After searching the archives, I’m a bit disappointed in myself that I didn’t make mention here of City Hippy and Green Jenni‘s Holiday Lights Campaign. The concept is simple: pledge to buy CFLs for holiday gifts this year. Green gift seller Taraluna has joined the campaign in big way: the company will give away a CFL with each purchase of $50 or more, and is selling the swirly-looking lightbulbs for $3.00 (disclaimer: Taraluna has advertised at sustainablog in the past). According to Taraluna’s press release,
“ΒWith the release of An Inconvenient Truth, global warming in the news almost daily, pledge requests from Environmental Defense and others – now is the time to make the switch to CFL bulbs,” said Penny Schafer, owner of Taraluna. “Because Taraluna is an environmentally and socially responsible online gift store we are a natural fit for the Holiday Lights Campaign started by “green” Internet bloggers City Hippy and Green Jenni,”Β Schafer added.
The goal of 100,000 bulbs pledged, purchased or given away during the campaign would reduce global CO2 emissions by approximately 50,000 to 62,500 tons. This is equivalent to offsetting the electrical use of approximately 2,000-2,500 U.S. citizens for an entire year. CFL bulbs use 70% less energy, last up to 10 times longer and save $68.00 per bulb in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
As you’re well aware, I think CFLs are one of the greatest little items out there for reducing our energy use. I hope other green (and non-green, or at least non-professed-green) gift sellers consider picking up this idea… what a great way to spread holiday cheer, and lighten one’s impact on the planet!
Categories: cfl, gifts, holidays, christmas, taraluna, campaign, us, uk