Change the World Wednesday – 12th Oct

I love Snoopy

Last week’s challenge was about Hallowe’en and greening it up. I loved the many ideas that I read through the week from comments and blogs that I visited.

As I said, we don’t have Hallowe’en here in Brazil, officially. One of the ideas I liked most was ignoring the commercial trick or treating version and get back to grass roots, the original idea of Samhain. The world needs this more and more in these times of crisis.

Remembering those who have gone. Image credit: http://www.ilafox.com/

Here in Brazil, we have Finados (2 Nov), which is pretty much the same as the other Latin American countries with the Dia de los Muertos (1 & 2 Nov), a time when the departed are remembered.

Up the Ante:

So, I am going to up the ante! Late, I know. But, apart from your pumpkin (because many people don’t have the conditions to grow their own) – Don’t buy anything that is used only once for Hallowe’en! Make, or use what you have. That means no costumes, no sweets, no plasticky gimmicky things, nothing that is bought specifically for Hallowe’en. Things like candles, okay, they are used in emergencies the year round; food items, okay; if your little witches want to fly around on a broom, cool, buy one, they can use it the rest of the year to keep their room clean (saves electricity).

This week’s challenge is:

This week, replace at least one incandescent bulb in your home with either a CFL or LED bulb.

OR …

If you accomplished this challenge when we first ran it in July of 2009 (or before) … or if you felt, at that time, that you couldn’t participate … we’d like to know how it’s gone since then. Are you using Eco-friendly bulbs … why or why not? Do you prefer CFLs or LEDs … and why? If you’re using Eco-friendly bulbs, have you noticed a decrease in your electric bill? Do you recycle bulbs … if so, where? We’d like to know where you’re at now in regards to light bulbs.

Damn ugly looking things

I can only accuse Small Footprints for looking over my shoulder at the supermarket last Friday when I was studying eco-friendly CFLly light-bulbs. Yes, despite all that I have written about and against them, I was looking, prices and wattages.

I have only five light bulbs in the house. All are incandescent, all are 60 watt. In the nearly three years I have been in this house I have replaced four of them (having said that, Murphy dictates that the bathroom one will blow within days).

I will buy one this week and replace the lounge one, and as each one needs replacing, I will succumb to the dictates of being ‘green’ and buy another one. Just out of curiosity to see how they go and if they do make a difference in the power bill.

I still think they are ugly!

Update

Read Rather Frightening for my recanting of this decision.