This One's For Anonymous!

Some time ago I wrote a post about fluorescent light bulbs and Ontario's new law that will ban them by 2012. Mostly I was whining about not being able to read or knit by what is currently on the market. I wasn't guessing, I have tried it. It is simply not possible for aging eyes to see well with 60 or even 75 watts. I need minimum 100 but am happiest with 150. I also didn't need the Ontario government to hit me with their Flick Off campaign since we are almost religious about turning lights off in this house. There is also the side issue of mercury on disposal or if you drop one and it breaks. Do I have to call in the HazMat guys to dispose of it? What are the long term effects of mercury?

The anonymous commenter said the following;

Grrr. You really have to get your facts straight. Compact fluorescents come in dimmable varieties and in full spectrum, so you don't have to put up with cold white light.

Quit your whining and get with the 21st century. They're more expensive, but they last longer, and use 4/5ths the energy.

To him or her I offer the following proof that we have been part of the 21st century solution for a long time.



We have been composting since 1989 and I offer this year's stash. Pretty cool stuff, it will make our vegetable garden grow really well.

We send an amazingly small amount of garbage to landfill, in fact I'd venture to say less than my commenter. We recycle like mad and I absolutely object to buying things with too much packaging. I have been know to ask stores to keep their excess packaging. Not always possible granted, if you have to return something you need the original packaging, but I try.


You want to save the world by saving electricity, good for you, start by buying less stuff, less gadgets. Forget the Ipods, Wii's, XBoxes, Cell Phones, Computers, etc. etc. etc. get my drift. We as a Western society want way too much stuff.

When I bought my first house, it came with a 40 amp power service. That would not have been enough to run all the gadgets that we demand in today's world, in fact I'd blow a fuse if I happened to have the coffee maker and vacuum on at the same time. But previous generations did just fine with 40 amp. Now most new houses come with 200 amp service. When a city keeps building huge condos all wanting lots and lots of power, that's when we have a problem.

Maybe instead of banning my light bulb, we should just cut everyone back on the power they can have in their house, maybe 60 amps. Making people live within their power means would be the smartest way to save electricity...just thinking.

And if Anonymous is still reading, learn to spell...