Tri-State Green Report - Lighting

There are a lot of ways to live "green" in our homes these days. One involves the way we light them. Marc Malvizzi is a lighting expert in Pennsylvania. Hes says theres plenty of lighting technology to make your home environmentally friendly.But it gets better.Itll actually help you save you money. "Theres no better way to tell how much money youre spending on your electric bill than watching your electric meter spin. What we like to show our customers...(Video of two lights attached to electric meter)...this is a 75 watt bulb. And you can see how the energy meter is spinning. The same lamp, 75 watt equal, which is 20 watts. This is what we call a spiral fluorescent...(Marc throws switch. Close up on meter)...you can see how your electric meter is slowed right down, and thats money right there. The faster your electric meter spins, the more money youre spending every month on energy!" Because the new bulbs use less energy, they significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced.The new spiral fluorescents also come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.Theyre made to fit almost any fixture.Theyre more expensive than traditional bulbs, but they should cost you less in the long run. An occupancy sensor is another good idea. Its designed to turn lights off automatically when people arent in a room. If you think sensors are a bit much, you could go with a simple timer. So the bottom line when it comes to lighting is this: Its good for your pocket and the planet. Heres another good reason to consider switching to compact florescent bulbs. Legislation is already being considered that would ban the standard light bulbs weve been using for years!"