It's a bit nippy this morning here! Temperatures were in the single numbers above zero last night (as far as we know it didn't dip below the zero mark) and the sun can only be described as "weak" this morning. It's another "off and on" day, I guess, with periods of dim sunshine and clouds with a few flakes floating down on us. More good news by tonight, according to the forecast.

I don't know about you, but Fred and I have been using those curly CFL light bulbs for years now. We started using them when we lived at camp year around. We had an audit done by Washington Electric, and at the time they gave them out free with the audit. We put them in all the fixtures that we left on for long periods. The advice then was that if you turned your light on for only a short time, leave the incandescent bulbs in place because the CFL apparently wasn't made to use for short durations.

Back then the CFL bulbs had to warm up - they'd come on dim and within a few seconds, would brighten. We got used to that quickly when we realized the really noticeable difference in our electric bills. Now the CFL bulbs come on instantly and bright, and they are configured better to fit in more fixtures. We use them throughout the house, even in fixtures we turn on and off frequently, and we're inclined to leave lights on instead of being quite so aware of the turn the lights off when you leave a room mind frame. As one gets older, it's nice to have plenty of light! The CFLs rarely need to be replaced - I may have replaced two or three in the past 15 years or so that we've used them.

This offer below seems like a pretty good deal. The darned things can be expensive when you buy them in most stores, and I imagine that has kept some folks from trying them. If you stock up with six at 99 cents each, you'll have a good start and I bet your electric bill will reflect that. If you're already well stocked, some to someone you know who hasn't tried them yet. It's the "green" thing to do! May all their Christmases be Bright.

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Light Up & Save!!

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL) Campaign

(4 CFL bulbs use the same energy as 1 incandescent bulb)

Plainfield Hardware

and

Harry’s – Cabot True Value Hardware

December 2007 – April 2008

$0.99 each – Limited to six per household

CFLs use 66-75% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Annual electrical costs (at rate of $0.13 per KWH):

1 - 75 watt incandescent bulb………………….$12

1 - 18 watt CFL (comparable to above)………$ 9

Average home savings per year is greater than $100!!

CFLs last 6-10 times longer than incandescent lamps and

help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In-store recycling & information available.

Sponsored by: Cabot Conservation Committee, Marshfield Energy Committee, Plainfield Conservation Commission, and Efficiency Vermont

The 3-town goal is to sell 5,000 CFLs

CFLs are practical and welcome gifts!