? Right?............

Answer 1506

Make the bulbs (if I can use that word) free for about six months to a years. You'll get big time response! B....

Answer 1507

Since we are part of our the earth citizens, eco-friendly products are our responsibility to maintain our energy saving on our earth which enough not only to our generation but for many many more generations to come.



A little means so much as the saying goes, will apply to our actions and that affected our health, saving and more to it, is a place we are safe to stay and sufficient energy to keep us carry out our activity.



Please join us and be part of our team to have better lifestyle for today and tomorrow.............

Answer 1508

I've just bought one...and I absolutely love it. Anywho, to answer the question, rid of the "outdated" ones that are on the market...especially if they're considered an energy saver...not-to-mention, ADVERTISE MORE...can't say I've seen any commercials on the new bulb!

Answer 1509

TELL THEM. Make the stores advertise and explain the value of them and perhaps even supply new lamps with a promotional lightbulb matching ...



I am using them and have been very pleased and feel very happy that I am doing something to be more responsible with my money and the environment!

Answer 1510

The government should tax regular lightbulbs if a more economical, enviro friendly bulb exists. I would tax them to the point that they arent worth buying.

Answer 1511

They may cost a little more than your ordinary bulb, but I love them because I hardly have to change them. They last forever. Great for porch lights also.

Answer 1512

For lightbulbs that "show" some sort of cover should be developed. Or, they should be shown as energy saving bulbs in all magazines, tv shows, decorating stores etc.

Answer 1513

this would most likely would not "solve" the problem, but implementing an extra tax on non-eco-friendly light bulbs, the extra cost would motivate people to consider switching bulbs.

Answer 1514

one day start commenting on how dim your current bulbs are. then go to the store together with them and when you see them be like "oh, well look at this...?" and then they will remember you saying how dim the other ones were, and they might be inclined to buy some, after they read on the package that they last like 3 times as long.

Answer 1515

Smash all the light bulbs in their house and tell them that light bulbs are no longer available to buy.

Answer 1516

Encourage them to use these bulbs because they are more cost-effective and less harmful to the environment. If you have children, involve them and ask to respond on why environmentally friendly decisions are important to your family.

Answer 1517

Make these the only available light bulbs to purchase.

Answer 1518

Conservation with these bulbs reduces electricity demand; however, the bulbs contain MERCURY ! What is the trade off?

Answer 1519

Make them affordable. It is that simple. If a box of 4 regular light bulbs costs .79 cents, and a box of four flourescent bulbs costs $9.00, which one will you buy?

Answer 1520

Have the IRS offer a significant tax write-off for purchasing, or add to the local state homeowner rebate. The only way to give people incentive is to talk cash.

Answer 1521

it wud be better if v ourself startd usin tat oly then we will be able to ask others to do tat.gifting them such bulbs is also appreciable cos wen a thing is emerging newly everyone will have the fear of being the first one to use tat so wen given things free they wont be having any pblm .also people demand proof and nt just words so it has to be proved experimentally like the bill has to b shown

Answer 1522

How about creating technology to make them work with a dimmer switch? I'd have a lot more in my house if they did. But since there are already 2000+ answers to this question. I doubt anyone will ever see this so .....

Answer 1523

Stop producing other kinds of light bulbs

Answer 1524

Home Depot and Loews should sell only eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1525

Give the eco-friendly light bulbs as a gift? such as a birthday or house warming gift.

Answer 1526

Tried them about a year ago. They stink. All you people here in algoreland.com switch over so there's more electricity left over for me and my incandescents. Thanks! Oh, by the way, Flourescents contain MERCURY. Even trace amounts are dangerous. At this point the government estimates 2-4 tons of mercury are being released annually.

Answer 1527

Your preaching to the choir here. I have them all over the house..they are great and really do lower your monthly electric bill. On draw back..no three way on the macket that i have seen yet.. Anyone knows how you get around that, give me the 411.

Answer 1528

I tell eveeryone I know about these new bulbs, I just love them and they saved me alot on my electric bill so now they are even in my lamps. I think that if people use them and find out how much they are saving they will buy them.

Answer 1529

put a "green" tax on high energy bulbs. Use the tax $ to supplement the cost to add renewable energy sources to the grid such as wind farms.

Answer 1530

I actually misunderstood the question. There is no way to induce friends or family to switch, unless they are ecology concious. I think that local and State governments should exempt them from sates tax, that should even the playing enough for people to consider changing. What do you think?

Answer 1531

If you are trying to teach a teen to turn off lights, here is a good suggestion. Give them the next electric bill and tell them to pay it. Once they say, "with what", then their allowances can be cut in that amount. Worked for me.

Answer 1532

The make flood bulb shaped CFLs. Most people think they only come in the ugly twisted shape. If you have recessed lighting in your home then you only want to install CFLs that look good.



Also, contact your local PUD, many have instant rebate coupons.

Answer 1533

When we switched to eco-friendly light bulbs, we saved a significant amount of money on our electric bill. So start saving, switch now =:-)

Answer 1534

Simple. Give them to all your friends and family as gifts. For one, they wont have to buy any regular light bulbs for years. And two, once they see the durability and long term cost effectiveness as well as the ecological value they might keep buying them for themselves.

Answer 1535

1. Make eco-friendly light bulbs at least as cheap, safe, durable, bright and available as regular light bulbs.



2. Market them as such.

Answer 1536

this question does not address the basic problem underlying all ecological problems we face. The massive problem of overpopulation, and how it effects the problems you seem to suggest can be changed by switching out lightbulbs. the human race needs to face the fact that we cannot continue to support the current growth rate.

Answer 1537

My wife and I gave energy efficient bulbs to our friends and family for Christmas. It seems tacky a first thought, but when you include a heartfelt, but factual, holiday spirited letter along with it...people usually respond positively.

Answer 1538

the best way to get people to switch is to change the color of the light it makes by changing the color of the glass the color is the only downside to these bulbs if they had a more natural light they would surely catch on

Answer 1539

Buy them an eco-friendly bulb and attach it to a gift you are already giving them! They will use it and once they see how much longer they last then presumably they'll want to make the switch themselves for the rest of their bulbs.

Answer 1540

Go to their house and replace all of your friends and familys light bulbs with eco friendly. That way you will be happy to have the right kind of lighting when you visit them.

Answer 1541

Give the reason for switching, eg: environmentally friendly, lower costs for operation. Reduce the price of the product and then mass promote the product, with testimonials of people who bought and are using the product.

Answer 1542

One way is to make the eco- friendly light bulb cheaper.

Answer 1543

Tax ( energy tax ) on regular bulbs heavily, use this tax to bring down fluorescent bulb price.

Answer 1544

What all of us need to do is show how much damage is taken away when everyone stops using hurtful light bulbs.

Answer 1545

make the light bulbs in various design. sell the bulbs with a very low price that conventional bulbs.

Answer 1546

A picture of Michael Madsen holding up a straight-razor and a severed ear, saying "If you don't switch to energy-efficient bulbs, you'll be hearing from me."

Answer 1547

Show them your power bill before and after, apart from telling them about the advantages to inspire them to switch over. Gift a few during festivals & birthdays to make a start.

Answer 1548

Inspiration for them is to see in your own house good looking designs lamps to impressed, and after that you can comment them that is good to the environment not to use large amounts off energy resources and that everything that you can do multiplied by every house in the country will be a large amount of energy saved. good luck with your friends

Answer 1549

I'm sure your house is full of them, along with an electric car and windmill in your back yard.



What I want to know is when the "global warming croud" is going to stop wasting our time with this talk when they don't live the life they are telling us to live.



can you say hypocrite

Answer 1550

Hey Bender.



Just thought you might want to know, the United Nations Environmental Program disagrees with you and Mr. Al "Global Warming is the new Holocaust" Gore.



http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/temperature_and_co2_concentration_in_the_atmosphere_over_the_past_400_000_years



Quit spewing propaganda.

Answer 1551

..Tell them the softer light will may them appear sexier and more desirable.....even thou the costs is a little more than quailtiy bulbs these last 5 x's longer and lower the light bill.

You can be cute and save energy too.

Answer 1552

Buy them and give them as gifts with a card that explains the benifits of eco-friendly bulbs...

Answer 1553

Helloooooo! They save people money on their power bill; that's all the reason most people need to switch!! They just don't know how much money they can save. Most people can't/won't do a quick energy audit to see what the average cost savings would be.

Answer 1554

I'm not sure. I've tried them and regretted wasting the money because I find they don't live up to advertised expectations. They're dim and give off a weird color. Once those problems have been resolved I might try them again.

Answer 1555

My daughter is the one that convinced me. She learned about this at school and thought of a way to convert: whenever we buy lightbulbs, we buy a pack that is eco-friendly. Eventually, the whole house will be and our cost in replacing them (if ever we need to) will be spread out.

Answer 1556

contact your town's city counsel and suggest that they give away energy efficient light bulbs for every "normal" light bulb turned in to them. They could recycle the normal ones.

Answer 1557

Go to COSTCO to buy it is very cheap 8 light bulbs is only $2.25. Its last long and save $$$ on electric bill. My Average electric bill per month is $30.00 for 2500 SF home.

Answer 1558

Stop making the older bulbs. Or give people the new bulbs fro free.

Answer 1559

One reason why people do not use ecologically friendly light bulbs is that they are just too expensive. If they were cheaper, they would most definitely sell better.

Answer 1560

Simply go to their house when its empty, and replace all the regular light bulbs with eco-friendly ones. Chances are, they will never know the difference.

Answer 1561

Give them free bulbs, I got free ones and immediately changed out my old ones. I wish I could get more free ones, cuz I missed a couple lamps.

Answer 1562

IF IT WORKS DON"T FIX IT!!!

I DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE BETTER

THEY LOOKED LIKE PRETY EXPENSIVE SWIRLEY BULBS

HOW MUCH THOUGHT DO YOU PUT IN BUYING A LIGHT BULB?

HOW MUCH THOUGHT DO YOU PUT IN EXISTING ON THIS PLANET THERE IS NO MORE INVENTORY COMING

WE WERE GIVEN ALL AT THE START

WE BETER START SAVINGG ALL WE CAN!!!

THINK ABOUT IT WE ARE RUNNING OUT!!!

IF YOU CAN; ORDER SOME MORE!!!

IF YOU CAN"T SAVE WHAT WE HAVE!!!!!!!



[e-mail]

Answer 1563

Light Manufacturers give them Free once consumer like the products they have the household for life

Answer 1564

Do what our government is going to do....Australia is going bring in a law that only the new low wattage type eco friendly globes are going to be allowed to be used. Its a couple of years away, but hey, nothing like forcing it on you.

Answer 1565

Give people a discount for bringing in their old light bulbs that aren't energy efficient.

Answer 1566

word of mouth. I like to show off my latest and greatest finds.

so i told every body about a sale on a six pack of 60w

bulbs and the savings over time.I bet they all are switching!

Answer 1567

I suppose I have more of a question than a comment. Have you thought about people with health problems such as lupus? They cannot tolerate this type of light. If this type of lighting is unsafe for people with lupus, couldn't there be some type of long term effects for people in which do not have lupus? In my thinking, if it's bad for one person, it cant be good for others...



Just a thought...



C.F.

Rome, Ga

Answer 1568

Give them as gifts. As their old lightbulbs expire, they'll have no choice but to use the ones you bought them. By the time the eco-friendly bulbs die-they'll be hooked, and they'll buy their own

Answer 1569

I am in a local leadership group that has committed to collecting 17,000 pledges from people willing to change at least one bulb in their home. So far, it's been as easy as telling people that they can make a difference, educating them and asking them to sign a pledge. Please sign our pledge at www.sarasotabrightideas.com - if everyone does their part we can hopefully start to turn around this alarming shift in our environment.

Answer 1570

I bought a couple of packs of 4 mini fluorescents and sent a single one to each friend and relatives. When they saw how easy they are to use and how much energy they save they loved them as well!!

Answer 1571

Easy! send the light bulb police after them!

Answer 1572

Give them some politically correct propoganda about Global Warming or some other BS like that.

Answer 1573

break or unscrew all the light bulbs in their houses and leave baskets of eco friendly light bulbs for them to replace the bulbs with.

Answer 1574

Dinner was finally ready. My sister had the table all decorated with the nice dishes and candles so we could see. We had to blow out the candles when Mom came over due to her oxygen and ate in the dark.

It was the best Turkey and Thanksgiving ever.

Answer 1575

Make houses with larger windows and light more streets with eco-friendly lights so that some light always gets in naturally.

Answer 1576

3. Remind them they'll save on their electrical bills.



2. Have factories make them available in different styles & sizes.

(The energy saving light bulbs wont fit on my bedside lamp.)



1. GIVE THEM AWAY FOR FREE!!!

Answer 1577

im using these kinds of lightbulbs because my local asian supermarket hands it out for free after spending a small certain amound of money. I think the local markets can give it out for free. After awhile, my family started to buy only these lightbulbs because it saves electricity, shines brighter, and lasts a very long time.

Answer 1578

People really need to look at the disposal of these bulbs. They have mercury in them so they cannot go in land fills and if they break and you breathe the mercury powder it can be harmful to your lungs. Encourage them not to buy them.

Answer 1579

Make the bulbs more cost efficent. Advertise like big business does. Make them attractive.

Answer 1580

Whatever you do, don't buy the hardware store variety. They have an awful yellow color and don't put out enough light for the rating that they supposedly have. Look for ones that have a daylight type of color rating. We have a couple of the first variety, and I would like to throw them out.

Answer 1581

Tell them disperse light, aracnid shaped lamps with five or six bulbs used to be quite decorative in acethilene days of Romantic and, paradox, numerous families or households, now gone with the (acid) wind.

You can see them on top of Golden Days movies, even in western saloons as a target for Colt shoots. Too much, nowadays, for single couples with none, one or two kids.

Our XXI Century saloons, indicate to them, exerce the law of darkness to create milieu__ and to spare. Today you can find them ceiling lamps in Antiquaries (and facsimil new-made antiquity shops). But they no more work with candels or carbide, they use electric energy and indirectly ask for nuke centrals. Those are hatred (and I agree) by 'greens' and 'ecofriends' who waste, another paradox, home lightning and put a sun-symbol in their fuel cars and perhaps recycle bottles so to so perform the lithurgical dogma.

Personally, as a way of concentration or privacy I've used the so-called by interiorists 'indirect lights'. They're actually the most direct energy for reading, knitting, writing, studying, inspecting picks and even as auxiliars when you work simultaneously, nobody can avoid it, with cyberdocuments on screen and analogic-papers, books, magazines, photo.

Top light? The Sun when it rises. An excess of illumination disturbs one's ideas and thoughts. I'm a excesive lamp light photophobic, myself. And what about heating systems instead of putting on another pullover? Tell them, also, even if they are as 'green' as old Orson Wellles' Martians. Having a theory means you must practice it, or not?

Answer 1582

The best way to get anybody to switch is to make them affordable. It seems that imposed changes are not as easy on the pocket book and often times cost more.

Answer 1583

Offer a way to recycle/dispose of these things. Realize that

CFLs are not a cure-all. It takes energy to manufacture them

and they are full of phosphors and electronics that should not

be tossed into the trash.

Answer 1584

not too creative, but if you(collectively) want to make this change, work to make the eco-friendly bulbs cheaper(obsolete) than the alternative! ie. tax breaks/credits for producers of eco friendly material.

or

if you really want to help, just start installing them for friends as x-mas/birthday presents!!!

Answer 1585

lower the prices on the eco friendly bulbs and stop making the other type bulbs

Answer 1586

Haha, funny I just bought some eco-friendly lightbulbs last nigth, just to see what they're like. And I spent the whole day telling everyone I saw to get em. I guess you just gotta keep telling em them benefits, eventually they'll give it a shot.

Answer 1587

Anyone who reads the book or watches the video An Inconvenient Truth should get the big picture. My young teenage children get it we need to teach young and old to make the changes needed to make the choice to continue to live or die.

Answer 1588

Flourescent lightbulbs might be friendly to the environment but what about human beings? These have mercury in them! Why should we put this poison in our houses around our kids? It makes no sense at all.

Answer 1589

Make them cheaper than regular lightbulbs. People are generally motivated by price. That's unfortunately the bottom line no matter how much better it is for the environment.

Answer 1590

Showing them your electric bill.....that always does it for us.....Also if you watch the flyers that stores send out you can get the bulbs on sale, which makes it even cheaper....so don`t throw those flyers away...check them out......We just got 12 bulbs for the price of six....good luck!!! and change change change.....

Answer 1591

its very simple.. give out free eco-friendly light bulbs.. everyone loves free stuff.. why not give out some and see how they like it their selves.. they will also see the change in their billing cycle as well.. we been using eco-friendly light bulbs over a year.. and its great..

Answer 1592

How about make the stupid things as bright as a normal light bulb. We had them in our last home and they were way too dim.

Answer 1593

Show them your own energy bill and the money that you have saved and challenge them to see if they can save more then you did... For example I switched all the lights in my house to the new energy savers and my bill went down by almost $60 in just one months time!!!!!!!

Answer 1594

Simple, tint then a little yellow so they look like standard bulbs. I do not use them for that reason but want to use them but they shine too bright and cast shadows.

Answer 1595

more reasonably priced. from time to time the price at the store Big Lots per bulb the price is .98 cents. If more stores chains would offer them at that price I know they really take off in popularity.

Answer 1596

Make friends and family watch Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth".

Answer 1597

Tell them about Australia's plan to ban incandescent bulbs. This might encourage them to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1598

Tell them you'll invite them to a Pizza,chips and beer party at your house if they do and you'll get some good movies to watch like Revenge of the Nerds,Missing in Action & Beetle Juice.

Answer 1599

Tell them that every flourescent bulb has at least FOUR MILLIGRAMS OF MERCURY IN IT.



Remind them that MERCURY IS ONE OF THE WORST NEUROTOXINS and causes SEVERE HEALTH PROBLEMS.



Then explain that INCANDESCENT BULBS are MORE eco-friendly than FLOURESCENT bulbs, since they won't cause our landfills and homes to be contaminated with MERCURY.



Then ask them to SWITCH BACK to INCANDESCENT BULBS if they have been duped into getting FLOURESCENT bulbs.

Answer 1600

The best inspiration is cost savings...appeal to what matters to people...their wallets. Also, its important to have easy accessibility to such products. You just know that people will pick up whatever is cheapest at their local store...they won't go to a specialty store for a higher priced item.



I realize this isn't the answer you were probably looking for, but its the most realistic one. And frankly, engaging friends and family in discussions of light bulbs isn't overly realistic. People generally don't react until something affects them. At this point, Global Warming still just means warmer weather for folks...the reality is not yet on their doorstep...so it isn't a 'hot button' for them. Sadly, masses will not react until it is too late. Can something be done? Should something be done? Absolutely...but now you are talking about the rewiring of the American brain...and good luck with that one! There has to be something in it for them....

Answer 1601

I think that you could tell them about the product and its benefits.

Be sure not to tell them to much so the lose intrest. Let most of your facts be about how it could help them because we all know how self endowed America has become. I believe this is a great way to spread the use of this amazing product.

Answer 1602

Really the best way is to just show them the money that they'll save in it. Perhaps a marketing campaign. because im in the midwest and i have seen nothing to promote these things here, even though thye should.

Answer 1603

For starters, I have recessed spots and dimmers throughout my home. These puppies need to be able to replace spotlights, and have the ability to dim via a dimmer switch. Otherwise, you'll never get me to change to something less pleasing to the eye!

Answer 1604

Simple



The majority of homeowners do not know the cost savings of using florescent lighting over incandescent. Educate the homeowners. I would start with direct mail.

Answer 1605

If I'm not mistaken those bulbs has problems with constant on/off cycles. I had one and it didn't last to long cause of the on/off cycles.

I can't motivate anybody to pay for the expensive bulbs if they can't handle the cycling.

Answer 1606

Well the best way probably would be to convice the companies not to sell th old crapy ones anyone , so they have no choice but to buy these , or simply give it as a gift or tell them somethin informational about them to get them to like it !

Answer 1607

The new flourescent bulbs are not necessarily eco-friendly. They contain mercury. Read the package.

Answer 1608

The problem with "eco friendly" lightbulbs is that they contain mercury. They use less energy, which is good, but when they are discarded they break and expose workers to mercury and then pollute landfills with mercury. Not very friendly.

Answer 1609

That low wattage Florescent bulbs have mercury vapors in them.So,much for Eco-Friendly.

Answer 1610

I do use them.



But CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) have mercury in them and MUST be disposed of properly.



NOT just thrown away.

Answer 1611

Could be given as a present.



But if they were sold for a cheaper price than regular bulbs, I believe eveyone would then want to buy them.

Answer 1612

Easy. Do what Australia did. Outlaw incandescent bulbs from being sold.

Answer 1613

make them cheap so that people will buy them. or put it on the new or tv telling people to use eco-friendly bulbs. or they can stop making harmful light bulbs so that only the eco-friendly ones are left.

Answer 1614

Note to manufactures, make light bulbs with a incandescent color glow through a tinting process, color glow it puts off now it not pleasing, not warm.

Answer 1615

tell them that yellow light in house is not good to their eyes... and for the manufacturer of that white light bulb make it more cheaper because the yellow light bulb is cheaper thats why still many buyers bought yellow light bulb...

Answer 1616

i think it should be a law. the old light bulbs should slowly be phased off the market. people need to see that you cant count on somebody eles to stop global warming. everyone needs to take a part!!!!!

Answer 1617

Lead by example...not decree.

As much as people hate being preached at by Christians, environmentalists, Unions, whoever....just use the bulbs, show people your cost savings, and sit back and wait.

Answer 1618

Give tax credit for 100% of the money spent on the lights.

Answer 1619

Don't, unless they are commited to recycling. Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury and must be recycled to be truly environmentally friendly.

Answer 1620

Give them away to get people turned on to them. This would give people a chance to see how they work etc.

The government should make them a tax write off. That would motivate people as well.



But I feel the "give -away" to get people into them is the thing to do right now.





Cliff

Answer 1621

Make each family member buy their own.





eg each kid has their own



Then when it blows they pay for it.

For eg a family room the whole family buys it.





Or buy a solar inverter unit (cost about $1000) for your house.



The sun charges 12v batteries.

The batteries power an inverter.

The 240v inverter powers about 8 lights for 6- 8 hours.



Free electricity after that.!!

Answer 1622

I use them already, I just spoke to my friends and family about how great they are and how they actually save money on your power bill, they have since converted, although i think the government should step in and make them more affordable for everyone.

Answer 1623

Tell them if they don't switch to eco-friendly light bulbs today, their electric bill will rise dramatically in two days. Or there will be no electricity in the entire world if they don't switch in two days. haha

Answer 1624

Lower the price and provide a way of disposing of the mercury

in the bulbs.



All of our light bulbs were changed 2 years ago and our electric bill went up 20% last month with 20% less usage.



Last one of out of Connecticut, please blow out the candle.



Thanks Dubya.....................

Answer 1625

Get the cost of these bulbs down.

They are very expensive compared to standard incandesent bulbs.

Otherwise, just replace one a month til all are replaced.

Answer 1626

I don't know about creative, but for me, I would really appreciate it if the flourescent bulbs had a shape that was closer to the old lightbulbs.

Answer 1627

Give them some eco-friendly light bulbs to try out and tell them that if their electic bill doesn't drop you will pay it for them.

Answer 1628

Basically, the prices for the above mentioned product are still very expensive as compared to the conventional ones. It is almost 2 times the price.

So, my answer is "Sell it cheap!!".

Answer 1629

How much more energy does it take to manufacture this lamp and it's electronics compared to a simpe light bulb?

Answer 1630

I would not use those light bulbs the cost of them do not justify the offset of electric being used. I bought them and they do not last as long as they say they do and they are pricey.

Answer 1631

The best way is to attach them as a bauble on top of gifts, and attach a note explaining the reasoning behind the item.

Answer 1632

WalMart. Loew's, and all the other big retailers should have REBATES that would bring the cost back to zero. They'd move a lot of blubs that way. Don't want to do that? Offer them for sale @ their cost price.

Answer 1633

Make them cheaper, I'm not willing to pay $6 a bulb.

Answer 1634

.



Very easy.. Put the bulbs on sale.

In most house holds, the wife buys the bulbs.

Answer 1635

We need to make it a law to use eco-friendly light bulbs

Answer 1636

is easy .. government giveaways .. they buy all lights 1st time for all home users and exchange bulb for bulb then ban incandescent lighting .. all 2nd replacement bulbs r mandatory eco-friendly which homeowners take responsibility to change

Answer 1637

Give it to them as a gift and let them know its a way to save money? Tell them the first ones on you and then give them more info on how to stock up for the future. Of course we all like to save money and we definately like to get gifts. If you can educate some one in the process; then you've done something you can be proud of.

Answer 1638

Make them brighter. I had a few in the house I rent and took them all out because they are not bright enough. Ok so they are eco-friendly, but i like to see.

Answer 1639

Lighten up your home, garden and other pplaces where possible with eco,environment friendly bulbs and let others understand by looking at them

Answer 1640

I offer my labor to install the new energy saving bulbs in the homes of my friends. They buy the bulbs and I bring a ladder, a potato in case the older bulb breaks in the socket and a dust rag, to clean the glass fixtures and cobwebs. Everyone wins. I can stop hassling them about their antiquated lighting and they can enjoy a cheaper bill and the atmosphere they are saving.

I know it is not that creative but it's effective.

Answer 1641

Tell them which light bulbs are the right ones and where to get them.

What would that be by the way?

Answer 1642

Do it for Them. Remove all the old style lighbulbs in their homes and replace with energy efficient bulbs.

Answer 1643

There would not be the need to inspire anyone if these came in designs or look like other ordinary bulbs we know...

Answer 1644

Your kidding, right. Lower the price! It's simple math. $18.00 each for the new bulb or 4 for $1.50 or $.37 each for the old.



Walt

Answer 1645

I get migraine headaches, and the lower watt light bulbs have helped reduce them. I would recomend migraine sufferers give them a try.

Answer 1646

SIMPLE: They Save you money on your bill and they save our planet. Government should put their pants on and start giving serious incentive. Maybe the first one could be giving a few million bulbs away, show they care about our future.

I Have them everywhere.

They burn cooler (less fire danger) and longer (less hassle of changing them).

Answer 1647

I bought some myself After I seen a diplay in Lowes talking about howmuch they save on your power bill. I decided to buy some and you wouldn't belive how much brighter they are. Well worth a little extra cash when they save you 400.00 per year on your power.

Answer 1648

Buy them eco friendly light bulbs so they switch and take away their old ones.

Answer 1649

Those bulbs aren`t "eco-friendly" at all ! They have mercury components in them and put out way less candlepower. I tend to stay away from products with mercury in them, to be kind to our mother earth. You should too.

Answer 1650

Buy them give to a small group have them pass the good news on to their friends also other family. small task & price!

The effects bigger than you could imagine!

remember just one per household have them compare each bulb this should get them to talking.

Answer 1651

Lower the price. If the price was lower to about what regular bulbs are, we'd buy them more, but, since the prices are 2-3x price, economics rule. So, lower the price.

Answer 1652

Get the manufacturers to make them brighter. Hate those things-- like sitting in a bad dream where the lines of everything are fuzzy.

Answer 1653

I CALL THOSE BULBS TUBE BULBS. I USE THEM BECAUSE THEY LAST LONGER AND USE LESS ENERGY. I HAVE A AUTO REPAIR SERVICE AND WAS ALWAYS CHANGING THE REGULAR BULBS IN MY DROP LIGHT'S. I SWITCHED TO THE TUBE LIGHT BULBS AND HAVE NOT REPLACED THEM SINCE AND THAT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS. THEY ARE ALSO COOLER SO YOU DON'T GET BURNT ON THEM.

Answer 1654

well i just bought a friend of mine enough bulbs for her whole house.... i found them at home depot for something like $10.00 for a 6 pack of 60 watt equivalent and went through and changed them all... it only cost me $30.00... since they wont burn out for about 5 years i took her out of the incandescent light bulb market until at least 2012....

Answer 1655

The product needs to be more refined. Energy saving lights are harsh on the eyes.

Answer 1656

it will save them money and the bulb lasts 5 times longer

Answer 1657

Give them as stocking stuffers, house warming or as an additional gift. I switched and although they are more expensive, I am hoping to realize a small savings on my electric bill.

Answer 1658

These fluorescent lights work but have short lifespan for the expense.

Home Depot version is junk.

Answer 1659

Provide a list of vendors who sell the bulbs. We have been unable to find them.

Answer 1660

Design fixtures made to accommodate the new light bulbs. They are often too big, too fat, or too heavy for my fixtures. I definitely prefer them as they last longer, but I have trouble finding lamps that will accept them!

Answer 1661

Show them your use of CFLs in your home and how bright your rooms are without wasting all the power of incandescents. Even our bathrooms are very bright and the lamps give a true color for makeup.

Answer 1662

The best way to get people to buy ecofriendly light bulbs is to simply sell nothing else!

Answer 1663

Maybe not creative, but give them to people as gifts: for birthdays and holidays, from a city's energy department, and/or provide tax incentives. Keep It Simple Silly!

Answer 1664

This isn't inspirational but the cheapest bulb gets bought usually.

Answer 1665

Start using the US media scare tactics. People are afraid of Terrorism, scared of Cancer, fearful of child snatchers. Just start telling people just how scary the next global energy crisis will be.

Answer 1666

stop makeing the other lights and those would be the only one out there, then convert the existing factores to make the new lights. so that people will not lose there jobs!

more of them would = less money to buy.

Answer 1667

Make them the same cost as cheap standard light bulbs..... people are very tight when it comes to money

Answer 1668

compact flourescents are not eco-friendly. they contain mercury, a poison heavy metal that is a potent neurotoxin. very bad for the environment and very bad for animals and humans. flourescent lighting is also THE WORST lighting for working in. horrible for students at schools to learn under and horrible for workers to do good work. if you want eco friendly lighting L.E.D's are the answer and they are just now being developed.



http://www.lumileds.com/



http://www.ledtronics.com/



http://www.enluxled.com/



http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Electrical-Electronics/white-LED-lighting

Answer 1669

State Government should mail every household a free six pack of the bulbs and tell them to write it off on their taxes. sickkk

Answer 1670

I never heard of them. Honestly. I thought a light bulb was just a light bulb.

Answer 1671

The best way I would say to inspire your friends and family to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs is by telling them they will save money by doing so and every one wants to do that!!! The first cause of argument is usually about money between spouses :)

Answer 1672

Remind them that in the summertime the old incandescent light bulbs fight against their air conditioners by creating lots of heat. Tell them about the savings in their electric bill.

Answer 1673

Military Grade Tactical Flashlight : http://FlashLight.uzaev.com/?onva

Answer 1674

Buy a box of 12 light-bulbs , put a card in with it saying something about how each of their birthdays to also remember the earth and its birth (and health) and wrap them as a 2nd birthday present to go with whatever else you got them for their birthday !!!!!!!!!!



signed; BARBARA ANN BARKER-HANSEN

NAPLES, FLORIDA

Answer 1675

well the company needs to make them an equal price as the incandecent bulbs and design them to put out as much light as incandecent bulbs these bulbs save energy because they dont put out as much light

Answer 1676

tell the company's that make them to make them more like real light not a artificial light. then and only then will every light bulb in all my buildings be changed.

Answer 1677

I wouldn't recommend those bulbs to be used due to my past experiences. The bulbs we had blew up & one caught our house on fire. Lucky for us, we were home when it happened or we wouldn't have a house at this time. Until I got a proof of some kind that they have changed, I wouldn't recommend them for anyone to use. Thanks for your time.

Answer 1678

Get the prices lowered to where they are more affordable than regular bulbs. JIM D.

Answer 1679

#1. Drop the global warming crap. Using that line immediiatly show you to be intellectually lazy and not very smart.

#2. Lowered electrict bill. I use them myself and like them for many reasons. None of these reasons have anything to do with the environment.

Answer 1680

Tell them LED bulbs will save energy AND money! Check out this site:

http://www.earthtechproducts.com/led-campaign-.html

Answer 1681

Write your Govenor and ask him to pass a law requiring all stores to sell only eco-wise items, turning every store into a market of energy efficientcy. Its as simple as that. Then every company will have to convert their products into eco-wise items.

Answer 1682

tout the savings over the life of the bulb and the idea that they won't need to be changed nearly as often

Answer 1683

In today's money-driven society, the best way to make people use hi-eff lightbulbs is by making their purchase and use tax deductible, just as they did with low-emission cars, and to prevent logging companies from using clear-cutting methods.

Answer 1684

I think if you convert all of your own lights in your home or business, then you could show people your savings (if any) on your electrical bill. The bottom line is what most people react to.

Answer 1685

1. Simple be a John Appleseed of the Lightbulb world bring one along to the office, a party, to a friends or relatives house.

Answer 1686

Make them easier to recycle. They have mercury in them and should not be disposed of in the regular garbage. Every merchant who sells them should collect them for recycling. There should be a recycling facility specifically for these bulbs in every community.

Answer 1687

I'm going to email a picture of one to all my friends and family so they know what to look for in the store.



I just bought my first one today. I didn't know exactly what to look for, and FINALLY found one on the top shelf when I saw the star symbol. They look AmaZing like one of those curly crazy straws!

Answer 1688

I just tell everyone how much I like them.



They save lots of money on the electric bill, they last a whole lot longer, and their light color is so much nicer than the old fashioned ones.



Honest truth. :D

Answer 1689

Does it matter? The earth is going down the drain anyway. And half of the US (damn republicans) wants people to spend as much money on energy as possible so they can make more money off their stocks and investments.

Answer 1690

Do what seems to motivate this country to do anything. Tax Credits. From eliminating sales tax on these products to energy rebates. Americans care more about their money than their world.

Answer 1691

charge a fee against old-fashion bulbs to make it the same price as the eco-friendly version, about $0.50 per.

Answer 1692

I've switched to them and had my Mom's sister over to look at them and she doesn't like how they have to warm up to get 100% bright (heard this from others too) also the sister says florescent lights cause cancer in humans.

Ricky

Answer 1693

I hate fluorescent lights, they give me a headache and hurt my eyes. I will not even turn them on in my office where I had to bring in a floor lamp for light.

Answer 1694

How about not charging an arm and a leg for them, when regular bulbs are so cheap?

Answer 1695

Make sure the CFLs work the same. I have run into problems with lack of diming capabilities and size.



Don't have the experience that I had of buying CFLs and then not being able to use them.

Answer 1696

Lend them the Al Gore movie. If they won't see it, give them free bulbs. Provide cheap sources of such bulbs.

Answer 1697

Whats wrong with the lightbulbs we have been using for years? I dont like the new ones. Instead of, ,"How to get people to switch to the new ones?," how about, " How to get Eco-friendly nazi's to stop trying to impose their will on everyone else?"

Answer 1698

If they save that much money. The goverment should send everyone two in the mail. Once everyone has them and sees the pluses they will go out and change the rest.

Answer 1699

i think that you should be able to trade in your old light bulbs and trade them in and use the credit for the new light bulbs. i switched all the bulbs in my house and i actually like them better than the old ones.

Answer 1700

Forget it the darned things are inferior to incandescent bulbs. Low light output and poor color.

Answer 1701

take the amount the company plans to spend in advertising, and use have to send free light bulbs to people in big market cities. one can not beet the word of mouth advertising.

Answer 1702

hide them around there house...well not really hide but put next to the lamp, and say hang a sign from the lam saying CHANGE ME! something like that that'd put a smile on their face and make them realize the better eco-friendly lightbulbs

Answer 1703

Tell them you use them, that it saves money, electricity and changing bulbs so often. It is great for the environment and that is good for all of us.

Answer 1704

Don't let them know that the bulbs are loaded with mercury and that there is no safe place in which to dispose of these lightbulbs one they have expired.

Answer 1705

well by trained first then when it comes to be a conversation about if it saves on electricity or energy i say if is true or not . i have two sisters-in low that own there homes so they know save some money way not try-it.

Answer 1706

Maybe the electric companies can afford to buy them and give each house 4 of them. This would lower their costs and they would have to produce less electricity which would be cheeper for them. We all make out.

Answer 1707

Make them affordable like the other light bulbs!!!

Answer 1708

Lower the price to compete with regular light bulbs.If they did that it would be no problem at all to buying eco-friedly bulbs.Sounds like a pretty easy solution to me.

Answer 1709

I don't know about the most creative way, but if you made them cheaper than regular bulbs that wuld be the most effective way to get people to use them.

Answer 1710

This type of lighting saves money and we use some of them in our home. One of us is sensitive to eco-friendly light bulbs, so we have to be selective where we use them in our home.

Answer 1711

know your audience. Some will jump at the chance to get the very real money savings, others will sincerly appreciate the

opportunity to do the green thing and feel good about it.

Either way it is a win win.

Answer 1712

Tell them if they want their grand children to live in a healthy buy those light bulbs.

Answer 1713

As a Realtor I say let us do it. We sell most homes every 3 to 5 years and we could include changing blubs when we list the home to sell. I could get my mortgage, title, and other vendors to help. Have the builders do the homes they sell and, BAM!



[e-mail]

Answer 1714

If the light coming from these bulbs were a better color you couldn't get people to not use them. They would sell themselves!

Answer 1715

have it installed and given to you for free!!!

seriously this is what I do for a living I give and install energy efficient lighting (cfl,t8,reflectors,porch light, and interior fixtures). If you live in California and own a home, rent a home, or own a small business, you could have this lights given to you for free through P.G.E, Southern California Edison, or call your energy company and see if these programs exist for you town or call my company Winegard energy who is a subcontractor for several power companies at 1-800-314-4447 or email me and I will try to give you more info if you live in California.

Answer 1716

I would love someone to buy them for me and would be nice gesture if that person also install them.

That is if you know the person is not going to ever get around to it, do it for them.

Personally I have bought and changed all my lighting and I love them and wouldn't go back to the other kinds for nothing.

Answer 1717

Everytime I saw a non-eco friendly lightbulb in a friend or family's house, I would take a golf club and smash it right out of the socket. Then I would say, "See Btich, if you had an eco friendly light bulb... then your kids wouldn't have to walk through mercury poisoned glass!" Then... I would go out and hug a tree.

Answer 1718

The problem I have with switching to florescent light bulbs (which are supposed to save energy) is a selfish one - I don't look good in florescent light. If there was a light bulb which had the same kind of light as daylight - I'd be the first in line to buy it.

Answer 1719

Well, get it so that the eco-lights have dimmers. And put commercials for major sports games and popular TV shows

Answer 1720

I started Tziki Lighting Company. Now they feel obligated to switch.

Answer 1721

Republicans unfortunately won't care. so that's at least 100 million people who are inspirational. but a good way to get people to switch is by legislation. time for the government to take charge.

Answer 1722

I have bought eco-friendly bulbs for my family. Once they saw how well they worked and how long they lasted, they chose to use them as well.

Answer 1723

With easter comming up the most creative way would be to dress them up for easter. Have little easter bunny/chick/egg lights around the house. you could stick little ears and tails on them so that they're more festive.

Answer 1724

The most creative way to inspire is to gift them. But in order for them to be used exclusively, they need to be affordable or long life. I care a lot about the environment, but it sucks that it's not necessarily affordable to care for it.

Answer 1725

Those bulbs save energy, but they contain mercury.



Make sure you recycle them properly, or you'll be doing more harm than good.

Answer 1726

Just tell them that using these bulbs will save them a lot of money.

Answer 1727

Have the government ban non-eco-friendly bulbs.

Answer 1728

Build them to last longer than normal light bulbs, and sell them cheaper. It is basic economics.

Answer 1729

Add a large tax on all other light bulbs.

Answer 1730

The bulbs need improved brightness.

Answer 1731

I just went out and bought an 8 pack and changed the lites in all the lamps, front porch & rear porch.

Answer 1732

Make these bulbs more affordable, price dictates when it comes to light bulbs.

Answer 1733

throw them out! hard light is revolting. you may have to change regular light bulbs more often but global warming is a myth anyways so who cares.

Answer 1734

Talk manufacturers into tinting the glass tubing a creamy color to offset the eerie glow of natural fluorescent. It's the color that puts people off.

Answer 1735

Buy a few for your friends and family and show them the benefit of using them. Here are some cool facts to share with them: http://www.energyrefuge.com/archives/energy-saving-light-bulb.htm

Answer 1736

it's a myth to say eco friendly ( compact florescents ) light bulbs are in fact eco friendly, they are not, yes they are more efficient in lumens per watt consumed, but what is not mentioned is that they are not landfill friendly at all.

Answer 1737

Tell them that it saves money by using 1/4th of the energy that incandescents use, and that they also don't have to change them quite as often (most useful for light bulbs that hard to get to, such as one's in the cieling).

Answer 1738

Lol. Not the most inspiring question in the world.



You can buy them the light builbs as gifts I guess.

Answer 1739

It's really easy. Just explain that they'll save 50% on their electricity bill once they subtract what their electric clothes dryer, TV, entertainment center, etc. draws.



Turn off the light at the end of the tunnel, please. It's not a train.

Answer 1740

Listen to Rush Limbaugh!

Answer 1741

Get them all eco-friendly light bulbs for christmas, easter, birthdays etc.

Answer 1742

The best way to get friends to move to eco-friendly lights is by example.

Answer 1743

unless they have a tree planted in their bedroom, and no 'big picture' vision about their lives, you can't. Besides there is no way that light bulbs are harming anything that much unless its your own eye from staring into one that is turned on.

Answer 1744

Show them Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth"...and explain to them just how much CO2 each conventional lightbulb creates as opposed to eco-friendly ones (150 lbs more per lightbulb each year!).



Or you could just break into their houses, switch all of their lightbulbs out and bill them later. :)

Answer 1745

eco-friendly ice cream twist looking bulbs.

They are the ugliest & harshest lighting in the world,

I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

Use candles if you are so worried.

I hate those ridiculous lights.

Answer 1746

Obviously use them yourself, then tell them it's the latest modern trend. With that, add that they are decorative, provide good lighting, saves them money AND will help the environment. That'll usually get peoples attention ;)

Answer 1747

the price needs to be lower



another point to consider LED light bulbs are the most efficent much better than florecent

Answer 1748

Easy, make them better than the incandescent. Incidentally mercury vapor is extremely damaging to the environment.

Answer 1749

Lower the prices. If it's going to help Mother Earth, let the corporations make sacrifices also.

Answer 1750

Make them brighter. All of the ones I've seen give off a dim, yellowish light. Bright lights make me feel healthy.

Answer 1751

Cheaper bulb.

Answer 1752

This is for all you "seniors" out there. Don't be stagnant. Be progressive. Help the enviornment. As long as these new bulbs last they are cheap

Answer 1753

Buy them their first pack of lightbulbs for a funny holiday gift, along-side their real gift, explaining all the benefits and adding in that you were, "also thinking about saving them money in the long run".

Answer 1754

You buy the bulbs for them. Nothing inspires me like free stuff.

Answer 1755

People relate to money. If it makes dollars it makes sense. It this case simply explain the financial benefit, and potential long term savings.

Answer 1756

Eco-friendly light bulbs? Who cares??!! Give me a break.

Answer 1757

Quite simple...show someone an electric bill prior to and after switching to the low-wattage bulbs...it proved it to me...



The proof is in the pudding, as they say...

Answer 1758

Offer cash back insentives. Money talks.

Make them more afordable than regular light bulbs.

Answer 1759

Lower the cost to make them cost equivalent to incandescent bulbs.

Answer 1760

bottom line they cost less to operate, and give better light. bottom line, if they are concerned about the world they live in , and are smart they will switch, but most people just follow the person in front, they need to start changing the lane, they are in . great question

Answer 1761

1. Quit selling incandescent bulbs. It's that simple.

Answer 1762

My husband switched us to those eco-friendly bulbs and they stink. They take way too long to get up to full brightness.

Answer 1763

well first they have to be cheaper. sincethey are so expensive right now its no wonder why no one will use them. probably for the rest f my life which is about 70 years or so I will probably be using regular lightbulbs as I am not paying more for something that will do the same.

Answer 1764

Give them the bulb!



Tell them you've had good luck ever since you started using

the new bulb, and tell them they will too (and save money!)

Answer 1765

Stop selling non eco-friendly bulbs.

Answer 1766

We can save a whole lot of petrol and electricity by NOT going to a piece of propaganda like "An Inconvenient Truth," Lawrence. Get rich quick on a REAL story.

Answer 1767

Well you go and buy the light bulbs and carry them in your little bag and then go to your freinds and familys house and change them discretly if they wont negotiate..



b x

Answer 1768

become a masked lightbulb thief . then the next day when they discover in horror that all there bulbs have been stolen console them wiv a batch of eco friendly bulbs .

Answer 1769

By having them switch to the reliable source for there lighting needs at www.Daycoalighting.com

Answer 1770

Don't accuse people of being evil if they aren't as enthusiastic as you are about eco-friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1771

How bout making them cheaper then the cheap non-eco friendly bulbs?



Or better yet, give them away!!



Or even better, give them away and pay me for taking them.

Answer 1772

make them more affordable at least less expensive then the non eco friendly light bulbs.

Answer 1773

I believe that if most people really are explained the benefits of making a change they will gravitate toward said change if it is truly beneficial and that fact is honestly presented.

Answer 1774

Well Show them on a colorful creative chart! About how much money they save on energy! I love animals thats why I have them but it saves tons of money too!

Answer 1775

Take your eco light bulbs and shove them up your butt. They are no better then what I am using. Plus don't shove your eco crap on me this is america and I will use what I want.

Answer 1776

Make the price extremely low and the quality extremely high.



Make it mandatory.



Stop making the old bulbs.



Distribute fairly.

Answer 1777

what I did for my Mom was this: she was away and I changed them all as a "gift" to her upon her return. They also last longer, so it's more safe than her changing some of her bulbs.

Answer 1778

Eco friendly light bulbs, 22watts versus 100watts consumption at about $1.00 ($0.83 in our area) per kilowatt, means that if your 100w light bulb is on for 10hrs it costs you $1.00, if an average household energizes the equivalent of 5 light bulbs for 10 hrs per day, that equals 5 dollars per day, $150.00 per month, $1800.00 per year, versus a 22watt light bulb, under the same conditions, would cost about $400.00, if ecology for you is not an issue, maybe your pocket is.

Answer 1779

Well: of course we'd used " 60 Watt lightBulbs for lights

in our own house like Floresent types brought from Retail

Stores"

Answer 1780

I think it would be great if you made a video that talks about how

your friends and family are slowly damaging the world around them. Show them what will happen to the world within the next 50 years. Try to make your video convincing and make your friends and family feel really guilty that they are destroying the place that has given them a home. Confront each and every one of them about specific things they are doing to destroy the planet. Keep this up until they feel utterly guilty. Also, try building a model of the world and demonstrate manually what is happening to their planet every time they don't use eco-friendly lightbulbs. Every holiday, you should make videos as presents for everyone that informs them about the efficiency of eco-friendly lightbulbs. Also, you should make flyers about the lightbulbs and hang them up around town. What I'm saying is, soon your friends will be so annoyed with you, that they will buy the lightbulbs to get you to be quiet. If that doesn't work, try begging or bribery (he he. Just kidding).

Answer 1781

Telling them you can save $50 a month by switching & use that $50 to buy a DVD on video nights. tada

Answer 1782

Don't just wait till the wake up to themselves. Go buy the globes, put them in their house and tell them, right, now you're green I expect you to stay that way. When they see the saving in their power bill, I am sure they will.

Answer 1783

Make them cheaper then standard light bulbs.

Answer 1784

Take the initial cost off of electric bill. Or, give them as birthday and Christmas presents.

Answer 1785

I wonder if these bulbs really help at all. Are they even worth the extra cost?

Answer 1786

Please don't let them persuade you that these light bulbs are an equivelant--they are not. I treis them and i had to back to the regular bulbs in order to read. They are okay ina garage or basement storage including closets. No where else.

Answer 1787

You shouldn't. These bulbs are somewhat a scam. If you want less wattage simply buy a bulb with less wattage.

Answer 1788

you tell me where I can buy 60 of them at lowest price and I will switch. Do these bulbs have deem feature (multiple voltage) ? What maximum watt do they come in ?

Answer 1789

There's GOT to be more marketing of the full-spectrum bulbs that do not look like florescents!

Answer 1790

Simple make them a lot more affordable to BUY, and then people will buy them and use them if you can't afford them at the onset you won't buy them and YES i know they save on the energy and power bills in the long run.... However people have to be able to afford to buy them in the first place....

Answer 1791

Savings on one's electric bill. Secondly is the energy savings to a community's power resource.

Answer 1792

Make the color as close to incandecent or any color infact as long as it doesn't make you look worse after a night of heavy drinking, and price them to match. They look the same , cost the same and last longer. Oh and they need to be available everywhere.

Answer 1793

lol make it a funny statement or somethin intrestin, somethin like hey peoplez im goin to start going to the movies everyweekend , o wait, y am i tellin you...... with those non-ecofriendly lightbulbs theres no way your gonna b able to chillax at the movies everyweekend. Oh well, your loss............ lol it mite work or switich up the movies with one of your friends/ family members intrest :P you never knoe unless u try :)

Answer 1794

Show them a graph of how much money you will save over time and add in the fact that you will be conserving the environment, this should do the trick.

Answer 1795

Local Campaigns like : bringing your regular bulbs and we will exchange for the eco-friendly for free or half their price,

some thing like it!!

Show the quality and price.

Answer 1796

Cuttlefish....



now we inhabit this earth with a lot of creatures...and cuttlefish are some of the strangest looking ones.......



our oceans are imperiled....and there are so many species endangered not even the UN wants to deal with this problem...



but if you see a cuttlefish...whose bones are used for birds to scratch their beak upon...



you might decide that something is worth saving...



and so.........................

Answer 1797

If the light from those stupid bulbs didn't give me such a headache, I'd have switched to them already.

Answer 1798

these bulbs produce the same amount of light for 90% less money.do you want to spend 90% more on lighting your home?

Answer 1799

well, i think an easy way to get people to buy/use eco-friendly light bulbs would be to make them easy to find and very cheap

Answer 1800

I have those light bulbs and to be honest they are not as bright and you better have lots of natural light and windows but you should do it to save!

Answer 1801

Tell them that "THEY" are watching them through the old-fassioned kind, also mention that phoney AL GORE'S house uses 20 times the energy than the averave American home.Who knew?

Answer 1802

How about you just stop making the other kinds of light bulbs...problem fixed... gee that was a hard one...

Answer 1803

Lower the price of the bulbs. 2.00 a bulb is too much.

Answer 1804

Buy & install the lights in your home then show friends & family the differance on your monthly bill.

Answer 1805

Make the "eco-friendly" light bulbs tax deductable...?

Answer 1806

How about the government leading the way state and federal.

Make them tax exempt and a % refundable on Federal income tax.

Answer 1807

You guys should make chain letters and email the public so they have to pass it on to a friend about global warming and what we can do about it . to save are only home .. before we regret it.

Answer 1808

Lower the price for these bulbs.

Answer 1809

Stop manufacturing regular light bulbs... force demand.

Answer 1810

i think that if ppl raised the prices of regular light bulbs. and lowered the prices of eco friendly ones. people would buy them more yano?

Answer 1811

We bought some and the didnt last very long at all. Suppose to have 5 year warrents.

Answer 1812

Hi actually i would switch. i think this global warming issue is getting out of hand. If you need anyone to be creative for advertisments. just let me know :)

Answer 1813

Smash all of their incandescent bulbs and then offer the friendly suggestion to use fluorescent bulbs--if they do not, then smash all of their new incandescent bulbs.

Answer 1814

Break into their house when their not their and replace them yourself. & if the cops come just throw the light bulbs at them and run

Answer 1815

the most creative way to inspire them is your own house itself. if it looks good with your eco-friendly light bulbs (with the interior of your house) it will inspire them o do the same!

Answer 1816

why worry about this question!about the global environment now

we should of been worry about it years ago i think is a little too late for this invention.i think people don't care any more of this they just take a day at a time.to live their life's.

Answer 1817

thats easy, add a environmental tax to the old style of light bulbs, or just ban them all together.

Answer 1818

Advertise that the lightbulb's rays are found to increase sexual appetite by 35% in most women. Nuff said.

Answer 1819

How about this, quit ripping people off on the price of a light bulb

and my might buy them!

Answer 1820

Give them as a gift on birthdays, X-mas, etc. Anyone will use free bulbs once and once they see how awesome theyare they'll probably switch. That is, if they live to see the day they have to replace them.

Answer 1821

Quick! Give your friends Easter baskets full of chocolate and eco-friendly lightbulbs. They'll be hooked.

Answer 1822

i think that we should buy a beautiful eco-friendly light bulbs and always praising the good uses of them to our friends or relatives and ask them to have one. we can also gift them.

Answer 1823

Give the bulbs as gifts.

Answer 1824

Why do it?

They aren't as bright, are more sensitive to shock, cost about 5 times as much, and the biggest reason?

They contain mercury!

Answer 1825

Make them cheaper than other bulbs. Money talks.

Answer 1826

Put it into law ! My state put smoke detector in the law, they can put the eco-friendly light blubs into law too. It is not a personal matter, it helps everyone in the world.

Answer 1827

Goto 18seconds.org and enter your zip code. See what your neighbors have done now it is your turn. Change a bulb and change the world!!!

Answer 1828

how are they eco-friendly. Is it only when you use them or is it freindly to make them to. is there anything that can hurt you if the bulbs bust inside your home or just close to you? tell them if they are completely safe or not.

Answer 1829

If we were to take it seroiusly, I'd discontinue making the old bulb. Are the sockets compatible?

Answer 1830

Go to Home Depot (or buy them at cost on-line) pick up a case and give them to family and friends at Christmas, Festivus, or whatever holiday you celebrate.

Answer 1831

I think it's the really white light that people don't like about them. That's what I don't like about them. So if you use colored paper shades, cream, yellow, warm colors, that helps give a glow that's pleasant, not like a department store.

Answer 1832

Just like many other people have said... show them an electric bill and compare the cost. It saves money.

Answer 1833

Make them cheaper than normal bulbs!

Answer 1834

My most creative way is truth in numbers . I show them my electricity bill. My bill went down almost $50.00 a month ! It may take a little getting used to , as they aren't as brght as we're used to , but it is well worth it.

Answer 1835

Do what they did in Illinois; raise the electric rates 22 percent!

Answer 1836

HERE IS YOUR ANSWER, 3 MONTHS AGO MY ELECTRIC BILL WAS $62.50, I WENT AND SWITCHED ALL MY LIGHTS OUT WITH THESE NEW LIGHTS, GUESS WHAT MY BILL IS NOW $27 - $35 A MONTH NOW, SO LETS ADD THIS UP, I SPENT AN EXTRA $22 AT SAMS CLUB FOR THESE LIGHTS AND NOW I CUT MY ELECTRIC BILL IN HALF......YOU FIGURE IT OUT!!!....... ANYONE WHO DOESNT SWITCH IS ONE OF TWO THINGS EITHER SO FILTHY RICH THEY DONT CARE, OR PLAIN STUPID..OH YEAH I MEANT 3...OR JUST LAZY

Answer 1837

Give them the bulbs as gifts!

Answer 1838

Make the old bulbs illegal. By forcing mfg to stop making them, then consumers will gradually be forced to integrate them into their homes.

Answer 1839

Make them much less expensive! Not too creative, but it will go a long way toward solving the problem if they were competetively priced.

Answer 1840

Tell them about my experience, I have saved between 20 and 25% on my elelctric bill just by installing them in my entire house.

Answer 1841

Not the most creative wa;y but it worked. I bought them the bulbs.

Answer 1842

Buy the items for them. People are lazy and most don't care about anything in the world and that's a fact.

Answer 1843

Don't force people to use them like the Aussies. Let people make their own choice. Our lives are already over run by the government. We don't need them to make decisions for us about our everyday, personal lives.

Answer 1844

GIVE 'EM AWAY FREE!! Too expensive?? Take some of the friggin welfare or section 8 money and put to truely beneficial societal use!

Answer 1845

I'd tell them it saves us over 60% on our electric bill each month! That and the fact that they last for YEARS before having to be replaced should be enough to motivate ANYONE!

Answer 1846

Tell them that they lower your energy bill. That worked for me. They also last for about 5 years so u don't have to worry about replacing them for a while. hope this helped

Answer 1847

I heard it costs over 500 pounds of coal to burn a regular lighbulb for a month

Answer 1848

make them the same price as the incandescents and you'll get the people who shop by price alone. make them significantly cheaper than the incandescents and you'll get people to give up the quality they associate with the incandescents. no guilt trip movies necessary. no parties or gift giving. just simple economics.

Answer 1849

Make them cheaper. People buy the cheapest lightbulb. How's that? Like a lightbulb lturning on in your brain.

Answer 1850

Don't tell me what to put in frickin socket! Light bulbs mean nothin. You can tell me what to do when you pay my bills. Blow me! Global Warming go to hell. Go BUSH!

Answer 1851

make them cheaper why buy a light when its $15 or more for 1 or 2 when you can buy 4 lights for $0.99

Answer 1852

make it the cheapest light bulb. i am convinced that more than 75% of the whole world's population likes to buy cheap things. less costly = buy more of.

Answer 1853

Just tell them how much money they'll save just by swithing light bulbs

Answer 1854

Take the mercury out of the lightbulbs and I would be willing to switch!! Look on the packages, it is listed!

Answer 1855

Tax incandescent bulbs, the same way we should tax vehicles which don't meet 25MPG (to start) requirements. A usage tax is a fair way to assess taxes apon those who incur the greatest damage.

Answer 1856

if you know anyone with a home that they are not in much , such as a shore home , if they have lights on timers to make it look lived in , this kind of bulb emits lots of light for it's wattage ... they would spend less to give their home that "lived in look"

Answer 1857

Show them your electric bill! Let them see the savings, that will be an inspiration,,,even folks with plenty of money like to save dollazz!!!

Answer 1858

I just tell everyone that they will save almost $100- on their power bills! And its true.... Everyone who has done that has said they have saved heaps on their power bills, and they've been very happy about it. I use energy saving lights in my house because I have a small solar system (we are not on the power grid).

Answer 1859

well, actually, we use them. they are quite good, but the only thing is that once in a while, two of the ten that we use, die out. but they get back, the ones we got came with a ten year warranty, so those got changed, and they save us money, and save the world.

Answer 1860

Yahoo buys a billion bulbs and gives them away .



Stop asking stupid questions and and put your money where your mouths are !!!!!!

Answer 1861

have them look at your energy bill that might make them realize how much they can actualy save in energy costs, if they know you are using the energy saving light bulbs.

Answer 1862

stop selling regular light bulbs and then they will have to buy the eco-friendly bulbs.

Answer 1863

lead by example, pass them out, paste your website into ims and bulletins ect etc...

im not really that creative sorry if people want to change their light bulbs then they want to, if theyd rather not, i am the last person that knows how to get them to change.

Answer 1864

Do it the American way--Tax the s__t out of the non-"eco-friendly" bulbs.



Look at gasoline, liquor, tobacco--just tax, tax, tax.



Isn't this a wonderful country we live in? Non-equal opportunity for everyone.

Answer 1865

Make the new bulbs fit into lamps. The bulb does not fit into any of my lamps.

Answer 1866

Stop selling non-eco-friendly bulbs. That way people will buy eco-friendly ones when they need to buy.

Answer 1867

Ha, ha!



Ha, ha, ha-ha, ha!



I know this answer...YOU DON'T!!!!!



I seem to remember a push in the late 80's or early 90's to conserve energy where I was living.



We, collectively, pushed usage down over 8%.



Our reward?



An 8% plus increase in the utility rates!





Fool me once, shame on you,

Fool me twice, shame on me!

Answer 1868

I have chronic migraines triggered by fluroscent lights. What do I do when the eco-friendly lights are the only lights?

Answer 1869

I have the a sure fire way of getting everyone to switch to the new bulb.....



STOP SELLING THE OLD BULBS!

Answer 1870

Well all it took for me to switch was watching Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth"! That totally convinced me!

Answer 1871

tell them since industry wont do it and the government wont do anythng to help the environment that this little gesture wont truly make a difference but you'll feel good after doing it -- just like hybrids.

Answer 1872

Buy the bulbs you want them to use and paint smiling faces on them!@~

Answer 1873

Give one as a green gift at a birthday or holiday, that way the recipient will know when they installed it and can witness just how long they last...



Aloha

Answer 1874

I teach environmental science and I had my high school students calculate the energy consumption change for their household if they switched to CFLs. They were astonished. Being inner-city kids, many of them do not have a lot of extra cash, but they saw the long term savings and were impressed.

Answer 1875

Buy Some for them for cristmas saves some money and its gd for the energy and everyone always uses a christmas present because everyone in your family knows if yew dont !!

Answer 1876

If they come in pretty pastel colors, that is a plus ... just suggest it by making a little comment like, "I just love the way my living rooms looks these days eever since I bought those pale pink bulbs ... and, by the way, they are 'eco-friendly,' which is just what I like ....



.......the do not nag, just drop the subject .... if the suggestion is not picked up at the moment, maybe later it will be accepted

Answer 1877

Its a more civilized way of "puttin 2" into the back of Osama Bin Laden's head.

Answer 1878

Tell your friends and family about it adn give them a chance to see how much better these lightbulbs are thna the regular ones...also, give them as gifts lol

Answer 1879

i got a few family members to switch by telling them (truthfully) that you dont have to buy and/or change bulbs as often. everyone has a lazy streak.

Answer 1880

There idiots if they don't change, we changed all of our lights in our home and are saving over 2000 WATS of electricity!!! Proofs in the pudding.

Answer 1881

Setup it up at your place, once they start complainting about the eletric bill. Mention your bill compaired previous months & wait until they want to know how. That's is the time to show them how.

Answer 1882

I feel that instead of outlawing old-fashioned lightbulbs, as california is doing, the government should be as supportive of the newer lightbulbs as possible, possibly by assisting with the promotion of the new product.

Answer 1883

fluorescent light bulbs create a very negative environment. i cannot stand them. they give me headaches and make me depressed. i would suggest trying ceiling windows, and maybe candles...

Answer 1884

Give them one as a gift. Once they try it and like it, they will be more inclined to purchase it themselves. They are more expensive, but they can purchase one at a time each week until they have all they need.

Answer 1885

I wouldn't want to get friends and family to use these bulbs, they have terrible color rendition, they don't fit in many fixtures (even new ones) and they are so dim, that many senior citizens cannot see to read. Please, leave us alone and let us make choices based on our needs, not your agendas.

Answer 1886

stop selling uneco friendly light bulbs

Answer 1887

To have one chapter (like UAW) in each community: -

1. to collect donations from organizations, companies to subsidize the bulbs

2. to visualize to people within community about the benefits through exhibitions, glassed wall, schools visit

3. to introduce zoning system in communities (white zone vs black zone)

Answer 1888

My way is not that creative. But I pay 40% less for switching all my lightbulbs to eco-friendly one. What do you think?

Answer 1889

When guests come to my door, I say, "Did you notice my eco-friendly porchlight? I've also used them to replace my driveway lights and though my house, too. They last longer and save energy. You should try them!"

Answer 1890

Create a web page that allow you to track how much money you are saving. Buy each other gifts with that amount.



:)

Answer 1891

low the cost of the bulbs.

give them away for free.

If energy savings is what you are looking for, why not bypass the cfl and promote LED bulbs?

Answer 1892

The companys could reduce the prices or offer tax breaks.

Answer 1893

I've been using these for a couple of years. If they could make one that worked with a dimmer, I'd be really impressed!

Answer 1894

Do like I did, buy a pack for someone and they will be hooked.

Especially with the "Day light" lights, those are really white and brilliant.

Answer 1895

They r cheap, good for environment, last longer than regular bulbs, and r brighter!!! tell them that and they will probably switch!!!

Answer 1896

I have had these, they burn out just like regular bulbs.

If you want people to use them, give them away for free.

Answer 1897

It will be dificult as long as the price of this kind of bulbs are sooo expensive.

Answer 1898

scare them of global warming and tell that if you do not use eco friendly bulbs, you are contributing to global warming

Answer 1899

have technology improve them so that they dont give off that ghastly greyish institutional looking light that you dont get with regular light bulbs. If that could be fixed, lots more people would use them, including me.

Answer 1900

Threaten to deface their house by painting a mural on the front. Painting a mural is creative.

Answer 1901

Have a party to celebrate your creative ways to be eco-friend and try to convince your friends about your opinion.

Answer 1902

talk to them about it and show enthusiams.

My boyfriend and I discuss those sort of things and then we tell our friends so they can see how these eco-friendly solutions are better for them and the world we live in

Answer 1903

Make them pretty colors

Sell them already in lamps and refrigerators

Make them last longer than regular ones

Put commercials on tv and internet

Make them cool shapes

Make them cheaper than regular ones

Answer 1904

1. Make the lamp have a better color and quicker brilliance.



2. Dimmable. There many applications.

Answer 1905

Simply, price. Until the cost comes down to close to incandescents, you won't see people voluntarily switch.

Answer 1906

lower the cost of the bulb

Answer 1907

Easy way is to get the govt to make them sales tax free and deductible for income taxes.

Answer 1908

They are too bright at times - offer dimming versions. Dimming incandescent lights saves energy too.

Answer 1909

who gives a **** about a damn light bulb? it does the same thing all the others do it puts off light.

Answer 1910

show to them that the eco-friendly bulbs are more cheap than the floresterin one.

Answer 1911

Try encasing them in a yellowish tinted translucent covering to give them the old fashoined 'lightbulb' look.

Answer 1912

to use them in your own house then have a party or get together and share it with them there. You can also tell them that it uses less watts than regular bulbs and so its cheaper... I use them in my own home and they do use a lot less watts.

Answer 1913

Make these lightbulb cheaper. 7 bucks per is a little high when compare to regular lightbulbs

Answer 1914

I hope the global warming scam does not turn folks away from conservation.

Answer 1915

just go to walmart to look for bulbs! the one near where i live doesn't sell anything but eco-friendly bulbs...

Answer 1916

At birthdays or Christmas get them some as a extra gift.

Answer 1917

Ban the sale of convential light bulbs. guuu-day

Answer 1918

Define "eco-friendly". Surely you don't mean the squirrely fluorescent ones, with mercury in them.

Answer 1919

just ask them to try the new light bulbs for a month or so and if they dont like them they can go back

Answer 1920

well it is a slow process. I use them in my house and I just make it a point to rave about them to friends. I have 2 friends that are slowly changing over.

I make it a point to talk about my electric bill too; I know that is tacky but I want everyone to know what a difference they can make.

Answer 1921

Tell them how cool they look in bulb visible fixtures. IE ceiling fans.

Answer 1922

In Australia they have just brought in legistation making it illegal to use ordinary lightbulbs, which will come into effect in a couple of years.

That should do it!



Rob Daniel (Danny) http://www.chocmint.com

Answer 1923

Send them threatening letters. That are covered in bits of non-energy efficient lightbulbs.

Answer 1924

honestly, my roommate showed me the difference, and I wanted to start changing everything right away. They actually seem brighter on less wattage. That was my buying point.

Answer 1925

Stop producing any other product such as traditional bulb!

Answer 1926

do like i did get off the couch and go buy them install them easy done takes a few day to get use to the light there great and you feel good about it

Answer 1927

Sell them for less than the regular ones, THEN explain the other benefits of using them.

Answer 1928

ban the old school light bulbs with laws...pretty easy....those old light bulbs should be banned by the government

Answer 1929

well first you have to make is easy for them to buy.. you can talk about them all you want and give them out as gifts but if they cant buy them at the store whos gonna go out of there way to by them online? get them in the stores and sell them for less or the same as normal bubles and your good to go.

Answer 1930

Lower the price

Answer 1931

MAKE THE BULBS MORE AFFORDABLE.

THE ONES I BUY ARE ON AVERAGE ABOUT $8 EACH.

A LITTLE MUCH IF YOU NEED 10 OR 12 FOR YOUR HOUSE.

Answer 1932

I don't like flouresant lights. They make me nauseus. Their light make things look weird. Even the type that are supposed to immitate day light.

Answer 1933

Bulbs need to be brighter.I use them in areas that I don't use often,but for reading and and other things,I prefer a much brighter

light ,such as a tri Lite,or one with higher wattage.

Thanks

Answer 1934

do like everything else they do to us put a 50% tax on incandescent light bulbs when you buy them

Answer 1935

buy back incandescent bulbs and give a tax break to those that show decreased electric usage

Answer 1936

Maybe offer tax incentives to people who change all lightbulbs in there house to these eco-friendly lightbulbs.

Answer 1937

You tell us. You're the one with the bully pulpit from which you preach you mindless drivel. We are but sheep awaiting you, our shepherd, to save us from ourselves and the evil right wing conspiracy that threatens our very existence.

Answer 1938

Use posters and acting to describe the danger environmental pollution poses to the planet.

Answer 1939

a copy of one electric bill using regular bulbs compared with another bill using the better choice. they will see.

Answer 1940

When you are at their houses just randomly start replacing thier lightbulbs with eco friendly ones.

Answer 1941

I have boughten them before. Suggest to friends to buy them. BUT my issue is; most are manufactured in CHINA. I do not like supporting a Communist country that has a one way trade policy. They export, but do not buy from us.

Answer 1942

Give people carbon emission credits just like big corporations get. You can then sell them to a corporation that needs them.

Answer 1943

Remind them that they contain mercury and need to make sure their local officials are able to dispose of them correctly. Do not throw them in the trash.

Answer 1944

$ this is something anyone will understand...though the initial investment is more, they last longer and generate less heat...which certainly represents wasted energy as far as the lighting is concerned, the liberated heat, that is

Answer 1945

If you have friends and family that are a little unwilling to switch, focus on how much money they will save. Money talks!

Answer 1946

just you know write or printa short and throuhg report on how the ecofriendly light bulb may help conserve energy in our everyday lives.....

Answer 1947

0_o... Omg



I swear I'm not kidding.



One of my friends, George [Ahem a much older gentleman 90 something maybe?] Gave me one of those bulbs.



Out of no where he said he had something to give me, and out comes this single bulb.



It did make me happy and I did love it. 0_o..



I think people SHOULD give them as gifts. It'll be great.

Answer 1948

I gave, as a birthday present, a case of CFL lightbulbs to my sister. This way, she can either replace them all at once or as needed.

Answer 1949

Tax the hell out of non eco-friendly products. As we do with gasoline, cigarettes, and alcohol.

Answer 1950

Drop the prices

Answer 1951

I won't. They do have their uses, but I find often that the color quality simply isn't up to what I prefer. Not to mention dimming them is a royal pain.

Answer 1952

What about a brighter one? 60 is ok most of the time, but for reading and sewing I want something brighter.

Answer 1953

Show them the fire hazards/lumps of melted plastic/wasted money they become when used in circuits with dimmers (energy saving devices) or dawn/dusk sensors (ditto)...

Answer 1954

Make them better than regular ol' light bulbs. If they were better, people would use them. I've tried them, and I hate them!

Answer 1955

All this is BS. All that has to be done is to bring down the price of the damned things and people will buy them.

Answer 1956

Make the available for relatively the same price.

Answer 1957

Give them as gifts. Then explain to them the $$$ you're saving each month, then slip in that it's good for the planet...

Answer 1958

Throw a party using nothing but eco-friendly lights!

Answer 1959

that 'eco-friendly light bulbs' is actually refering to compact fluorescent lamp (CFL),mentioned in his profile (click his name,read his 'about me' area).well, fluorescent lamp is successor Incandescent light because it's more energy-efficiency than Incandescent light.besides that,it produce less heat than Incandescent light.that mean you save lot of electric bill.domestic electric demand will decrease,fossil combustion for generating power decrease and air pollution will decrease too.that why it's called eco-friendly light bulbs.so,in my opinion,most creative way to inspire your friends and family to switch to eco-friendly light bulbs is by telling its advantages over Incandescent light and it will save the electric bill.show your electric bill before and fater use CFL would be fantastic.i'm sure this method work.for starting,it good to make them as a gift.



all lamps in my house is 100% fluorescent lamp.i prefer warm light color one rather than white daylight one.

Answer 1960

well the sdg&e rep. came to our house and gave us some free energy saving bulbs and told us all the benefits..plus it saves money from our bill..who wouldnt say no to saving more?

Answer 1961

Is this even for real?!?!?!?! Given all the other concerns in this world....hey, I don't know.......Hunger, Abuse, Murder,,,,,,are we really discussing how to get people to switch to eco friendly light bulbs......AMAZING......thinking we need to put our resources to other causes and to put our energies.....no pun intended... to them too.......I cannot wait till my only concern in this world is eco friendly light bulbs!!!!! WOW! The world truly is an amazing place isn't it????!!!!!????

Answer 1962

You have to be kidding me. How about finding

creative ways to stop burning coal to power the

cities in the first place.

Answer 1963

I think a lot of people just need to KNOW - awareness. Let them know that the lightbulbs last longer, are cheaper (they are, right), and where they can be bought.

Answer 1964

Duh. Money. Make the compact flourescent bulbs the same price as incandescent bulbs!



How are the C.F. bulbs ecologically friendly when they contain mercury that gets buried in the landfills?



"It just goes to show ya, ......it's always somethin'."

Answer 1965

These lightbulbs are noisy after a while, that is the only reason why I dislike them. Otherwise they are ecofriendly lightbulbs. I wish they would make them less noisy.

Answer 1966

THIS IS A NO BRAINER.....MAKE THE PRICE AS CHEAP AS AN EVERYDAY LIGHT BULB....BRILLANT AIN'T IT. NO ONE GIVES A RATS *** WHAT THEY PUT IN THEIR LAMP AS LONG AS IT IS VERY INEXPENSIVE. NOW, TELL EVERY BIG GREEDY CORPORATE AMERICAN SLOB THAT IT IS THEIR GREED WHY WE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND NOT TO MENTION AIR AND WATER POLUTION. the end

Answer 1967

Did you know that your " ecofriendly light bulbs" have mercury in them? That does not make them ecofriendly.

What is your answer??

Pat Devlin

Answer 1968

to convince them i would say the Eco -friendly bulbs are more officiant and better for your home.

Answer 1969

Make them as inexpensive as incandescent bulbs.

Answer 1970

Buy the bulbs and give them to your friends and family as gifts. You do the environment a favor, and the gift is a very practical and appreciated one.

Answer 1971

switch ALL of your bulbs to the ecofriendly type and show them the difference in your light bill!

Answer 1972

*I* happen to use those bulbs because I prefer the white light to yellow. *YOU* should start getting your facts straight, and stop lying to people about the environment.



http://www.junkscience.com

Answer 1973

1. They're cleaner. Your old relatives will live longer because the lightbulbs waste less energy.

Answer 1974

give them as gifts that or give them a beautiful lamp and tell them eco friendly bulbs look best in them!! lol

Answer 1975

$ 22/60 = 33% less operational cost. Would you like to buy gas for 6.75 cents or gas for 2.25 its just math.

Answer 1976

The company who makes these products would probley work with your idea and sell them for less and people would see that and buy them.

Answer 1977

Give them all the money they would spend on them and they will use them. I can't afford the initial output, so give me a few of your millions and I will try a couple.

Answer 1978

Just put "Eco-friendly" as a preface and you can get anyone to do anything whether true or not or necessary or not

Answer 1979

Send one free to each household to try and include a cupon to help pay (incent) for the second one.

Answer 1980

occasionally the public utility in our county puts out 19cent coupons for the spiral bulb- i buy several cases and hand them out.

Answer 1981

Standard light balbs are against the law!

Answer 1982

It's simple. IF...and only IF it saves ME money.. I'll buy it.

My friends would do the same. LED lighting interests me..

IF, the price is right.

Answer 1983

Tell them they need to be changed less often. Goes over big for ceiling fixtures

Answer 1984

Show them the stats on how much money and energy they will save. I'm already using them !

Answer 1985

I would hire top designer's to make the lights as fashionable as possible.

Answer 1986

My friends and family? Tell them they last a lot longer.



The bulk of the country? Tell them it will accelerate the arrival of the rapture.

Answer 1987

First approach the subject honestly. The question is so light and brightly worded that it resembles a corporate campaign to sell. The same words used every where to sell us things we don't want or need.

Here you go, Exchange old bulbs for new ones,

Or make them cheap and available at walmart for like 2 for 99 cents.

If the real issue is to save the world, then put your money where your mouth is. DMV's hand out free child seats, gun makers hand out free locks.

If you want to inform the public of opportunities to "purchase at cost" ways to help the world, then that's great. You could start by contacting GE, Sylvania, Phillips etc and having them STOP producing regular lightbulbs and stop the import of the regular lightbulbs.



You see, consumers aren't all looking for new ways to spend. They want new ways to save. So hand them out one to a customer free for every walmart visit, every movie rented, every tank filled. I don't mean with the prices of goods purchased raised. Work hard to make sure every house is filled with them and you will make headway. Unless its a birthday or for someone sick, how often do you buy $4 balloons? If you need one you can get a bag ful for a buck.

For years there have been light saving bulbs similar to the ones you talk about that you , to pay off. have to use many years

Investing in lightbulbs sounds dumb. No seriously. Can you see lightbulbs listed as assets in divorces, in the paper at estate sales, people fighting over them as wills are read?

If you want to make people see how necessary they are take ALL the profit, out of the picture. Otherwise its a scam.

We can do our saving as well by turning out lights we don't need, opening shades, using lower wattage bulbs. Using reading lamps if we have to.

You will have to make it a civic duty or a law otherwise.

It's interesting that you used the word "switch" in your question.

You probably meant "BUY" which is a dirty word in add campaign jargon. Avoiding it, puts the question in the category of suspicious questions and invites the stigma that goes with it.



Nothing personal. But if someone came to my door, used the word, was declined, then offered a free gift, I'd refuse on principal.

The public, is deluged with false advertising, Get a FREE phone, but not unless you pay for a service contract. Satelite dish companies are the most brazon.

My advice is to be honest, not annoying.

Let Ellen and Oprah give them away. One thousand per patron and a personal verification that every one was screwed in a socket in a home somewhere and when its done they get new cars or something. Or adopt 1 community in each state and replace ALL the lightbulbs as a free public service, collect all the old bulbs, destroy them , make the old ones illegal to sell or posess within the city. Track savings, Have film Icons carry them, use them for grooming, as murder weapons, have truck loads stolen, have Bond go on a mission to stop Spectre from destroying the worlds supply of them. Lets see speakers carry and display them on films and at the oscars....lol

Start a fad for Rap artists to carry them taped to their bling and hats etc.

Tape one to Hillary Clintons head. Maybe two lol These aren't bad ideas. Really. Many citizens will actually see this as cool and fall for it bringing it into more homes.

Magic shows with dissapearing lightbulbs.

If Hillary is FOR the use of them maybe she will play along. It is sure to get her on every channel and on every newspaper, as well as mentined and her image seen on every talk show for months, if not years. Say, "C'mon Hillary, do it for the planet" and she has just got to say yes. Just think of the exposure, not to mention hat and t-shirt sales. lol



Have the cast of "Extra" carry them and not mention exactly why for a week and cause a national buzz. Let the cast of Lost discover a burried cache of them on the island. Let 'House" discover a rare disease miraculously cured by the bulb continous use over a patient who has too much vitamin D.....since the wavelength of light produced by the little florescent doesn't help the body produce it.....

Boy this is fun.

Have America's funniest videos have a special on Bulb vids.

Put them on UTUBE. Have kids sell replacements door to door instead of expensive wrap, stale popcorn and subscription we don't want or need.

At the drive up window they ask, "do you want to "TRY a Whopper special today"

I think, SURE lady, as long as you are just handing them out. But its a sales pitch. Its a half truth, its a turn off.

By the way, this is free advice. A small sacrifice to save the planet. Lets see the world of business do the same.

Answer 1988

this bulb has to be cheap and the people will run to it u happen to give free items with it

Answer 1989

Just show them the before and after of your electricity bills! That should be enough incentive.

Answer 1990

I don't know about creative - but if they were cheaper and the non energy savers were more expensive...it would encourage people to buy them.

Answer 1991

Give them as Christmas and Birthday presents.

Answer 1992

Make 'em cheaper, and more readly available for light fixtures that have a "dimmer" switch.

Answer 1993

ban old style light bulbs

Answer 1994

Change them all in the... living room, for example, without telling them, and then the next day, they can see the difference themseleves, and they'll love it.

Answer 1995

brake the bulbs in there head and the mercury will do the job

Answer 1996

Explain the savings in energy costs. People will always listen to their pocket books.

Answer 1997

Tell them that the light emitted from these bulbs is a natural aphrodisiac and hence, switching will get them laid.

Answer 1998

Buy them theses light bulbs for their birthday. Its a message!

Answer 1999

Invite them over for a dinner party, as guests are mingling, and you are showing off recent house projects or decorating tips--rave about your eco-friendly light bulbs, and the decrease in your energy bill.

Answer 2000

Tell them to tell ecowakos to go to hell. Let everybody decide what they want. Free country, did we forget that as Americans. Tell Al Gore and Global warming bullshit to go to hell where he belongs.

Answer 2001

I bought one for each member of my family and included it as part of their Christmas gift. It was a fun way to get them to try it.

Answer 2002

By making them cheaper than non-eco ones.

Answer 2003

I think people would be more likely to buy them if they were cheap! Perhaps subsidized by local/state/federal governments.



As far as inspiring my family and friends to buy them...I think leading by example is important, and they make GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS!!

Answer 2004

Do your own test- My personal electricity bill was reduced by half, the very first full billing cycle I had them in. Try it for yourself and calculate your own savings:)

Answer 2005

They are energy savers but not good for envorment on disposal.

there is a powder in them after they burn out but they dont tell you this.

Answer 2006

Get Energy companies to give out '' Energy saver packs '' to people who sign up for '' Green energy ''.

Answer 2007

family, just go ahead and give em a sample on a much used light!

do the same for friends, they'll appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Answer 2008

Lower the prices and make them the only thing available.

Answer 2009

design trendy lampshades from recycled materials that actually fit the bulbs

Answer 2010

LOWER THE PRICE,These bulbs are priced a little high

Answer 2011

Giving them as gifts seems like a likely option.

Answer 2012

remember to give bulbs for birthdays and christmas or halloween: i give bicycle dayglo poster squares on duct tape hangers to people who are too busy to get run over.people are generally oblivious: if they refuse then you id'd a retard.

Answer 2013

Use them yourself and point out how super cool and great they are. I'm often turned on to cool new stuff because my friend's swear by something or other, and I trust their opinion.

Answer 2014

I am never going to change the way I live. I like being wasteful.

Answer 2015

Nothing like giving mercury laced lightbulbs to fight an unstoppable threat.

Answer 2016

show 'em the episode of Mythbusters where they test lights,, myself,,i have been using LED bulbs

Answer 2017

The best way is to use them yourself . Kind of like being a good example . Your children will pass it on to their children .

Answer 2018

Live in Canada. We have the largest reserves and are the smallest consumers.



It's second knowledge here to most people to do this. I think you will have to change American society.



for that, I have no easy answers.

Answer 2019

An Inconvenient truth? More like a convenient lie.

Answer 2020

I can't say much now, but "Mr. Luna's Bright Idea" is going to be a big part of the answer...

Answer 2021

You can for one lower the cost of them. They work wonderfully. If you lower the cost of them and promote them more and better. You may get the people to buy them.

Answer 2022

Show them my electric bill before and after I changed them...I was amazed at the difference!

Answer 2023

mail out free trial light bulbs or coupons.

Answer 2024

Hand them out to your friends and family for free.

Answer 2025

Make them cheaper. Take the other one's off the market.

Answer 2026

Have the home and garden channels start encouraging people to use them.

Answer 2027

Give them a good fvck. That will inspire them and it is a "creative way" to do whatever the sh** ur talking about.

Answer 2028

I think the goverment should remove all other bulbs. and that way everybody is using them. solved

Answer 2029

money, the cost savings is overwhelming. I use them in my house, inside and outside. I have been using them for years, plus they are cheap to purchase.

Answer 2030

have a tv blitz , radio , etc. for a week and then offer them by the half dozen for a very special price for a very short time.

Answer 2031

make possible to become same price with regular bulbs. make same design with regular bulbs

Answer 2032

Hmmm.. Stop selling ones that aren't eco-friendly. Done.

Answer 2033

May it as a law, we have to save the world

Answer 2034

I tell my friends not to buy them........a month or so ago....I ran out and bought 10 of these and put them in various lamps and sockets.........6 of them are allready burnt out.........i have switched back to regular bulbs.........

Answer 2035

Buy a bunch. Give 'em away. Screw 'em in if you have to. Makes a great Christmas gift!

Answer 2036

buy a bunch at walmart in the multy pack and switch em out when they aren't lookin. see if they notice the difference on their bill.

Answer 2037

We give them as gifts along with a pamphlet that describes their environmental and financial benefits. For older parents and others, we offer to install as part of the gift.

Answer 2038

creative way - everytime i visit just restate wow the lighting could be better here.. i found these new light bulbs here i got you one lets try it!



but over all i am a blunt person and have just asked them plainly after of course i watch that movie / documentry i forgot the name of it but it's about being all green!

Answer 2039

I am currently using the eco-friendly bulbs. I tell friends how they save money and you don't have to change the bulb as often.

Answer 2040

but what of the mercury they contain? getting folks to use them is easy enuff , they provide better light at reduced cost

getting folks to properly dispose of them is quite another matter

Answer 2041

You couldn't pay me enough to switch. I'm tried of you wackos pushing your agenda on the rest society.

Answer 2042

just put some colored films on these bulbs, like red blue yellow, etc. good luck

Answer 2043

I have two bulbs in my kitchen.But! they are real dull lights. Not as brit as watt bulbs.

Answer 2044

break all of their others bulbs and buy them all eco-friendly light bulbs

Answer 2045

havem look at their lite bill from ecxelon & guaranteem a paycheck.maybe see how to make photovoltaic housepaint.extract light(cold) producing cells from fireflies

Answer 2046

Give them to your friends and family for Christmas stocking stuffers and at birthdays.

Answer 2047

None- flourescent lightbulbs actually are more toxic in landfills and they also hurt your eyesight in the long run- sticking to candescents, thank you!

Answer 2048

Two Words... Tax Break

Answer 2049

It is not my job to inspire them if they want to use whatever darn lightbulbs they want them let them. I could care less about the planet after I am gone!

Answer 2050

Symply explain how much money they will save in the long haul

Answer 2051

Give one away with every Sports Car and SUV

Answer 2052

Talk to them about them.And explain to them your light bill goes down.You show them your light bill if you use them kind of bulbs.

Answer 2053

Give them the money you saved on your last energy bill

Answer 2054

Why don't you mind your own business. What makes you so much smarter than your friends and family. You sound like real tool.

Answer 2055

Get them, to work with timmers that people already own. Then do an exchange program to trane people.

Answer 2056

Show them a lower electric bill, seeing is believing.

Answer 2057

This one is simple! I just showed them my electric bills (before and after using the eco bulbs).

Answer 2058

Tell them it saves them money on their electricity bills. In fact, if you switch them all over a few months they pay for themselves in a few months more in the money you've saved on electricity...

Answer 2059

i was convinced not when i read the articles or heard about how it was good for the environment, i was convinced when i saw them in action. i like how they are so much brighter, but not really hot. i really like how they last a lot longer. in lifespan alone, the bulbs pay for themselves.

Answer 2060

let them know how long the florecent light bulbs will last!/ or just break all their existing bulbs!

Answer 2061

.I use this type of light at my house. first I saw them at my friends house then I started to use them as well. so I think the best way is to use them first then let the others use them.

Answer 2062

Just compare you elect. bill with the people living around you.

As in my case every one ask, why my elect. bill is so low?

The answer is: I use eco-friendly light blubs!

Answer 2063

Just let them know that they will save money! If it's some goverment idea, if they can show they bought them, use them as tax deductions.

Answer 2064

offer a rebate them bulbs are just to darn expensive

Answer 2065

need higher wattage, convert to 150 - I use converted to 100 wats, not bright enough, also, a 3 type- 50,100,150

Answer 2066

buy several secretly and install them. After awhile expose them to the truth of the experiment.

Answer 2067

It's going to have to be a little bit stronger than trying to inspire people to play along, especially when they have to put out their hard earned cash up front for intangible results. I think there is an answer in the video industry, when they wanted to change formats, from Beta to VHS and then from VHS to DVD, they just went whole hog to the new technology which forced the extinction of the old. If we as consumers didn't upgrade our equipment, we were simply left out in the cold. So why wouldn't a similar tactic work with light bulbs.

Answer 2068

I bought my mother a few and it worked. By a few and pass them around. They will thank you in the long run.

Answer 2069

Example & Electric bill

Answer 2070

make them free

i bot a house and did buy some for it, but, not enough, as they cost too much. old types are cheap.



competitive pricing is key. or make them free

Answer 2071

THIS IS THE BIGGEST SCAM EVER!!!!



HOW CAN LIGHT BULBS "SAVE" THE PLANET??? YOU PEOPLE ARE SO ARROGANT. GLOBAL WARMING IS A JOKE.

Answer 2072

Save electric power, our natural resources, and conserve our efforts .

Answer 2073

make the bulbs more affordable to people

Answer 2074

to make the wattage brighter and provide money back for your old bulbs.

Answer 2075

save

Answer 2076

Show 'em your electric bill and compare it to theirs. Better yet, invite 'em over for a party and THEN show 'em the difference...

Answer 2077

buy them 4 them cuz i know they r more expensive than ordinary bulbs thats why i dont switch

Answer 2078

Give them some as a gift

Answer 2079

the way i would show them is, hey look at how cool this bulb looks compared to your old edison looking bulb. mines is twisted and such, its brighter and last longer. o by the way, it saves me mucho moneys. mentioning money ALWAYS gets your point across. good luck!!

Answer 2080

A straight and practical solution would be: MAKE THE COST OF CONVERTING TO ECOFRIENDLY LIGHTING CHEAPER OR EQUAL TO CURRENT OR CONVENTIONAL LIGHTING SYSTEM. Thank you.

Answer 2081

A company - GreenAlliance - are offering free products & installations to all properties in NSW & ACT. go to www.greenalliance.com.au to register & get their installers to come to your property - free of charge!

Answer 2082

Let them know how much they would save on power on their bills, that is how we got convinced to change and glad we did.

Answer 2083

Just make those inefficient old-fashioned bulbs illegal, as Australia has done and as Ontario (Canada) may soon do.

Answer 2084

Offer to supply and pay for them for the rest of their lives. I bet they'll say yes!

Answer 2085

By not making the old incandescent ones!

Answer 2086

quit selling the other bulbs

Answer 2087

i dont know but i bought a lot of those lights youi have in the picture and they are very expensive and burn out to soon

Answer 2088

Stop selling the inefficient ones!

Answer 2089

We have to change the color. I work in Flourecent Lighting all day. I don't want to come home to it.

Answer 2090

I would simply tell them it saves energy and money. I believe if someone hears that they can save money they will go for it.

Answer 2091

Lower the price.

Answer 2092

I know someone already mentioned price, but that's truly the thing, if they made the damn things affordable people would use them more often.

Answer 2093

make the electric companys provide them to their customers they can buy them at bulk and get a discount, past the savings on to their customers

Answer 2094

Offer tax credits like they do for larger buisnesses

Answer 2095

By never showing them the calculations that show how tiny of a problem it is.

Answer 2096

Stop bull shi**ing the country on your Eco lies, and maybe we will buy into them because they last longer.

Answer 2097

I simply show them my electric bill. Not especially creative yet very effective.

Answer 2098

I wouldn't. I've learned that they contain mercury and break easily while in the trash, which harms the environment. The risk

outweighs the benefit.

Answer 2099

Like others have said, I've made a pact that I will give everyone the same present this year for their birthday/christmas/whatever - 8 eco friendly light bulbs.



If you want something done...

Answer 2100

I"m not sure if there is one - but if there's a cost effieincy tell them that.



More often than not $$$ is the bottom line on decision making.

Answer 2101

Don't sweat the small stuff

Answer 2102

Why ask?



Just replace them all, then throw out the old ones.



its easier to get forgiveness than permission right? :D

Answer 2103

If you take Al Gore seriously, I want nothing to do with anything you suggest!

Answer 2104

Give them as present...they last so long that they will notice the advantages of using them

Answer 2105

my girl scout troop is selling them as an eco-friendly fund raiser :)



(well, we plan to, we're technically not allowed to sell anything but cookies during cookie season, but we're working on pamphlets and such to help sell them)

Answer 2106

Give them as gifts. A box of four only cost me $2.00.

Answer 2107

Give them as gifts with a info sheet or pamphlet about why they are better.

Answer 2108

I think it would be a good school fundraiser...also get rebates from the state on your state tax return!

Answer 2109

sell them for cheaper then other light bulbs are

Answer 2110

Make them less expencive then the regular ones. Or even better... bump up the price on regular ones. :)

Answer 2111

If CFL bulbs were dimmable, it would be easier to get people touse them.

Answer 2112

Give them away.

Pay people to dispoze of the hazmat bulbs.

Build more Nuclear plants and it won't matter.

Get real, instead of this stupid Liberal "feel-good".

Answer 2113

Use them yourself first.Then tell them why they are dangerous.Really know you're facts about eco-friendly light bulbs.Be really frindly about them.

Answer 2114

Give them 1or two as a gift in a new fixture(lamp ect.)

Answer 2115

tell them they can also be smug,holier than thou,self important blowhards!Screw light bulbs (HA HA).Try some real solutions like nuclear power.

Answer 2116

Basically just send them free samples and get them to try it out, once they see the excellent impacts it has they will gladly switch!

Answer 2117

Give it to them as gifts. Maybe as part of eco-friendly gift basket complete with organic tea and chocolates :)

Answer 2118

Why? Are you now the self appointed lifestyle coach of the family? Banishing them to a life of inferior lighting to appease a bunch of crackpot anti-capitalist zealots?



Inspire your family and friends instead to live large and be Americans.

Answer 2119

Show them the money saved form before you used them to after you used them.

Answer 2120

Creative ways? i don't know, but I think cost and energy savings should inspire everyone.

Answer 2121

You could give them as gifts (especially house warming gifts). You could spread information.

Answer 2122

buy the bulbs for them

Answer 2123

I give them as swap gifts at Christmas

Answer 2124

Simple. Make electricity more expensive.

Answer 2125

make the light bulbs so they are more pleasing and not so big and bulky.

Answer 2126

give them a free bulb to try .

Answer 2127

HAVING THE ECO-FRIENDLY BULBS BEING MORE AFFORDABLE WOULD INSPIRE MANY MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS AND FAMILY..

Answer 2128

The best thing is to make the price cheaper and thats it!

Answer 2129

Install them in your own house and demonstrate then and there the features and benefits.

Answer 2130

No more dependency on middle east oil that will in turn support the terrorist.

Answer 2131

The money saved should easily convince anyone to give them a try!

Answer 2132

ya u should take him 2 a house where those r present

Answer 2133

get some that live up to advertised expectations and that fit in sockets. have repeatedly tried them for several years and find them to be disastrous.

Answer 2134

Count me in! I will buy a florescent-thingy tonight, right after work.

Answer 2135

set an example put them up at home and show them to your friends and family how much better it is. and its cheaper and helps the ecosystem.

it worked for me.

it might work for you.

you never know.

Answer 2136

why bother...go hug some trees will ya ....well known in science that these lights are very bad for your eyes anyway. just put in some 100 watt'rs and be sure to smoke while you are doing it.

Answer 2137

You can help out in the community.

Answer 2138

I would give them as gifts like with a new lamp...with an explanation! Just a thought!

Answer 2139

Word of mouth to your friends and family about products such as Ott Light's 13-watt reading bulb. It is the next best thing to natural sunlight. Most people just don't know there is something better than the ordinary light bulb. Tell them!

Answer 2140

It's pretty simple, Dont make the other ones anymore.

Answer 2141

Make them dimmable... I have yet to find one in Home Depot or Lowes that I can dim...

Answer 2142

I wouldn't because I'm not a bored liberal trying to force the world to adhere to my retarded ideas.

Answer 2143

Tell them if they don't they will be forced to watch Brittany Spears get her head shaved.

Answer 2144

LOWER THE FIRST COST TO LIGHT BULB COST

Answer 2145

Easy, make it the cheapest thing out there. Then people will buy it. I might even buy it if it was cheap.

Answer 2146

Show them this film, and tell them this is what will happen if they don't switch to your insane (higher priced) demands!

Answer 2147

I suggest baking cookies and giving them to those who agree to switch. That would convince me!

Answer 2148

We gave them out as Christmas gifts :)

Answer 2149

Make them cheaper!!! And, or stop selling everything else. What about buy one get one free!! That'll work.

Answer 2150

Enforcing use can be easy if nothing else is offered in stores nor elsewhere.

Answer 2151

Buy them and go to your friends and family members homes and just switch them. Trust me! they well thank you.

Answer 2152

They make great gifts! For someone special...They light up your life!

Answer 2153

i use these blubs and have saved $35 a month on my light bill thats one good reason

Answer 2154

Give them one for a birthday present!

Answer 2155

That they last longer and save you money on your electric bill. That should be enough for anyone.

Answer 2156

Show them your electricity bill and watch there jaw drop. Lol

Answer 2157

Challenge them to live without electricity and water for 3 days (though lesson)

Answer 2158

Pledge to eat all of their old ones. I'd switch over in a heartbeat.

Answer 2159

Tell them it will save them money in the long run. We just did it in our house and our electric bill went down by $30 a month!!

Answer 2160

tell them they wont have to change the lightbulbs for 5 years

Answer 2161

BUY A LARGE PACKAGE AND REPLACE THE INDIES AS THEY FLASH OUT. THE ONLY DRAWBACK I HAVE IS THEY TAKE ABOUT ONE SECOND LONGER TO COME ON. IN TIME YOU GET USED TO IT. LOL

Answer 2162

The only way I believed is to make it cheaper to buy .

Answer 2163

Tell them about Kirkology.

Answer 2164

Try not pushing off your own personal agenda onto other people!

Answer 2165

i used to be someone that blabbed on and on and on and now i am very quiet and write slowly, paragraphes not novels so i save paper - and i always have my editor review my text because that's her job.

Answer 2166

Bring the cost down, I use these in my home

Answer 2167

two jars with coins, one for each type/wattage. figure what it costs per month of equal usage. fill jars accordingly.

have them pay the bill.

Answer 2168

Easy, do the same thing you do with cigarettes - tax the old ones.

Answer 2169

Pass a law that makes it compulsory!

Answer 2170

I gave them to friends and family for christmas.

Answer 2171

i know that if someone gave me a "fact sheet" on why they are better along with a sample pack. it would probably change my mind and i would begin to use them.

Answer 2172

Buy them all a year supply. Most likely they'll be hooked.

Answer 2173

I dont know if this is creative but so far it has worked for my friends and family... I tell them about the savings on their electric bill that they will receive. When you tell someone it saves them money, you will be amazed at how quick they will jump at it

Answer 2174

definitely give them as gifts...and if you are the sneaky sort - switch them on them...after they have started saving money on their bills for a couple of months show them what you did...

Answer 2175

Give them away for free

Answer 2176

stop production of the inefficient incandesent light bulbs... not produced, no one can buy it.

Answer 2177

Make them bloody cheaper

Answer 2178

you pretty much have to GIVE them the bulbs or else they arnt going to buy them.

Answer 2179

Give them each a pack of the lightbulbs for the closest holiday, maybe a birthday and another gift or if you want, give it to them for Christmas or holiday that you celebrate

Answer 2180

Just buy them for them and put them in thier places for them

ppl are laxy you have to do stuff for them. Thats what I had to do.

Answer 2181

hit 'em upside the friggin' head with a lead pipe until they change.

Answer 2182

who says it eco friendly!!



Yes they use less electricity and last longer



BUT they are full of mercury and other toxins that CANNOT be recycled!!

Answer 2183

Buy them for the person. Those puppies are expensive!

Answer 2184

Show them how some of them cast a nice cool glow like the "daylight " ones. The savings on the hydro bill, I think, would entice anyone as well as the guilt free use of light. Also, get some information pertaining to how if every one used at least some of these bulbs pollution would be lessoned by a great( if not astounding) amount

Answer 2185

switch on the light

Answer 2186

keep GE and Wal-Mart shoving the sh!! down America's throat until they can't shove no more......than turn the dang light off on both!

Answer 2187

bluebell answer has it for me ...people usually are hard to change in habits but an awareness that they can see benefit's from can easily change that.

Answer 2188

Saving energy also saves money...everyone is motivated by that.

Answer 2189

Make them priced competitively.

Answer 2190

Show them your reduced electric bill

Answer 2191

I gave a few to my parents - too bad they dont pay for elictricity.

Answer 2192

try to give them the real evidence of the saving that you already got.

Answer 2193

Learn the truth then tell the truth.

Answer 2194

make it illegal to use the old light bulbs.

Answer 2195

Start by making them look better.

Answer 2196

cause they are cheap if ne of u r members of sam's club there 1.18 for a pack of six wowwww thats cheap....go now there going fast.

Answer 2197

I bought them as christmas gifts for my friends.

Answer 2198

Why be creative? It may come down to dollars-and-cents, but if they like the look of traditional lightbulbs, let them go at it... it's a free country (at least it SHOULD be).

Answer 2199

Simple! Look at your latest bill from AEP!

Answer 2200

2 words, Christmas Presents- no one will just throw them away.

Answer 2201

reduce the cost.... i'm happy to change mine but everyone esle seems to be complaining about the price.

Answer 2202

Make them watch an inconvienient truth.

Answer 2203

light bulbs...don't you have to recycle these things?? how is that eco friendly?

Answer 2204

give them as gifts

or as prizes

a sample to all people in the neighborhood

Answer 2205

tell them it will save them money on thier power bill.

the only thing americans like more than money is more money

Answer 2206

Make them in America and people will buy them.

Answer 2207

Make them cheaper, then they save would save something

Answer 2208

tell them how much less it costs to use them.

tell them it does not produce heat.

The light is softer

Answer 2209

How about minding your own business and quit worrying about what I do

Answer 2210

Give them as birthday presents!

Answer 2211

Inspire? Sigh. You want people to switch? Then LOWER-THE-PRICE. It's that easy!

Answer 2212

tell them that studies show that the bulbs will enhance their sex lives.

Answer 2213

by example and showing them the bills since you've used them and how much you saved. why stop there, we also installed energy efficient appliances and windows too!

Answer 2214

for friend first you use it first then try to convince them by your example.

for family once you have bougth it from market told it about it should convince them

Answer 2215

tell them they will save money and the environment.(+2)

Answer 2216

give one free to every household.

This should come from the pocket of governement

Answer 2217

Well, some people totally shut there ears when the here the words "Eco Friendly" well, why dont you explain the benifits to us if we use it. Like, i dunno, it will prevent skin cancer or somthing like that.

Answer 2218

Show them your power bills after you switched to fluorescent lighting. . .

Answer 2219

Hey - another celebrity I've never heard of !

Answer 2220

Say it will save them money

Answer 2221

you are so cute!!



well you could talk to them or even talk to people in higher places WHO could get the word out then hope it works...



take care

Answer 2222

show them my electric bill before and after I switched over.

Answer 2223

Make them cheaper

Answer 2224

COUPON DISCOUNT, LOWER THE PRICE ON BULBS. THEY ARE A LITTLE EXPENSIVE.

Answer 2225

I think that if you just tell everyone how much money they will save, that would work

Answer 2226

Rent them a prostitute for the evening.

Answer 2227

Give them as gifts

Answer 2228

Make them more cost friendly.

Answer 2229

tell them the difference in price that they will save

Answer 2230

Give them away for free.

Answer 2231

I bought them for them!... it makes an inexpensive housewarming gift

Answer 2232

Tell them it will save them money. That'll perk their ears up.

Answer 2233

Make them brighter and less expensive

Answer 2234

Make them cheap

Answer 2235

Wal-Mart or whatever, could make those lightbulbs cheaper. People would want to buy them if they were cheaper. [Trust me.]

Answer 2236

I think that the obvious answer is to break into their house, smash all the light bulbs and then have them "conveniently" visited, shortly thereafter, by a travelling door-to-door eco-friendly lightbulb salesman.

Answer 2237

make coupons available for them and even give them as gifts...the gift that keeps giving by saving them money

Answer 2238

tell them that it will help to make their future better and everyone elses and also (of course) use them your self.Maybe you can even give them as gifts and they might buy them theirselves the next time???

Answer 2239

MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE! THEY ARE FIVE TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE - I.e., make the price competitive with standard ones.

Answer 2240

They look cool. They look like a spring.

Answer 2241

lower the price of lamps so people can afford them

Answer 2242

Appear on The Oprah show ! :)

Answer 2243

Easy--make them cheaper.

Answer 2244

Stores can make them cheaper, and have more on display.

Answer 2245

you could always outlaw the non-eco-friendly ones, like Australia is about to do...:)

Answer 2246

lower the cost

Answer 2247

Three words: LOWER THE PRICE.

Answer 2248

MAke PLENTY OF COMMERCIALS AND USE STARZ on the commercials....BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT USUALLY TURNS THE TIDE IN OUR CURRUPT AMERICA

Answer 2249

think of all the way you can save money, and trust me they work. I use them

Answer 2250

Why would I want my friends to switch light bulbs? What is wrong with you people? Why are Americans such wussies now?

Answer 2251

Explain how nice theyare, and that they save money!

Answer 2252

tell them that their brighter than the orginal bulbs, and even brighter than me!

Answer 2253

they are soo woth it, they are much brighter and give any room more vibrant light, i replaced evey lightbulb in my house with them!

Answer 2254

JUST ONE ANSWER SELL CHEAP CAUSE IF THEIR LIKE 4 TO 5 SOMETHING A PEICE FORGET IT.

Answer 2255

out law any bulb that is not effient

Answer 2256

watch fox news and vote for bush

Answer 2257

Use them at your house and invite them over.

Answer 2258

Tell them that they will save money and help the environment at the same time.

Answer 2259

Some of the best ways to get people to convert to CFL's is to offer a buy 1 get 1 free pack also to let them know that their purchase of a ENERGY STAR qualified CFL has a two-year warranty. If the bulb fails within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

You don't get a warranty with an incadesant bulb.

They sometimes offer tax incentives and rebates for purchasing CFL's.



That is also listed below.



Please note that not all ENERGY STAR partners sponsor rebates or special offers. Also, not all utilities, state or local governments, or energy efficiency groups are ENERGY STAR partners. US EPA and US DOE do not sponsor special offers or rebates and are not responsible for determining eligibility or fulfillment. For questions or comments about special offers or rebates in your area, please contact the special offer sponsor directly. If you do not find the answer to your question, you may send an email to ENERGY STAR at [e-mail].



Under the energy bill, you may be eligible for federal tax credits if you make energy-efficient improvements to your home in 2006 or 2007. Read more about federal tax credits for energy improvements.



You also need to inform them that CFL's require a differant type of recycling process.



I have listed more info below.





Purchasing TipsPlace ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs in the fixtures you use most frequently. CFLs are most efficient when they operate for several hours at a time (2 hours or more).

Certain CFLs are designed to work in dimmable, 3-way fixtures, as well as torchieres. Check the package to be sure you are buying the correct bulb.

Use ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs in the fixtures that are hard to reach such as ceiling fans, other ceiling fixtures, and enclosed outdoor fixtures. Because CFLs last longer, you enjoy the convenience of buying and changing bulbs less frequently.

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Select the best shape and size to fit your needs:

Bare, Mini-spirals, Spirals

Bare, Double, Triple, and Quadruple tubes

Circle-line

Covered A-line

Covered Globe

Covered Bullet or Torpedo

Smaller sizes mean greater compatibility with your fixtures. Today’s ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs are designed to be smaller and thinner than earlier models, so you can install them in a wider variety of fixtures, such as wall sconces, ceiling-mounted fixtures, and ceiling fans.

Qualified CFLs are available in a range of color temperatures:

Warm, white light: Look for a color temperature of 2,700–3,000K.

Cooler, white light: Look for a color temperature of 4,500–6,000K.







What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?

Follow these guidelines to dispose your CFL properly:

•

Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist. To find out what to do first check the following website: www.earth911.org where you can find disposal options by using your zip code (*see detailed instructions at the end of this document) or by calling 1-877EARTH911 for local disposal options. Another option is to check directly with your local waste management agency for recycling options and disposal guidelines in your community. Additional information is available at www.lamprecycle.org. Finally, IKEA stores take back used CFLs, and other retailers are currently exploring take-back programs.

•

If your local waste management agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the CFL in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, you should search a wider geographic area for proper disposal options. Never send a CFL or other mercury-containing product to an incinerator.

•

To encourage customers to buy energy efficient products, ENERGY STAR partners occasionally sponsor special offers, such as sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on qualified products. The search below is provided as a service to consumers to find such special offers or rebates where they exist, based on information that partners submit to ENERGY STAR.



In addition, you may be eligible for federal tax credits if you make energy-efficient improvements to your home in 2006 or 2007. Read more about federal tax credits for energy improvements.



Enter your zip code below to find out if there are any special offers or rebates currently available on ENERGY STAR qualified products in your area.

Answer 2260

Make lamp shades that fit on them!!

Answer 2261

Make them work with a dimmer switch....

Answer 2262

Show them an eco-friendly light bulb in one hand and three twenty dollar bills in the other. Tell them the money represents what they can save by using this bulb instead of the other kind.



From the site http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/efficiency/savingenergy_secondary.html




Increasing your lighting efficiency is one of the quickest and easiest ways to decrease your energy bill. If you replace 25 percent of your light bulbs in high-use areas with fluorescents, you can save about 50 percent on your lighting bill. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) provide the equivalent amount of bright, attractive light and no longer flicker or buzz. Although CFLs cost more initially, they save money in the long run because they use only one-quarter the energy of an equivalent incandescent bulb and last 8-12 times longer.

Each CFL you install can save you $30 to $60 over the life of the bulb.



In a typical home, one compact fluorescent bulb can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 260 pounds per year. If every American household replaced one of its incandescent light bulbs with a CFL, it would save the same amount of energy as a large nuclear power plant produces in a year. >

Answer 2263

you will have to pull my old eco-killing lightbulbs out of my cold dead hands.

screw the environmentalists

Answer 2264

thay are the bast bulbs we avert had here in my and hoome herer

Answer 2265

Slash their car tires

Answer 2266

Those are actually proven detrimental to your health.

Answer 2267

You beat them. Not very nice but effective.



(it's a joke.)

Answer 2268

Legislate!!!!

Answer 2269

lower the price, that always a turn off when i see them.

Answer 2270

Show celeb's using them. If it's "cool" people will buy it.

Answer 2271

Hydro bill before new bulbs....68.00/month. This months bill.....41.53.

Answer 2272

Affordability! Need I say more?

Answer 2273

make sure you use them and tell them it save some green (if not all) both for nature and your pocket

Answer 2274

those bulbs are bad for you

Answer 2275

let them know about them and what they can do. if you got the time and money then send them a case :)

Answer 2276

Buy them lamps and fixtures in which they fit!

Answer 2277

I never will switch. This is nothing more than hysteria.

Answer 2278

Price, price, price.



Dumb Question. Even if there's no such thing as a dumb question.

Answer 2279

Show them my utility bills from last year and this year.;-)=

Answer 2280

Lower the price... might work?

Answer 2281

Uh... What's it worth to you? I hate all of these "please give us poor multi billion dollar companies some free ideas" polls... Nice try though ;)

Answer 2282

i have an idea....make them fuh-king cheaper! then ill buy them for the whole house.

Answer 2283

price em cheaper

Answer 2284

Make them "wallet friendly!"

Answer 2285

Make them cheaper.

Answer 2286

Give them away

Answer 2287

Make them cheaper.

Answer 2288

offer to pay their light bill if they switch

Answer 2289

Tell them that it will save them money.

Answer 2290

Stop being creative and just do it

Answer 2291

I don't have a clue ,maybe you should advertise the product more?

Answer 2292

Scare them into doing it, give them reports about the impending destruction of the planet by global warming or you can always give them as a gift or lead by example

Answer 2293

Lead by example...... switch off your computer!

Answer 2294

Bottom line is, make them cheeper!

Answer 2295

to stop al gore from being a hypocrite

Answer 2296

i tried very hard to do it...but those sobs think that i am a left coast butt drubber..besides they say the goverment pays the electricity for them and not to worry your california asss...just go down to FMA and get all that free shitt

Answer 2297

By having an eco-friendly lightbulb party! I'd showcase all the finest eco-friendly light bulb designs and fittings and give a full demonstration to all my friends and family emphasizing that not only will they be saving energy, but they will be saving money too.



I'd explain that although an eco-friendly lightbulb will cost more to purchase than a regular light bulb, that they can save up to £100 over its lifetime, as eco-friendly light bulbs last on average 12 times longer than regular lightbulbs!



I will give out free sample eco-friendly light bulbs to get them started with the motto, 'save money, save energy, save the planet'.



HTH : )

Answer 2298

tell them that they are ruining earths atmosphere if they aren't using those kind of lightbulbs or anything. i gues...idk

Answer 2299

first i whold try it then i whould let them now if they are good are bad my mom has one riht now and i think that they are bad

Answer 2300

Give them out as presents.. birthdays.. anniversaries.. and so on. hehe.

Answer 2301

have them made in the USA

Answer 2302

just keep talking about them. they will eventually get the hint.

Answer 2303

give them as gifts so others can try them out for themselves.

Answer 2304

buy them and go over there house and replace them for them

Answer 2305

COUPONS!!!! Especially if I can get it free or dirt cheap I would use them.

Answer 2306

you can show by demonstrating how good it is. also you can lend one to someone so they can try it out

Answer 2307

Tell them it will help them lose weight...grow thicker, more luxurious hair...live longer...and increase their libido.

Answer 2308

Just leave people alone. Don't attack people with your views.

Answer 2309

i don't think it's really a good idea because it build with Mercury.

Answer 2310

legislate, thats wot the victorian government have just done

Answer 2311

tell them how much $ theyll save

Answer 2312

buy them as a gift, especially if you are buying them a lamp.

Answer 2313

tell people they look fantastic in the new wavelength

Answer 2314

Ban them.

Answer 2315

i know.... we should tell them that if their great great great great grandchildren wanna live, then buy the eco-friendly lightbulbs =]

Answer 2316

hahah...its soo easy...before i used to pay $60.00 on my electric bills now cuz i used that on my apartment...i only pay $15.00 believed or not......i'm pretty sure they will used it too....lol

Answer 2317

well what my mom did to me was she show me the difference in their electricity bill and it make me switch that day. so i think that if you are using then share your electric bill.

Answer 2318

well duh.... why not just make incandescent lightbulbs illegal? the government is doing enough to outlaw things like smoking and cars sitting idle.... maybe energy efficiency should get with the program....

Answer 2319

tell them that they could save allot of money

Answer 2320

LOWER THE COST OF EACH UNIT.

Answer 2321

tell them that they will save money and power dams

Answer 2322

lower the prices.

Answer 2323

their interesting shape is enough to make me wanna buy them.

Answer 2324

Very simple, make them cheaper...

Answer 2325

lower the price.

Answer 2326

give one to some one and tell them to watch it glow.

Answer 2327

UHHH...MAKE THEM CHEAPER FOR ONE, USE THEM YOURSELF FOR 2, AND GET YOUR FOLKS SOME FOR 3.

Answer 2328

I THINK A GOOD SIZE REBATE IS A GOOD START AND KEEP ON WITH GOOD MARKETING

Answer 2329

give me one for free

Answer 2330

EASY AS PIE MAKE THE CHEAPER

Answer 2331

who cares

Answer 2332

give them away for free

Answer 2333

Buy them and install them for them.

Answer 2334

well, they save money, and who wouldnt want to save themselves some money?

Answer 2335

make damn things give out more light HA!HA!

Answer 2336

Give them away.

Answer 2337

$

Answer 2338

the bulb must be cheaper..... that's the point....

Answer 2339

make them not flourescent, i hate flourescent lights

Answer 2340

buy them a few, let them use them and see if they like em

Answer 2341

PLAIN AND SIMPLE ..........SELL THE OLD STYLE TILL THERE GONE AND DONT!!!!!!! MAKE ANY MORE JUST THE NEW KIND!!!!

Answer 2342

certainly not by banning incandescents!

Answer 2343

taxes. Taxes are the answer.

Answer 2344

just look at your monthly electric bill. That says it all.....

Answer 2345

they prob. would if the cost would go down

Answer 2346

tell them they will save money

Answer 2347

stop selling the other kind

Answer 2348

Slap them silly until they comply.

Answer 2349

buy them some as gifts. then they will replace them with the same.

Answer 2350

Get one and try it, you will like it.

Answer 2351

put it in the cart when you are shopping with then

Answer 2352

I tried those neon ones and they are not very bright. I think they are useless.

Answer 2353

buy each one one light-they will catch on

Answer 2354

Buy them for them.

Answer 2355

Buy the bulbs and exchange them with out them knowing. Then they can see for themselves.

Answer 2356

I would go with the whole new dimmer easy to install package. You can use a remote control throughout the house and set timers up that are programmed to automate your home. In doing this you are using partial capacity and saving electricity.

Answer 2357

You people are sick. GET A LIFE!

Answer 2358

they save on your elertic bill

Answer 2359

make them cheaper. problem solved

Answer 2360

A gun would inspire any one...hehehehe!

Answer 2361

tell them that if they don't use them they are wasteful bastards / also, if you don't take care of the earth you deserve to burn in hell

Answer 2362

send them your power bill !

Answer 2363

dont f with nature or nature's gonna f with you

Answer 2364

LOWER THE PRICE

Answer 2365

smile at then and give good advice!

Answer 2366

put them in your house and let them see how they look and maybe they'll like them enough to put them in their house

Answer 2367

grab a hammer, charge into their home wailing like a banshee, smash all offending objects.lights out!

Answer 2368

make them cheaper

Answer 2369

make them less expesive

Answer 2370

make them cheaper

Answer 2371

you should give out coupons

Answer 2372

go to schools and workplaces.

Answer 2373

Make them TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

Answer 2374

make them cheaper

Answer 2375

threaten to kill them if they dont switch

Answer 2376

make them cheaper

Answer 2377

by buying them for them!

Answer 2378

give them each one to try for themselves...

Answer 2379

tell them that if the don't, the world will die.

Answer 2380

LOWER THE PRICE.

Answer 2381

BUy them a pack...

Answer 2382

tell them i'll give them an O of reefer if they do.

Answer 2383

print shop

Answer 2384

show them a few clips of future enviromental disasters and how they will be affected and that saving enenrgy will help prevent it

Answer 2385

Buy some for them, break one of their incandescent light bulbs, and replace theirs with your eco-friendly light bulbs. I did that with my Dad, who is very very set in his ways. And it worked. He now uses the spiral fluorescent bulbs as replacements.



Show them their electric meter spinning more slowly when a light bulb is on.



Once again, you'll probably have to buy some for them, and give them as a gift.

Answer 2386

stop being a loser and caring

Answer 2387

outlaw the other one.

Answer 2388

the price it's all about the price!

Answer 2389

we shouldnt be motivated it should be law to conserve. period.

Answer 2390

bribe

Answer 2391

EDISON LIGHT BULB=IMMEDIATE EXECUTION

Answer 2392

cost to use

Answer 2393

stop selling anything but

Answer 2394

switch them when they are not looking.

Answer 2395

Give them as presents.....b-days etc......It's not like they'll through them away..

Answer 2396

rag mal!

Answer 2397

45157009098927

Answer 2398

tell them you have them





works every time

Answer 2399

Make them cheaper!!!!!!

Answer 2400

coupons always work!

Answer 2401

ummm...make them cheaper?

Answer 2402

by going MEOW

Answer 2403

sneak into their house and do it without them knowing

Answer 2404

offer them sex....balls to da walls!!!!!!

Answer 2405

signs!

posters!

Answer 2406

ask them to use it.

Answer 2407

bribe them!

Answer 2408

Just switch the lightbulbs in your house with eco-friendly ones! Hey, it might work...

Answer 2409

Lower price !!!!!!!!!

Answer 2410

Tie them down in a chair.

Answer 2411

Show them this article about Australia outlawing the incandescent light bulb.

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/20/1632204

Answer 2412

Buy them for them!!!

Answer 2413

money

Answer 2414

Just show them your film! I loved it. :)

Answer 2415

ahve them do it sir, then let them see their electric bill before they do it and then let them see their bill after they do it

Answer 2416

buy them a banana!

Answer 2417

BAN ALL OTHER LIGHTBULBS!

Answer 2418

$ saved

Answer 2419

Do it when no one is looking!

Answer 2420

Price the bulbs at or lower than conventional bulbs! DUH!!

Answer 2421

**** capitalism

Answer 2422

have more sex

Answer 2423

well for one thing you tell them....how will they ever know??!

Answer 2424

Get them to watch "An Inconvenient Truth". Seriously, my whole family watched that and our attitudes changed. I used to hate those light bulbs, didn't like the kind of light they gave off and all that, but after I watched that DVD, I switched, and my next car's going to be a hybrid. We're also recycling and re-using things a lot more and have installed a new shower head that reduces our water usage.



I, and most of my friends try to be environmentally responsible, but it's not really a priority. "An Inconvenient Truth" was a wake up call for us. I agree that those light bulbs would be a great gift...in fact, a gift basket that included the DVD and a few of the bulbs would make a great present for anyone.



It would also make sense to promote this to any property owners who include hydro in their tenants' rents. There is a lot of that where I live, and when hydro is included, tenants can be very wasteful of electricity. If hydro is included in the rent, landlords should encourage power and water conservation as much as possible.

Answer 2425

Make them cheaper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2426

Make them cheaper than regular bulbs. DUH!

Answer 2427

get them drunk

Answer 2428

Play the film "Inconvenient Truth" at a high school and then host a "eco-friendly" light bulb fundraising sale. Families could buy boxes of the bulbs and the proceeds could benefit the school or a fundraising cause. I like this idea because it is grass roots but could potentially influence 200-600 households per school.

Answer 2429

Buy them some as examples!

Answer 2430

Americans won't apply first aid to a small scratch but they will rush to the emergency room for an open wound, especially if it's their child that's wounded. "Tis merely a scratch," says the hero who stands there with a stump instead of an arm, until someone actually makes him look to see that his scratch really is a severe wound.



-BD

Answer 2431

wtf? are you a nerd whats it matter?

Answer 2432

make them cheaper. duh!

Answer 2433

MAKE IF FUKING CHEAPER!!!!!!!!!! DUH!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2434

There isn't one - people are set in their ways and you need to realize that.



I don't use them and I never will.

Answer 2435

Threaten them.

Answer 2436

show them Al gore's movie "an inconvenient truth"...its out on dvd now..



its about global warming and it has inspired many people..

Answer 2437

Doesn't it have to go a LOT further than light bulbs?



Most people in our town recycle, and I thought everyone was doing it, until I went to a public function and saw recyclable things in the bin.



All people have to do is rinse them, yet it all seems too hard.



But when our leaders go on TV and say things like, "global warming is all a hoax, and similar things, well it is extremely unhelpful.



All us little people out here among the masses, can try to do their bit, but while industry keeps on belching out polluting, choking smoke, its very disheartening.



And yet, nature continues to yell at us.



More and more shark attacks happen because the fish stocks are being depleted. Old growth forests are still being logged for wood chips.



The earth is groaning under the weight of massive human growth and only a few are listening. And those few have little or no voice.

Answer 2438

do as australia does an ban them in a few years

Answer 2439

Children are quite easily influenced.

Advertise them during their tv time.

All environmental issues need do be delt with through our education system! Usually if the child says they learnt about something in school, you stop to listen and usually remember yourself!

Answer 2440

Have companies who make eco-friendly lightbulbs promote them as cost-reducing and longer-lasting.



I am not aware of any eco-friendly lightbulbs on the market, and I don't burn enough electricity to deteriorate the ozone layer anyway, and odds are neither do you.



But if these were identified as a superior, cost-effective product, cheaper than a regular light bulb, more powerful, and longer-lasting, I would buy. Why not? Who wouldn't?

Answer 2441

Print a short but thorough report on the mass importance and end with a short but sweet theology of how you feel it will benefit YOUR immediate future generation of family. Enclose one packet in a gift bag along with your summary and give as a UN -BIRTHDAY gift to those who mean the most. That could help to start a trend; at least in your circle.