Project Porchlight Comes to Bloomfield

Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 12:00pm | COMMENTS (29)

Representatives of Greener Bloomfield went to Bloomfield’s Town Council meeting last night and gave each council member a compact fluorescent light bulb. They’re looking for the council to endorse Project Porchlight, an effort to get the whole town to switch to energy saving light bulbs. On August 15, volunteers will will canvass the whole town, giving away light bulbs and asking residents to sign a pledge to replace one incandescent light bulb with one energy-saving compact fluorescent. (All eight members of the Bloomfield Council signed the pledge last night.) Volunteer here.
Photo by Justin Taylor.

29 Comments

POSTED BY KatebirdRex | July 14, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
I like it–this is the kind of program that can actually have an impact.
They’ll likely get a sizeable number of people on board since participants barely have to do anything to make it happen. On a big scale, this could actually make a difference. Very cool.
POSTED BY aprilpenny | July 14, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
Bravo Bloomfield!!
POSTED BY Nellie | July 14, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
When I first glanced at the pic, I thought it was a toilet.
POSTED BY Conan | July 14, 2009 @ 1:05 pm
Except for the fact that those energy-saving lightbulbs are nowhere near what they are cracked up to be in terms of output, cost-effectivenes, longevity, quality, and “green-ness” in their manufacturing, packaging, and shipping. But I guess Mathilda will chime in on that. After sundown, of course…
POSTED BY Pork Roll | July 14, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
Me too, Nellie, some kind of artsy glow-in-the-dark toilet…
POSTED BY kyle41181 | July 14, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
I really can not believe that people do not already purchase these types of bulbs. They are really not that expensive considering they last very longtime and they are eco-friendly.
One bad thing is that they are made with some harsh chemicals probably in 3-world countries.
Oh well just be careful when installing new and old bulbs.
POSTED BY Pork Roll | July 14, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
Well, they are expensive compared to incandescent bulbs, and many people may not be able to afford them regardless of the projected payback.
And as Conan alluded to, CFL’s are not yet available in the range of light output and application as incandescent bulbs, although these days this seems to be more a limit of what stores will stock than a limit to what manufacturers are actually producing. I’ve replaced almost all the bulbs in my house with CFL’s, including my ceiling fans with the candelabra bases, but I still use incandescent bulbs in my porch lights because CFL’s cannot yet be used with timers or dimmers, and because they take so long to reach full illumination when it’s cold outside.
Yet CFL’s might not be the end game in energy-efficient lighting. Federal rules mandating the phase-out of most conventional incandescent bulbs by 2014 have spurred R&D into energy-efficient incandescents, and they’ve already made significant progress. It’s possible that in a few years there may be incandescent bulbs that rival the energy efficiency of CFL’s.
POSTED BY Right of Center™ | July 14, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
they’re fine for outside or in a closet or garage. But in living space? They make terrible light. I’m in a fluorescent lit office all day. The last thing I want at home is more fluorescent light.
But it won’t stop Obama. We won’t be allowed that choice in the very near future.
Does one really have to “sign a pledge” to get a free bulb? Sounds a little Maoist that bit.
POSTED BY kyle41181 | July 14, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
RoC,
Black market bulbs, maybe it can be a niche market!
Just kidding, i agree about being able to use whatever kind of bulb you want. Though i only want what is going to save me the most money with the least effort. I use halogen for flood lights on my motion sensor, and few incandescent bulbs in house but I hope one day to never have to purchase a bulb more than once in my lifetime for all the needs of my homes and garage. Even if it cost more.
POSTED BY Spiro T. Quayle | July 14, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
ROC, you can get these bulbs in a wide variety of color spectrum now. We replaced half our kitchen recessed lamps with the compact flourescent bulbs designed for this application. There is no difference in color – but the new bulbs take a bit longer to warm up than the incandescents.
I am sorry you mourn the loss of your freedom to choose incandescents in the future.
I’ll bet you miss whale oil lamps as well. How dare they take that choice from us. Go ahead, blame Obama, but I’ll bet you can’t name the president who was in power when the last whale oil lamp was snuffed.
POSTED BY Right of Center™ | July 14, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
likewise, Spiro, why should we be allowed to eat meat when you think about it. Animal generated methane is 9 times more potent a green house gas than CO2.
“ROC, you can get these bulbs in a wide variety of color spectrum now. We replaced half our kitchen recessed lamps with the compact flourescent bulbs designed for this application. There is no difference in color – but the new bulbs take a bit longer to warm up than the incandescents.”
Maybe to you but I can tell the difference.
POSTED BY HidingInBaristaville | July 14, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
Hey Prk Roll,
There are now dimmable CFL bulbs
“DIMMABLE 16 WATT A19 COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULB REPLACES A 60 WATT INCANDESCENT AND LASTS 10,000 HOURS – Bulborama energy-saving dimmable compact fluorescent light bulbs utilize superior components and circuitry, offer dimming ranges from 10 to 100 percent, and are suitable for use in enclosed fixtures. Bulborama Supra Life dimmable CFL’s start without flickering between 0 and 120 degrees fahrenheit and offer optimum light output in any burning position. For optimum performance, please allow dimmable compact fluorescent light bulbs to come to full brightness before dimming. Dimmable CFLs can be problematic when operated on some electronic dimmer controls and switches – especially older switches. Dimmable CFL’s are optimized for performance on standard rotary, slide, and toggle dimmers. Please contact customer service for assistance and application recommendations. Bulborama compact fluorescent light bulbs are an efficient way to light sockets once traditionally reserved for incandescents. Supra Life CFL’s are lightweight, generate minimal heat, light instantly, provide excellent color rendition, and are available in low profile sizes to fit a wide variety of fixtures. With lifespans up to 36,000 hours, our compact fluorescents offer tremendous energy cost savings and years of maintenance free operation.”
Take a look here:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/new-cfl-bulbs-46010808
POSTED BY hrhppg | July 14, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
” why should we be allowed to eat meat when you think about it. Animal generated methane is 9 times more potent a green house gas than CO2.”
Be careful what you say – I have friends working on the anti-meat america as I post.
I’m going to sign up for the new lightbulbs, but most of my place is lit by small wall sconce lightbulbs, so I’m sure these won’t fit in those fixtures. At least my kitchen will go green.
POSTED BY Spiro T. Quayle | July 14, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
Well, ROC, suit your eagle eyes -
But I’m sure whale oil lamps had a nicer spectrum than early tungsgen filaments, and the ROC of those days complained as much as you do today.
hrhppg – we have compact flourescents in our wall sconces too.
POSTED BY Spiro T. Quayle | July 14, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
tungsten, not tungsgen….
POSTED BY hrhppg | July 14, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
“we have compact flourescents in our wall sconces too. ”
So am I safe in assuming Lowe’s would have them?
POSTED BY Spiro T. Quayle | July 14, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
Never been to Lowe’s, but Home Depot has them, as well as local hardware stores.
POSTED BY HidingInBaristaville | July 14, 2009 @ 4:43 pm
hrhppg,
Are you going to volunteer to distribute them? Sounds like a good cause. Your firends and neighbors will think that you’re wonderful.
POSTED BY Mike91 | July 14, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
likewise, Spiro, why should we be allowed to eat meat when you think about it. Animal generated methane is 9 times more potent a green house gas than CO2.
That’s true. So let’s do nothing!
POSTED BY Spiro T. Quayle | July 14, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
I like that idea, Mike. Problem is, I have deadlines. When I’m done, I’ll do nothing.
POSTED BY Whatsupwiththat | July 14, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
These guys are just a bunch of enviro do gooder saps. The unrecycled mercury detritus from these bulbs, the danger of mercury leaking from them into your frontal lobes, the enviromental costs of their manufacture and disposal are dubious tradeoffs at best. But the obamaniacs who naively populate blue baristaville like the majority of the posters on this thread will never entertain careful thought before buying the Goreish inconvenient fantasies.
POSTED BY greenjeans | July 14, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
RoC, people don’t have to sign the pledge to get the free bulb. Bit getting ~1200 pledges helps Bloomfield earn points for Sustainable Jersey certification.
POSTED BY ruby | July 14, 2009 @ 9:46 pm
I’m a big fan of CFL’s. I decided to switch to them about 4 years ago, and so I purchased them for most of the lamps inside my house from the energy star website. And 4 years later & every single one is still going strong. So whoever said they aren’t cost efficent was wrong. Also, they had a better choice/ range of colors than I have seen sold at Target & Home Depot, and so the ones I have really, truly don’t look like flourescent lights. I did buy on CFL at Target that said “soft white” & it looked like I was in a dentists office! It was so awful I returned it. So go on-line to get your bulbs – there are better choices of colors there.
I have 3 enclosed light fixtures in my kitchen that have old fashioned bulbs & I swear, I replace those constantly…. Anyone know if there are CFL’s now that can be put into an enclosed fixture? When I last looked, they didn’t make them.
Also, one question – Pork Roll – you mentioned not using them w/ timers? Why not? I have a lamp in my living room on a timer w/ a CFL bulb… am I not supposed to? I’ve had it like that for several years.
POSTED BY drneeko | July 14, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
Hey all,
I’m new to posting here, but thought i’d chime in. I’m from Bloomfield but I’ve been living overseas for the past 10 months, and I check Baristanet to keep up with things goin on back home.
Anyway, I found this interesting because these CFL bulbs are pretty much the norm down here in nz. I find the light to be completely adequate indoors, although the bulbs certainly take a minute or two to warm up to full capacity..
It seems like a few people here have some more information on these bulbs. Here’s an idea- how about sharing this info in a constructive way instead of all the unneccessary snarkiness and (random) obama-bashing? I’d honestly be interested in hearing more about how theyre made and if in fact they are dangerous to dispose of…
I tell you one thing- some of the regular characters here sure do seem to have a bug up their butt. But I’ll tell you another thing too- this site has been an invaluable resource for keeping up on the big and little things goin on back home, and its been great comfort to come here in those few moments of feeling homesick and check in on ‘baristaville’.
I’m sure youll here more from me in the future! Which is ironic, because I’m actually in the future.. 16 hours ahead?! crazy.
POSTED BY Spiro T. Quayle | July 15, 2009 @ 6:24 am
“buying the Goreish inconvenient fantasies.
Whatsupwiththat | July 14, 2009 8:54 PM |”
Most people see a new kind of light bulb. It comes in all kinds of shapes and spectra. They buy it, they install it, they save on their electric bill. life goes on.
You scream at the rest of us and see visions of Al Gore.
POSTED BY theproblemtoo | July 15, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
Albret J Biden is still douchbaggin’
POSTED BY Spiro T. Quayle | July 15, 2009 @ 6:31 pm
Considering how pathological you are, tpt, I’ll take that as a compliment.
POSTED BY BitPusher | July 16, 2009 @ 12:09 am
The Montclair Society of Engineers will be having General Electric Specification Engineer, Adrienne Shulman discuss
“ENERGY SAVINGS THROUGH LIGHTING SOURCES”
at our February meeting
In addition to CFL’s, she will discuss LED’s, Halogen, Ceramic Metal Halide and other efficient light sources.
For more information on the MSE, go to
http://www.montclairengineers.com
If you would like to be added to our e-mail list, send an email to
montclairengineer@yahoo.com
POSTED BY BitPusher | July 16, 2009 @ 12:12 am
Correction
http://www.montclairengineers.org

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