How would you feel if the government forced you into using fluorescent light bulbs?

We know that anything burning produces Carbon Dioxide that goes into the atmosphere and creates global warming. Why should we wait till government passes laws? As responsible citizens and concerned about environment and health, it is our duty to do what is good for preserving and protecting natural resources so that our life becomes that much comfortable. Global Warming is taking place at an alarming rate. Science has proved it - so, burning bulbs also are contributing their share.

Any change introduced is bound to be rejected on the face of it. But gradually, it is accepted as the norm. This is the trend.

I was also against any change that could disrupt such comforts in my daily life. But my innovative mind thought about it and my proposal to the World Bank - Project U-SEE was appreciated and I was honored. Have a look at the following:

U-SEE - We must save the world from over-exploitation of natural resources

Knowingly or unknowingly we are all partners in misusing of costly electricity for our lighting purpose during day time when the solar light is available just outside our windows. Why can't bring home the sunshine?

Yes. This has been successfully adopted by a number of people in Bangalore, India. This innovative but simple method of bringing home the sunshine was suggested to the World Bank as a Grassroots Initiative for Preservation of Natural Resourcs during IDM-2007 competition - Project U-SEE (Unlimited Savings of Electrical Energy). U-SEE does not involve any nano technology nor does it requires billions of dollars for implementation. Moreover, U-SEE you get free lighting for life. No charges.

The World Bank honored this initiative and has created a permanent blog on the World Bank URL at http://dmblog.worldbank.org/mirrors-can-bring-ligh...

How is it implemented? U need a house hold mirror of 12"X18" and a pillow. Identify where u can get maximum sunshine just outside the windows with clear glass or on the balcony, keep the pillow on a stool or chair and place the mirror on the pillow, go on nudging the mirror till the solar light is deflected from the mirror, through the window and on to the white ceiling inside your home. U will be surprised to find the light spreading from the ceiling - it can be 40 to 60 watts (see the picture above - notice tube light and table lamp in the corner are not burning but there is enough light). If u can keep a bigger mirror, u will get more bright light. U can control the light just by covering a portion of the mirror.

Earth moves on its latitude. When u find that the deflected solar light is moving elsewhere, just go to the mirror, nudge a little and u can get back your light as before. THIS IS THE BASIC IDEA and once u have done it, u be the Innovator of your light requirements for your home and U-SEE PROVIDES YOU FREE LIGHTING FOR LIFE. Many homes/huts in rural areas in developing countries do not have proper lighting and people are living in dark, damp and dingy environs but urbanites living in concrete jungles in cities with tinted glasses are misusing electricity for their lighting purpose even during day time.

U-SEE the Benefits: ONE incandescent bulb/tubelight burning for 6 hours during day time consumes 7 units of electricity in a month. If half the world can adopt U-SEE and switch off one bulb for 6 hours during day time, how much of electricity can be saved? Your guess is as good as mine + saves cost of fossil fuels, coal, water+saves cost incurred for machineries and equipments+saves overhead charges+saves transmission loss charges+saves the world from global warming (burning bulbs/CO2 etc) with n'th value+ U GET FREE LIGHTING FOR LIFE with n'th value. The savings that accrue can off set the load on our productive requirements like A/c, refrigerators, mixies, fans etc.

Solar light will be available at least for about 200 days in a year and it is infinite and why should we let it go waste? We are not harnessing this infinite energy. U-SEE is ssoo simple.

First adopt this method, innovate solutions if u face small problems. U be the winner. U-SEE It is a win win situation for all of us. Need clarifications, mail: vkumar_m@yahoo.com U-SEE - The author's ambition is to spread this friendly initiative to one and all. No charges!!

Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, Bangalore, India

I live on solar and have for about 16 years now. I have started with my first cpf light bulb way back then when it actually cost over 20.00. However , I still have it and it still burns brightly. I have about 20 or so in my house, and not one of them flickers. The long tube kind sometimes do as bad ballasts etc. If your epileptic, then yes , a flickering light, most usually a strobe can trigger a seizure. But these generally don't flicker. As far as the Mercury, give me a break. There is not enough mercury in one of these to shine a dime. Don't believe everything people would want you to believe. I used to play with mercury all the time when I was a kid, as did so many others. I am still alive, well and over 60. I also painted houses with lead paint which holds up far better then this junk the tree huggers are making us use. I had a bow and arrow and a .22 rifle before I was 12 and nobody ever lost an eye to one of my arrorws nor was wounded from my gun. What I don't like however , is someone telling me what I WILL use and what I won't use. That is no longer a democracy, but communisium. Pure and simple.. If more people would use their heads from something other than a battering ram , we wouldn't be in this mess.

The main benefits of having fluorescent lighting are

1) cooler than incandescent bulbs (good for summer)

2) cheap--use less electricity for same amount of light

However, I'd not want any government telling me that I can only use fluorescent bulbs. The fluorescent lighting can be irritating in some settings. An incandescent bulb can provide enough heat in a room to help prevent pipes from freezing. There are good uses for incandescent bulbs.

Walmart has stopped selling incandescent light bulbs where I live. I don't like the light that fluorescent bulbs produce. I live in a small town with Walmart being the only store that sells light bulbs. I would have to drive 60 miles to the closest town that sells incandescent light bulbs.

I would say I was ahead of the curve.I use compact fluorescent lights in my house.Not only do they produce the same amount of light but they save me on my electric bill and last way longer than incandescent bulbs do.As far as health risks,fluorescent lights do contain mercury.Fortunately, I have a recycling center close to my house where they accept fluorescent light bulbs for recycling/disposal.

LED lights will replace fluorescent lights as the new "green" light source in the near future.

As with any wonderful devices there is something bad. So learn the risks and learn how to handle them.

Basically the gov't wants you to use less power and the cfl type bulbs do this. My house is equipped throughout. They do give off less light but in some areas I use mirrors to add more reflected light where needed. remember that 2 cfl 11w bulbs use less power than one 40w incandescent. In the long run you'll use less power and save money.

Let the market take care of this. What about poor people who can't afford the more expensive CFL bulbs? I'm sure they will come up with a plan to make me pay for them.

BTW, I've never heard about this before. The government shouldn't be telling me what light bulbs to use.

i guess id thumb my nose at them because ive allready started to change them out, i get a pack of 12 for $10 from SAMS CLUB, and i like them, started two years ago and havnt had any problems, but the government better get proactive about the disposal of these bulbs and it better not come in the form of a deposit,

the only down side ive seen wiht these bulbs is the fact that they will not work on a dimmer switch, im sure its got something to do with the ballest

Oh BS... Incandescent bulbs are energy inefficient, most of the energy is blown on heat. We built this world on mass consumerism, wasted energy, overpopulation (replacement consumers) but now nobody wants to pay up for the consequences.

The government will not force you, they will simply ban the manufacture of incandescent bulbs.

And when mercury poisoning kills several people (due to exposure to mercury fumes in broken lamps), there will be an outrage and the government will do something else to interfere with our lives.