This month's eco-challenge...

Replacing one regular light bulb in your basement with a compact fluorescent light bulb

What you'll need to do:

Go to your nearest hardware store, and head over to the fluorescent light section. There you'll find a wide range of different types of fluorescent light bulbs, of different sizes, colours and watts. The compact fluorescent bulbs are the ones that have the same bottom as regular bulbs and will fit into a regular light fixture.
Pick out the compact fluorescent bulb you want. Some tips:
- I recommend picking out a 'white' or 'warm' colour of bulb for your basement, but since it's your basement, you might be able to get away with a variety of colours. Try one to see what it's like.
- According to this webpage, the general rule is to buy a fluorescent bulb that has 1/3rd the watts of the incandescent bulb you're replacing. Use an 18 watt bulb to replace a 75 watt or higher regular (incandescent bulb)
Go home and replace one of your existing incandescent bulbs in the basement.
When your fluorescent bulb burns out, in several years, recycle it properly, instead of throwing it in the garbage. This is important, because fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and that needs to be kept out of the air, water and soil.

Time commitment: Approximately 1 hr now (if you aren't already going to the hardware store). Approximately 1 hr several years from now, in order to take the bulb to a Take It Back recycling location.

Money commitment: The cost of the fluorescent bulb, although you will gradually get this money back through electricity savings and fewer replacement bulbs.

Results: Did you love it? Hate it? Have any problems? E-mail me and let me know. I'd love to hear from you.