Anxious about the incandescent light bulb ban? Don’t be. We’ve got all the info you need to find affordable alternatives.

I find it a little bit ironic: we use the incandescent light bulb as a metaphor for good ideas, but one of the best ideas to emerge from government in recent years was getting rid of it! That’s right, the incandescent light bulb, that hot, fat, inefficient luminary, is about to become extinct.

In 2007, George W. Bush (surprising, I know) ratified a bipartisan law that called for a ban on manufacturing incandescent light bulbs due to the fact that they’re toxic and waste a ton of energy. The phaseout started in 2012 with 100-watt bulbs being eliminated, and then last year, 75-watt bulbs got the boot. This month, the final stage of the phase our went into effect, banning the manufacture of 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs. If you had no idea any of this was going on, it’s just further proof that this ban won’t hurt the economy or plunge us into the next Dark Age, but there are still critics and fear-mongers who claim it’s an outrageous thing to do.

To them I would say, what’s more outrageous: that the government would dare nudge people and industry toward a more efficient light bulb, or that some Congresspeople would fight tooth and nail to retain a technology that wastes millions of dollars every year? But I digress.

Despite the fact that the recent budget deal will hamper the Department of Energy’s ability to enforce the new law, it’s important for we the consumers to be proactive. Why wait until there’s not an incandescent light bulb left on the shelves to decide on a replacement? Read on as we discuss the eco-friendly, affordable alternatives that you should look for instead.

3 Affordable Alternatives to the Incandescent Light Bulb

1. Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFL) – Uses 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs.

Pros: Cheap, easy to find in any grocery or retail store, fully compatible with traditional light fixtures, average expected life span is 10,000 hours (compared to 1,200 for an incandescent light bulb).
Cons: Contains mercury which is toxic if the bulb breaks and makes it hard to dispose of properly; sometimes takes a few minutes to reach full brightness, sometimes delivers a harsh, cold glow. Some also say that CFL lifespans have been greatly exaggerated. See this list of conditions that can cause CFLs to burn out more quickly.

Learn more: EnergyStar guide to choosing a CFL.

2. Halogen Bulbs – Uses 10-20 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Pros:  Fairly easy to find, same look and feel as incandescent, no heat-up time like CFLs, dimmable.
Cons: Wastes a lot of energy as heat, light can be too intense for some applications, doesn’t last that much longer than an incandescent light bulb.

Learn more: ConsumerSearch halogen light bulb review.

3. Light Emitting Diode (LED) – Uses up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs.

Pros: Wastes very little energy as heat, cool to the touch so it’s safer, average expected life span is 50,000 hours which blows both CFLs and halogens out of the water.
Cons: Initial cost is higher than other bulbs–but this is rapidly declining as manufacturers continue to develop cheaper LEDs that are compatible with traditional light fixtures.

Learn more: CNET’s review of the best LED light bulbs.

Related on Ecosalon

Behind the Label: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

10 Ways to Show Off A Light Bulb

A Gleaming Globe of Light Emitting Diodes

Image: antonfomkin, rockindave1, GE, Philips SlimStyle LED

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Earth Day is less than 24 hours away and it’s a great time to get your house in shape and figure out ways to make your little corner of the world a little greener. Whether your new to low-impact living, or could write your own book on the subject, take a look at this list of home-greening tips and see if there’s a project you might want to tackle.

1. Dial down energy consumption

Keeping your thermostat in check is pretty common advice when it comes to lowering your energy consumption. For instance, setting your air conditioner at 78 degrees during the summer can save you 3 to 5 percent more energy than keeping the temp lower. Now is also a great time to put all your home electronics on power strips so you can shut your computer or stereo down completely when your not using it. Electronics plugged directly into a wall continue to draw trickles of power even when turned off, which wastes energy and cash. Curious about how much overall energy you use in your home? WatzzOn is a cool little web-based application that can help you figure it out.

2. What about our furry friends?

Don’t leave Fifi out of your Earth Day shape-up. The pet care industry is filled with eco-friendly products like organic dog biscuits and natural kitty litter. Of course, the number one earth-friendly thing you can do for the planet is to get your pet spayed or neutered. I know it’s tough to resist the urge to have mini versions of your beloved cat running around, but the responsible thing to do is not contribute to the pet overpopulation problem. Make that appointment today, Fifi will understand.

3. Clean the house without holding your breath

If you’ve got a dozen bottle of harsh household cleaners under your kitchen sink, make a pledge to replace them with environmentally safe cleansers as they run out. You can buy them commercially from most big name grocery or retail stores, but if you really want to know what goes into the cleaners your using, just make your own.

4. Don’t forget the laundry room

Green blog Low Impact Living says a home’s washer and dryer can produce as much as 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide in a single year of use, so get in your laundry room and figure out how to cut that figure down. If you’re able to, start by drying your clothes on a clothesline. If that’s just too much of a time commitment, then see what you can do about your washing machine. Whenever possible, wash clothes in cold water. They’ll get just as clean, but without using extra energy to heat your wash water. If you’re really ambitious, you can even collect the grey water from your washing machine and use it to water plants and grass.

5. Waste not, want not – water, that is

Speaking of water, grab a two liter soda bottle, fill it with tap water and sink it into your toilet’s water tank. You’ll use less water in the bowl with every flush. Spend a few minutes installing low-flow shower heads and faucets for an even bigger water savings.

6. Funny-shaped light bulbs are no laughing matter

Replace all the light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs for a huge energy savings of up to 75 percent. The corkscrew bulb may look goofy and 23rd century, but who really sees them beneath a lampshade anyway, right?

7. Ditch the paper towels

It’s habit to grab a wad of paper towels to mop up kitchen spills, but maybe it’s time to cease and desist. Frugal living blogger Maya over at SimpleMom took the plunge and says she loves her completely paper-free kitchen. She relies exclusively on cloth towels and napkins that she washes regularly, so check out her system if you want to know more. Our own Susan Johnston took SKOY cleaning cloths for a test drive and says they work “just as well as – if not better than – a regular paper towel.” That’s all the convincing I need to give it a try.

8. Compost is your friend

After dinner, you’ve got to discard piles of vegetable peelings and other food-related detritus anyway, so why not drop it into a compost pile and use it on your garden or lawn? Composting drums are widely available, but if you want to show off your DIY chops, make your own bin instead.

9. How does your garden grow?

Use Earth Day as a nudge to start your own garden. Nothing beats fresh tomatoes and crunchy radishes in a salad and in fact, they’re on the list of the 10 easiest vegetables to grow at home. If you’re already rocking a great garden patch or don’t have the space to get your garden groove on, how about a little vertical planting instead? The setup requires little to no soil and will make just about any bare wall look really awesome.

10. Green up your home office

If you work from home, you’re already making great strides toward a more positive impact on the planet – no air-polluting commutes, for instance – but are there ways you can improve your home office even further? Probably. The same power strips you used for your home electronics are perfect for your home office. Add your computer, monitor, router, printer, even your electric pencil sharpener to one and shut everything off at the end of your workday. Look around for eco-friendly accessories for your must have gadgets and cell phone. For instance, Hypercel makes a line of smartphone cases designed to extend the battery life of your favorite devices so fewer used batteries end up in our landfills (plus the company has great in-house recycling policies). For a comprehensive look at all the ways you can green your home office, don’t miss Planet Green’s Work From Home Guide.

How will you get your house into shape for Earth Day? Share your tips in the comments below.

Images: HGTV, turtlemom4bacon

The post 10 Tips to Get Your Home in Shape for Earth Day appeared first on EcoSalon.

They’re called Eco Started Kits, but they’re more like emergency kits designed to heal what’s hurting our injured planet: greenhouse emissions, energy out the window, water down the drain.

For $97.50, you get a lot more than a Band-Aid. You get essential tools for an extreme green makeover, as well as a method for measuring and monitoring your carbon footprint as your transformation takes place.

What’s the emergency?

“Because of climate change, we need to get people moving as fast as possible,” says Andrea Nyland, the co-founder of Eco Hatchery, which makes and sells the kits. “We have about a 10-year window to make a difference, and all of the tools included are easy to use and will have a big impact.”

Nyland, an environmental consultant, partnered with Adam Borut to package three types of kits (including two new ones being launched next week) that can cut through the green “noise” that creates obstacles for well-intentioned consumers to start conserving and reducing.

The company surfed green websites to research the best products to go place in their kits. “We’re actually putting the tools in your hands, including booklets that list recycling directories,” says Nyland. “If you need to dispose of your old bulbs, we tell you how to do it safely.”

Among the must-have objects in the starter kit: an eco soy candle; reusable filtered water bottle; water quality test kit; two faucet aerators; three leak detectors; an energy monitor (find out which appliances are sucking the most energy); a compact fluorescent light bulb (premium Phillips Marathon 13-watt CFL that replaces a 60-watt incandescent); removable weather stripping; outlet and light switch sealers; water pipe insulation fitting tools; and an Eco Roadmap to help you identify additional savings.

“As you use the products in the kit, you can imprint information online and measure your success as you shrink your carbon footprint,” says Nyland. This is especially true in the home where she says energy use accounts for over 20% of all the carbon dioxide generated nationwide.

Nyland estimates users can reduce greenhouse emissions by two and a half tons per household the first year, saving about $260. In terms of water use, you’re looking at a savings of one gallon per minute.

Still, the kits aren’t geared just for households. Universities, cities and counties are encouraged to work as teams to reduce their impact.

“Energy efficiency is a hot item, especially with the current administration and the recession,” figures Nyland. “Whether you are motivated by the environment or the economy, you are headed to the same place.”

Eco Hatchery has set up the site so you can send the kits as gifts with a message. Among its best customers so far are real estate agents presenting house warming presents to clients.

In a couple of weeks, those thoughtful agents will be able to send a new Green and Healthy Home Kit ($50), which includes some of the items in the starter kit. Another kit being launched is the Energy Efficiency Kit ($60) with more gadgets for people focused on lowering those utility bills.

One of the best selling points is the packaging, which the company has tried to make as visually pleasing as possible, grouping products into sections and categorizing by activity. “Energy efficiency isn’t always pretty,” observes Nyland. “People rarely think of aerators as attractive gifts.”

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