Carbon Neutral Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
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Features
- Enjoy energy savings of about 75%
- Save over $75/bulb over its lifespan
- Lasts 10 times longer then incandescent bulbs
- Includes FREE carbon offsets to produce carbon neutral bulb
- Eliminates your lighting carbon footprint
- Reduces your overall carbon footprint
- Helps reduce pollution & fight global warming
- Produces less heat & reduces fire hazards
- Helps combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Fits into any standard light bulb socket
- High quality, instant on, flicker free warm inviting lighting
- Ideal for all consumer and commercial applications
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- Summary
- Benefits
- Overview
- Choosing the Right Bulb
- Global Warming
- Carbon Offsets
- Video
- Reviews
Light your way to an Energy Efficient Future, Save Money & Fight Climate Change
In a bold move to make fighting global warming easier, IMTEK has introduced a revolutionary new product, CarbonNeutralBulb™, which combines the energy saving compact fluorescent (CFL) lamp technology with free carbon offsets to produce the world’s first carbon neutral bulb. This innovative energy saving bulb provides beautiful comfortable lighting that is indistinguishable from incandescent lighting while reducing pollution! CarbonNeutralBulb™ empowers every individual and organization to fight climate change by simply changing light bulbs and saving money in the process!
CarbonNeutralBulb™ Benefits
Reduce your Energy Consumption by 75%!
CarbonNeutralBulb™ is starting to light the way to a more energy efficient tomorrow and their popularity is not surprising. Compared to the energy guzzling old fashioned incandescent light bulb technology, CarbonNeutralBulbsTM extreme energy efficiency is nothing short of dazzling. A 25 watt CarbonNeutralBulb™ provides an equivalent of 100 watts of traditional incandescent light resulting in energy savings of about 75%.
Due to the enormous potential to increase energy savings and reduce pollution, various organizations have undertaken a variety of creative measures to encourage the adoption of CFLs. In addition, governments (e.g. US, Canada, Australia & Ireland) across the globe have taken or are considering strong measures to encourage adoption of CFLs or to entirely displace incandescent light bulbs. Ireland will be the first country to implement a ban in 2009 and Australia will phase out incandescent lights by 2010. USA and Canada has also committed to phasing out incandescent lights starting in 2012.
Save Money!
Although the up-front cost of a CarbonNeutralBulb™ is slightly higher than a standard incandescent bulb, the cost savings over the life of the bulb can be striking since it is much more energy efficient and lasts 10 times longer. Let's consider the savings of switching to a single CarbonNeutralBulb™. Assume that:
- You switch one 100 watt incandescent bulb with a 25 watt CarbonNeutralBulb™ that produces the same amount of light.
- CarbonNeutralBulb™ costs $5.99 and lasts 8,000 hours.
- A standard incandescent bulb costs $0.50 and lasts 750 hours. Therefore, 10 standard bulbs are required to last as long as the one SaniBulbTM for a total cost of $5.
- The cost of electricity is $0.101/kWh which is a 2006 EPA estimate. It is closer to $0.17 - $0.20/kWh in areas like the Northeast.
The cost & life cycle savings break down is as follows:
| Item |
Incandescent Bulbs |
CarbonNeutralBulb™ |
Estimated Savings |
Bulb(s) Cost |
$5.00 |
$5.99 |
-$0.99 |
Operating Cost (energy & maintenance) |
$96.00 |
$16.00 |
$80.00 |
Net Life Cycle Savings |
$79.01 |
By replacing just one incandescent light bulb with a CarbonNeutralBulb™, you could save over $ 79 during the life of that bulb. If you replace more bulbs, your savings will be proportionally greater especially when you factor in the air conditioning savings during the hot summer months. In the long run, CarbonNeutralBulb™ won’t cost you money, it will save you money!
Helps Fight Global Warming
Light is powered mainly by coal burning power plants and natural gas, both of which create greenhouse gases (GHG) that cause global warming. The EPA estimates that 1.535 lbs of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by a coal-fired plant.
Replacing a single 100 watt conventional incandescent light bulb with a 25 watt CarbonNeutralBulb™ can prevent more than 169 pounds of coal from being burned and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 814 pounds over the lifetime of the bulb. This is over 4,000 times CarbonNeutralBulb™ own weight in greenhouse gases!
Looking at the big picture, if every American swapped a single incandescent bulb with a CarbonNeutralBulb™, it would collectively save $8 billion in energy costs, prevent burning 30 billion pounds of coal and remove 2 million cars worth of green house gas emissions from our environment. Now imagine what a difference we can make if we switched all our incandescent light bulbs to CarbonNeutralBulb™.
Never before have so many people had so much power to do something as simple as changing light bulbs to fight climate change while saving money!
Prevent Other Pollution Too
Coal-fired power plant smokestacks are also a big threat to health. In addition to releasing carbon dioxide, they also release sulfur dioxide (main cause of acid rain), nitrogen oxide (causes smog and acid rain), radioactive pollutants (can release more than a nuclear power plant) and particulates. These deadly pollutants could lead to heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks and premature deaths. Using CarbonNeutralBulbsTM will help reduce this pollution and smog by using less energy and contributing to a safer environment. Furthermore, it can also help reduce the negative impacts from radioactive waste and hydroelectic plants.
Eliminate your lighting Carbon Footprint
While CFLs use 75% less electricity than their incandescent counterparts, they still require some electricity, which results in carbon dioxide emissions. We use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bulb to offset the carbon dioxide emissions that will be generated by CarbonNeutralBulb™ over its entire life, making it a true carbon free product. The carbon offsets are made by donations of CarbonNeutralBulb™ through qualified reputable organizations so they have an immediate and real impact on global warming unlike planting of trees which could take many more years to produce the same impact.
Enjoy Warm Inviting Lighting
There is no reason to be concerned about CFL lighting quality anymore. It has been improving dramatically since they were first introduced almost 20 years ago. CarbonNeutralBulb™ light quality now rivals traditional light bulbs in many applications. They turn on instantly, don’t hum, are flicker free and the 2,700K warm white version CarbonNeutralBulb™ delivers warm inviting light that is indistinguishable from incandescent lights. This is made possible by use of rare earth phosphors for excellent color and warmth. In fact, according to a study performed by Popular Mechanics, CFLs scored higher than incandescent bulbs for overall quality of the light. In other words, CFLs aren’t just better for both your wallet and the environment, they produce better light and they don’t peek above most lamp shades anymore!
Reduce Fire Hazards
Standard old fashioned incandescent light bulbs are very inefficient. In fact, over half the energy consumed by them produces heat, not light. Your home or business will be safer when you switch to CarbonNeutralBulb™ since it produces less heat thus reducing fire hazards. This reduction in heat will also cut your AC bills during the hot summer months.
Maintenance Free
Simply replace your old fashioned incandescent light bulbs with CarbonNeutralBulbsTM and forget about them. Since they last for over 8,000 hours, which is ten times longer then incandescent bulbs, you won’t have to replace them for a very long time. Imagine cutting down on your trips to buy bulbs and the times you have to change those hard to get to bulbs. Also, since CarbonNeutralBulb™ is completely quiet, you won’t notice the difference while you enjoy your music, TV or share a quiet conversation. So switch to CarbonNeutralBulb™, sit back and bask in its long lasting, comfortable, energy saving light while fighting global warming.
Helps Fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)
Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. is a type of ‘winter depression’ that affects millions of people every year during the winter months. S.A.D. is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter. CarbonNeutralBulb™ (cool white, 5700K) can help combat S.A.D. According to the National Organization of Seasonal Affective Disorder (NOSAD), light therapy has proven effective in over 80% of diagnosed cases with exposure from 30 minutes to several hours per day to a bright light.
Light your way to an Energy Efficient Future, Save Money & Fight Climate Change
In a bold move to make fighting global warming easier, IMTEK has introduced a revolutionary new product, CarbonNeutralBulb™, which combines the energy saving compact fluorescent (CFL) lamp technology with free carbon offsets to produce the world’s first carbon neutral bulb. This innovative energy saving bulb provides beautiful comfortable lighting that is indistinguishable from incandescent lighting while reducing pollution! CarbonNeutralBulb™ empowers every individual and organization to fight climate change by simply changing light bulbs and saving money in the process!
Benefits of Switching to CarbonNeutralBulb™
Reduce your Energy Consumption by 75%!
CarbonNeutralBulb™ is starting to light the way to a more energy efficient tomorrow and their popularity is not surprising. Compared to the energy guzzling old fashioned incandescent light bulb technology, CarbonNeutralBulbsTM extreme energy efficiency is nothing short of dazzling. A 25 watt CarbonNeutralBulb™ provides an equivalent of 100 watts of traditional incandescent light resulting in energy savings of about 75%.
Due to the enormous potential to increase energy savings and reduce pollution, various organizations have undertaken a variety of creative measures to encourage the adoption of CFLs. In addition, governments (e.g. US, Canada, Australia & Ireland) across the globe have taken or are considering strong measures to encourage adoption of CFLs or to entirely displace incandescent light bulbs. Ireland will be the first country to implement a ban in 2009 and Australia will phase out incandescent lights by 2010. USA and Canada has also committed to phasing out incandescent lights starting in 2012.
Save Money!
Although the up-front cost of a CarbonNeutralBulb™ is slightly higher than a standard incandescent bulb, the cost savings over the life of the bulb can be striking since it is much more energy efficient and lasts 10 times longer. Let's consider the savings of switching to a single CarbonNeutralBulb™. Assume that:
- You switch one 100 watt incandescent bulb with a 25 watt CarbonNeutralBulb™ that produces the same amount of light.
- CarbonNeutralBulb™ costs $5.99 and lasts 8,000 hours.
- A standard incandescent bulb costs $0.50 and lasts 750 hours. Therefore, 10 standard bulbs are required to last as long as the one SaniBulbTM for a total cost of $5.
- The cost of electricity is $0.101/kWh which is a 2006 EPA estimate. It is closer to $0.17 - $0.20/kWh in areas like the Northeast.
The cost & life cycle savings break down is as follows:
| Item |
Incandescent Bulbs |
CarbonNeutralBulb™ |
Estimated Savings |
Bulb(s) Cost |
$5.00 |
$5.99 |
-$0.99 |
Operating Cost (energy & maintenance) |
$96.00 |
$16.00 |
$80.00 |
Net Life Cycle Savings |
$79.01 |
By replacing just one incandescent light bulb with a CarbonNeutralBulb™, you could save over $ 79 during the life of that bulb. If you replace more bulbs, your savings will be proportionally greater especially when you factor in the air conditioning savings during the hot summer months. In the long run, CarbonNeutralBulb™ won’t cost you money, it will save you money!
Helps Fight Global Warming
Light is powered mainly by coal burning power plants and natural gas, both of which create greenhouse gases (GHG) that cause global warming. The EPA estimates that 1.535 lbs of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by a coal-fired plant.
Replacing a single 100 watt conventional incandescent light bulb with a 25 watt CarbonNeutralBulb™ can prevent more than 169 pounds of coal from being burned and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 814 pounds over the lifetime of the bulb. This is over 4,000 times CarbonNeutralBulb™ own weight in greenhouse gases!
Looking at the big picture, if every American swapped a single incandescent bulb with a CarbonNeutralBulb™, it would collectively save $8 billion in energy costs, prevent burning 30 billion pounds of coal and remove 2 million cars worth of green house gas emissions from our environment. Now imagine what a difference we can make if we switched all our incandescent light bulbs to CarbonNeutralBulb™.
Never before have so many people had so much power to do something as simple as changing light bulbs to fight climate change while saving money!
Prevent Other Pollution Too
Coal-fired power plant smokestacks are also a big threat to health. In addition to releasing carbon dioxide, they also release sulfur dioxide (main cause of acid rain), nitrogen oxide (causes smog and acid rain), radioactive pollutants (can release more than a nuclear power plant) and particulates. These deadly pollutants could lead to heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks and premature deaths. Using CarbonNeutralBulbsTM will help reduce this pollution and smog by using less energy and contributing to a safer environment. Furthermore, it can also help reduce the negative impacts from radioactive waste and hydroelectic plants.
Eliminate your lighting Carbon Footprint
While CFLs use 75% less electricity than their incandescent counterparts, they still require some electricity, which results in carbon dioxide emissions. We use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bulb to offset the carbon dioxide emissions that will be generated by CarbonNeutralBulb™ over its entire life, making it a true carbon free product. The carbon offsets are made by donations of CarbonNeutralBulb™ through qualified reputable organizations so they have an immediate and real impact on global warming unlike planting of trees which could take many more years to produce the same impact.
Enjoy Warm Inviting Lighting
There is no reason to be concerned about CFL lighting quality anymore. It has been improving dramatically since they were first introduced almost 20 years ago. CarbonNeutralBulb™ light quality now rivals traditional light bulbs in many applications. They turn on instantly, don’t hum, are flicker free and the 2,700K warm white version CarbonNeutralBulb™ delivers warm inviting light that is indistinguishable from incandescent lights. This is made possible by use of rare earth phosphors for excellent color and warmth. In fact, according to a study performed by Popular Mechanics, CFLs scored higher than incandescent bulbs for overall quality of the light. In other words, CFLs aren’t just better for both your wallet and the environment, they produce better light and they don’t peek above most lamp shades anymore!
Reduce Fire Hazards
Standard old fashioned incandescent light bulbs are very inefficient. In fact, over half the energy consumed by them produces heat, not light. Your home or business will be safer when you switch to CarbonNeutralBulb™ since it produces less heat thus reducing fire hazards. This reduction in heat will also cut your AC bills during the hot summer months.
Maintenance Free
Simply replace your old fashioned incandescent light bulbs with CarbonNeutralBulbsTM and forget about them. Since they last for over 8,000 hours, which is ten times longer then incandescent bulbs, you won’t have to replace them for a very long time. Imagine cutting down on your trips to buy bulbs and the times you have to change those hard to get to bulbs. Also, since CarbonNeutralBulb™ is completely quiet, you won’t notice the difference while you enjoy your music, TV or share a quiet conversation. So switch to CarbonNeutralBulb™, sit back and bask in its long lasting, comfortable, energy saving light while fighting global warming.
Helps Fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)
Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. is a type of ‘winter depression’ that affects millions of people every year during the winter months. S.A.D. is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter. CarbonNeutralBulb™ (cool white, 5700K) can help combat S.A.D. According to the National Organization of Seasonal Affective Disorder (NOSAD), light therapy has proven effective in over 80% of diagnosed cases with exposure from 30 minutes to several hours per day to a bright light.
Choosing the Right CFL Bulb
Compact fluorescent light bulbs have come a long ways in both quality and variety since they were first introduced. Gone are the days of poor lighting quality and limited styles. These days, CFL bulbs come in many styles and the quality of the light is better than most incandescent bulbs. To get the best CarbonNeutralBulb™ for your application, simply choose the correct wattage and color temperature:
Wattage/Light Output
When you purchase CarbonNeutralBulb™, it’s less about trying to figure out how many watts a bulb uses and more about the light output, or lumens generated by the bulb. When choosing the best CarbonNeutralBulb™ for your application, simply choose the CarbonNeutralBulb™ replacement from the table below to match your current incandescent light output. For example, if you are looking to replace a 100 watt incandescent light bulb, simply choose the 25 Watt CarbonNeutralBulb™ replacement. It’s as easy as that!
CarbonNeutralBulb™ Power (Watts) |
Output (Lumons) |
To Replace Incandescent Bulb (Watts) |
15 |
825 |
60 |
20 |
1,100 |
75 |
25 |
1,500 |
100 |
Color Temperature
The color temperature of a light bulb can best be described as how the light compares to ‘natural’ sunlight. Outdoor sunlight has a color temperature of around 5,500K. Bulbs with a higher color temperature (closer to 5,000K) will produce light that is more ‘cool’ or blue similar to fluorescent tubes. Bulbs with a lower color temperature will produce light that is more ‘warm’ or yellow like incandescent light bulbs. The color temperature of a light bulb is usually described by how ‘white’ a bulb is, like ‘warm white’ and ‘soft white’
The most popular residential light bulbs in the US are ‘warm white’. We recommend choosing the warm white CarbonNeutralBulb™ with a color temperature of 2,700K bulb for your home if you want to get the same warm effect as incandescent bulbs. If you are in a commercial setting or trying to get the whiter lighting typical of fluorescent light tubes, you should consider choosing the cool white CarbonNeutralBulb™ with a color temperature of 4700K.
Applications
CarbonNeutralBulb™ can be used to simply replace any incandescent light bulb in your home and business in seconds to save energy and money while fighting global warming and enjoying high quality warm inviting lighting.
Directions
Since CarbonNeutralBulb™ fits into any standard light bulb socket, you can use it throughout your entire home and business in table lamps, floor lamps, ceiling fixtures, wall sconces and pendants. When used with a three-way switch, CarbonNeutralBulb™ should be used at the highest setting for maximum effectiveness. Do not use CarbonNeutralBulb™ with a dimmer switch.
Disposal
When CarbonNeutralBulb™ burns out years from now, simply recycle them properly, like any other fluorescent light, to minimize the environmental impact. To find a CFL recycling center near you, simply call 1-800-CLEAN-UP, go to earth911.org or lamprecycle.org
Choosing the Right CFL Bulb
Compact fluorescent light bulbs have come a long ways in both quality and variety since they were first introduced. Gone are the days of poor lighting quality and limited styles. These days, CFL bulbs come in many styles and the quality of the light is better than most incandescent bulbs. To get the best CarbonNeutralBulb™ for your application, simply choose the correct wattage and color temperature:
Wattage/Light Output
When you purchase CarbonNeutralBulb™, it’s less about trying to figure out how many watts a bulb uses and more about the light output, or lumens generated by the bulb. When choosing the best CarbonNeutralBulb™ for your application, simply choose the CarbonNeutralBulb™ replacement from the table below to match your current incandescent light output. For example, if you are looking to replace a 100 watt incandescent light bulb, simply choose the 25 Watt CarbonNeutralBulb™ replacement. It’s as easy as that!
CarbonNeutralBulb™ Power (Watts) |
Output (Lumons) |
To Replace Incandescent Bulb (Watts) |
15 |
825 |
60 |
20 |
1,100 |
75 |
25 |
1,500 |
100 |
Color Temperature
The color temperature of a light bulb can best be described as how the light compares to ‘natural’ sunlight. Outdoor sunlight has a color temperature of around 5,500K. Bulbs with a higher color temperature (closer to 5,000K) will produce light that is more ‘cool’ or blue similar to fluorescent tubes. Bulbs with a lower color temperature will produce light that is more ‘warm’ or yellow like incandescent light bulbs. The color temperature of a light bulb is usually described by how ‘white’ a bulb is, like ‘warm white’ and ‘soft white’
The most popular residential light bulbs in the US are ‘warm white’. We recommend choosing the warm white CarbonNeutralBulb™ with a color temperature of 2,700K bulb for your home if you want to get the same warm effect as incandescent bulbs. If you are in a commercial setting or trying to get the whiter lighting typical of fluorescent light tubes, you should consider choosing the cool white CarbonNeutralBulb™ with a color temperature of 4700K.
Climate Change & Global Warming*
Introduction
The Earth's climate has changed many times during the planet's history, with events ranging from ice ages to long periods of warmth. Historically, natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, changes in the Earth's orbit, and the amount of energy released from the Sun have affected the Earth's climate. Beginning late in the 18th century, human activities associated with the Industrial Revolution have also changed the composition of the atmosphere and therefore very likely are influencing the Earth's climate.
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Climate Change or Global Warming?
The term climate change is often used interchangeably with the term global warming, but according to the National Academy of Sciences, "the phrase 'climate change' is growing in preferred use to 'global warming' because it helps convey that there are [other] changes in addition to rising temperatures."
Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). Climate change may result from:
- natural factors, such as changes in the sun's intensity or slow changes in the Earth's orbit around the sun;
- natural processes within the climate system (e.g. changes in ocean circulation);
- human activities that change the atmosphere's composition (e.g. through burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g. deforestation, reforestation, urbanization, desertification, etc.)
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth's surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming can occur from a variety of causes, both natural and human induced. In common usage, "global warming" often refers to the warming that can occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities.
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The Greenhouse Effect
Energy from the Sun drives the Earth's weather and climate. The Earth absorbs energy from the Sun, and also radiates energy back into space. However, much of this energy going back to space is absorbed by “greenhouse” gases in the atmosphere. Because the atmosphere then radiates most of this energy back to the Earth’s surface, our planet is warmer than it would be if the atmosphere did not contain these gases. Without this natural "greenhouse effect," temperatures would be about 60ºF lower than they are now, and life as we know it today would not be possible.
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How Does Global Warming Occur?
During the past century humans have substantially added to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by deforestation and burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, oil and gasoline to power our cars, factories, utilities and appliances. The added gases — primarily carbon dioxide and methane — prevent heat from escaping to space and enhance the natural greenhouse effect, and contribute to an increase in global average temperature and related climate changes.
Greenhouse gases are necessary to life as we know it, because they keep the planet's surface warmer than it otherwise would be. But, as the concentrations of these gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth's temperature is climbing above past levels. According to NOAA and NASA data, the Earth's average surface temperature has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4ºF in the last 100 years. The eight warmest years on record (since 1850) have all occurred since 1998, with the warmest year being 2005. Most of the warming in recent decades is very likely the result of human activities. Other aspects of the climate are also changing such as rainfall patterns, snow and ice cover, and sea level.
If greenhouse gases continue to increase, climate models predict that the average temperature at the Earth's surface could increase from 3.2 to 7.2ºF above 1990 levels by the end of this century. Scientists are certain that human activities are changing the composition of the atmosphere, and that increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases will change the planet's climate. But they are not sure by how much it will change, at what rate it will change, or what the exact effects will be.
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U.S. Climate Policy
The United States government has established a comprehensive policy to address climate change. This policy has three basic components:
- Slowing the growth of emissions
- Strengthening science, technology and institutions
- Enhancing international cooperation
To implement its climate policy, the Federal government is using voluntary and incentive-based programs to reduce emissions and has established programs to promote climate technology and science. This strategy incorporates know-how from many federal agencies and harnesses the power of the private sector.
In February 2002, the United States announced a comprehensive strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the American economy by 18 percent over the 10-year period from 2002 to 2012. Greenhouse gas intensity is a measurement of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic activity. Meeting this commitment will prevent the release of more than 100 million metric tons of carbon-equivalent emissions to the atmosphere (annually) by 2012 and more than 500 million metric tons (cumulatively) between 2002 and 2012.
EPA plays a significant role in helping the Federal government reach the United States' intensity goal. EPA has many current and near-term initiatives that encourage voluntary reductions from a variety of stakeholders. Initiatives, such as ENERGY STAR, Climate Leaders, and our Methane Voluntary Programs, encourage emission reductions from large corporations, consumers, industrial and commercial buildings, and many major industrial sectors.
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In the U.S., our energy-related activities account for three-quarters of our human-generated greenhouse gas emissions, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. More than half the energy-related emissions come from large stationary sources such as power plants, while about a third comes from transportation. Industrial processes (such as the production of cement, steel, and aluminum), agriculture, forestry, other land use, and waste management are also important sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
For a better understanding of where greenhouse gas emissions come from, governments at the federal, state and local levels prepare emissions inventories, which track emissions from various parts of the economy such as transportation, electricity production, industry, agriculture, forestry, and other sectors. EPA publishes the official national inventory of US greenhouse gas emissions, and the latest greenhouse gas inventory shows that in 2005 the U.S. emitted over 7.2 billon metric tons of greenhouse gases (a million metric tons of CO2 equivalents (MMTCO2e) is roughly equal to the annual GHG emissions of an average U.S. power plant.)
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The Impact of Climate Change Can Be Seen Now
Climate change affects people, plants, and animals. Scientists are working to better understand future climate change and how the effects will vary by region and over time.
Scientists have observed that some changes are already occurring. Observed effects include sea level rise, shrinking glaciers, changes in the range and distribution of plants and animals, trees blooming earlier, lengthening of growing seasons, ice on rivers and lakes freezing later and breaking up earlier, and thawing of permafrost. Another key issue being studied is how societies and the Earth's environment will adapt to or cope with climate change.
In the United States, scientists believe that most areas will to continue to warm, although some will likely warm more than others. It remains very difficult to predict which parts of the country will become wetter or drier, but scientists generally expect increased precipitation and evaporation, and drier soil in the middle parts of the country. Northern regions such as Alaska are expected to experience the most warming. In fact, Alaska has been experiencing significant changes in climate in recent years that may be at least partly related to human caused global climate change.
Human health can be affected directly and indirectly by climate change in part through extreme periods of heat and cold, storms, and climate-sensitive diseases such as malaria, and smog episodes.
What You Can You Do Now?
Greenhouse gases are emitted as a result of the energy we use by driving and using electricity and through other activities that support our quality of life like growing food, raising livestock and manufacturing. Greenhouse gas emissions can be minimized through simple measures like replacing energy guzzling incandescent light bulbs in your home with CarbonNeutralBulbTM SaniBulbTM Air Sanitizing and Energy Saving Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Bulbs.
State and local governments and businesses play an important role in meeting the national goal of reducing greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent by 2012. For example, major corporations, states and local organizations are taking action through participation in a wide range of EPA and other federal voluntary programs.
You can start by assessing your own contribution to the problem, by using our Personal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator to estimate your household's annual emissions. Once you know about how much you emit, you use the tool to see how simple steps you take at home, at the office, on the road, and at school can reduce your emissions.
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* Adapted from the EPA website
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Introduction
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases (GHG) produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. It is important for individuals and organizations to calculate their personal or organizational carbon footprint to determine their impact on global warming.
Carbon offsets, or the mitigation of carbon emissions through the development of energy conservation projects can be a simple and effective tool to offset carbon emissions and fight global warming. An example of such a project is the CFL Bulb Carbon Offset Program™ which replaces energy guzzling incandescent lights with energy efficient CFL bulbs.
An individual or organization becomes carbon neutral when the amount of carbon released is balanced with the amount eliminated and offset so the carbon footprint becomes zero. The Kyoto Protocol has sanctioned carbon offsets as a way for governments and private companies to earn carbon credits which can be traded in the marketplace.
Carbon offsetting as part of a carbon neutral culture has gained appeal and momentum among forward looking individuals and organizations that have become aware and concerned about the negative environmental effects of energy-intensive lifestyles, companies and economies.
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What Contributes to a Carbon Footprint?
To be considered carbon neutral, an individual or organization must reduce its carbon footprint to zero. Generally, direct emission sources must be reduced and offset completely, while indirect emissions from purchased electricity can be reduced with renewable energy purchases.
Direct company emissions include all pollution from manufacturing, company owned vehicles, reimbursed travel and any other source that is directly controlled by the owner. Indirect emissions include all emissions that result from the use or purchase of a product.
For instance, the direct emissions of an airline are all the jet fuel that is burned, while the indirect emissions include all the electricity used to operate the airline's office, and the daily emissions from employee travel to and from work. In this case, the power company has a direct emission of greenhouse gas, while the office that purchases it considers it an indirect emission.
The World Resource Institute, in addition to publishing many tables and help aids for calculating carbon footprints, only requires direct emissions to be reduced and balanced for carbon neutral status. However, there is encouragement to include all emissions sources. With this accounting, there are essentially two levels of carbon neutrality: Either all direct and indirect emissions, or only direct emissions.
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How to Become Carbon Neutral
When an individual or an organization sets out to become carbon neutral it is usually achieved by combining the following three steps:
- Limiting energy usage and emissions from transportation (walking, using bicycles or public transport, avoiding flying, using low-energy vehicles), as well as from buildings, equipment and processes
- Obtaining electricity from a renewable energy source either directly by generating it (e.g. installing solar panels on the roof) or by selecting an approved green energy provider, and by using low-carbon alternative fuels such as biofuels
- Offsetting the remaining carbon emissions that can not be avoided or generated from renewables in a responsible carbon project such as the CFL Bulb Carbon Offset Program™, or by buying carbon credits.
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Carbon Offsetting Options
Several carbon offset methods are in use. While tree planting was initially a mainstay of carbon offsetting, renewable energy, energy conservation and methane capture offsets have become increasingly popular.
Many tree planting carbon offset projects have been conceived or conducted in ways that are vulnerable to criticism, drawing their net benefits into question. Significant concern also arises over the permanence of carbon storage in trees and forests, as potential future clearing or burning of the forest would return the stored carbon to the atmosphere.
According to Ken Caldeira, a study co-author from the Carnegie Institution:
"To plant forests outside of the tropics to mitigate climate change is a waste of time. To prevent climate change, we need to transform our energy system. It is only by transforming our energy system and preserving natural habitat, such as forests, that we can maintain a healthy environment. To prevent climate change, we must focus on effective strategies and not just ‘feel-good’ strategies."
As noted above, the energy conservation option as a preferred method to reduce carbon footprints has gained significant support and momentum. Specifically, reducing energy consumption by replacing energy hungry incandescent lights with energy efficient CFL bulbs has become very popular. This is due to the enormous potential to increase energy savings and reduce pollution by simply changing light bulbs! An example of this is the CFL Bulb Carbon Offset Program™ which we initiated.
Various organizations have undertaken a variety of creative measures to encourage the adoption of CFLs. In addition, governments across the globe have taken or are considering strong measures to encourage adoption of CFLs or to entirely displace incandescent light bulbs. Ireland will be the first country to implement a ban in 2009 and Australia will phase out incandescent lights by 2010. USA and Canada has also committed to phasing out incandescent lights starting in 2012.
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Examples of Carbon Neutral Companies, Organizations, Artists, & Countries
Being carbon neutral is increasingly seen as good corporate or state social responsibility and a growing list of companies and states are announcing dates for when they intend to become fully neutral. Some corporate examples include: Dell, PepsiCo, Google, Yahoo!, Mozilla, Expedia, Orbitz, Nike, HSBC, ING Group, Tesco, Salesforce.com, Discover Communications, Amtrak, Credo Mobile, Eagle Eye Tours, Bic, Yakima MTC and Butterfield & Robinson.
Events such as the G8 Summit and organizations like the World Bank are also using offset programs to become carbon neutral. Artists like The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd have made albums or tours carbon neutral.
In July 2007, Vatican City became the first carbon neutral state in the world, following the politics of the Pope to eliminate global warming. The Central American nation of Costa Rica aims to be fully carbon neutral before 2030.
Now you can also join this noteworthy list of carbon neutral entities by participating in the CFL Bulb Carbon Offset Program™. By doing the right thing, you will send a strong message about your green commitment to your customers, employees and vendors and enhance your company reputation, brand and business performance.
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The CFL Bulb Carbon Offset Program™ Advantage
While carbon offsets which fund renewable energy projects help lower the carbon intensity of energy supply, our CFL Bulb energy conservation project seeks to reduce the overall demand for energy. When you participate in the CFL Bulb Carbon Offset Program TM, you offset your carbon emissions by donating CFL bulbs that will use 75% less energy, last 10 times longer and save money.
This unique program empowers you to donate CFL bulbs to anyone you choose to offset your carbon. As an individual, you can donate CFL bulbs to your family, friends, neighbors and charitable organizations. As an organization, you can donate CFL bulbs to employees, customers, businesses and vendors to create goodwill and promote your business while reducing your carbon emissions and showing environmental leadership. Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving both to the giver and receiver!
No matter who you choose to give CFL bulbs, your donation of CFL bulbs to offset your carbon emissions will be totally transparent. You will know exactly where your money went since you will be making that decision. Also, since our program is very simple and there are no ‘middle men’ involved, it offers one of the lowest cost carbon offsets in the world. These key benefits make our CFL Bulb Carbon Offset Program™ unique and differentiate us from our competitors. If you buy carbon offsets from other companies, it will cost you more and you may not be sure where your money went or how it was spent.
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Order Risk Free
When you purchase CarbonNeutralBulb™, you do so at absolutely no risk. It comes with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed warranty. If it fails to perform according to its specifications or is defective, we will replace it immediately.
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Image |
Name |
Price |
Carbon Footprint Reduction* |
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| 16010 |
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CarbonNeutralBulb™ 20 Watt Cool White CFL Bulb: 75 Watt Incandescent Bulb Replacement |
$5.49 |
840
lbs/bulb
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*Carbon Footprint Reduction (Pounds/Bulb) = Pounds Carbon Reduced/Bulb + Pounds of FREE Carbon Offset/Bulb. |
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