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The Light Bulb That Can Change the World

An anonymous reader writes to tell us FastCompany is reporting on the latest and greatest version of the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). While CFLs of the past may have been efficient, they certainly were not effective. However, according to the article, CFLs have come as far as cell phones have since the mid 80s while still maintaining that high efficiency. From the article: "if every one of 110 million American households bought just one [CFL], 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."

10 of 1,137 comments (clear)

  1. How many... by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 5, Funny

    How many light bulbs does it take to change the world? No wait, that's not right...

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  2. Too much work by prockcore · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Nah, that's just too much work, let's just start daylight saving time earlier!"

    (Lives in AZ, uses CFLs everywhere)

  3. How many /.ers does it take to change a light bulb by Nos. · · Score: 5, Funny
    • You don't change it, you replace it. The bulb itself stays the same
    • lightbulb is one word
    • no it isn't
    • in Soviet Russia, light bulb changes you
    • all your light R belong to us!
    • 1
    • I'd like to see Natalie Portman change it while I'm eating hot grits
    • Dupe!
  4. Re:I've converted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have since given away to relatives my extra pre-purchased packs of old light bulbs, and I will never buy one of those oldies again.

    What did your relatives do to you?

  5. Re:So... by Alaria+Phrozen · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's worse, can you imagine the utter chaos if everyone went out and bought one at the same time?

    All those people... "out on the town" (as you hip people who go outside call it)... and the collective simultanious "ca-ching" of cash-registers everywhere.. wouldn't that be enough to shatter my windows and glasses?

    Did the submitter of this article even consider: are there even enough of these lightbulbs for us all to get one? Aha! All well, at the very least it sounds like my parent has bought more than his share of lightbulbs. Consider mine bought, thank you sir! I will however petition a GM to replace all the torches in Ironforge with these CFLs; it sounds perfect for the upcoming expansion which slashdot just seems to love covering.

  6. Re:White light? by MegaThawt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Up until recently (ie, the last six months or so) most of the bulbs you'd find in the typical discount stores were 4000-5000 degree.

    Great ... since I installed CFL's over the last two years, I have to wait only about 8 years before I can start replacing them with the 2700 degree ones.

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  7. REAL Americans... by DrCode · · Score: 3, Funny

    Real Americans aren't going to go for this. When we need light (which isn't that often 'cause we're usually out in the woods hunting), we just fire up the Hummer and aim its headlights into the window.

  8. Re:Too much work by Lord+Apathy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, I feel that way too. I got those big ass 75 watt incandesent bulbs in all my shit too. I used to give a ratts ass about the environment too but realized that I turn 40 real soon. By the time the environment changes so much that I care I'll be dead.

    Now excuse me while I go out an price a big ass SUV and I need to pick up some old fashon CFC for my A/C.

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  9. Re:I used to do the CFL bulb in every socket thing by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

    Be careful. There is no official scientific definition for the phrase "full spectrum," so marketers are free to use this term how they choose.

    No kidding. I had to take some bulbs back because they weren't emitting nearly enough gamma radiation for my liking.

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  10. Re:Correction by Alsee · · Score: 3, Funny

    Q: What is the unit of energy for burning 1 library of congress?

    A: 1 GWB.

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