Unscrew America!

If you are looking to make changes in the new year and need a resolution, I have the perfect resolution for you. I am talking about making a small change that will make a big difference.

Unscrew America is a campaign to raise awareness of CFLs and LEDs. The campaign was started by one of the producers of An Inconvenient Truth along with the founder of GSD&M's Idea City. The website is totally interactive with great information about the campaign, videos, and even additional information about things you can do to save energy.

The idea of lightbulb replacement sounds simple, right? There are so many places to buy CFLs, from your local grocery store to the hardware store down the street. Don't have time to run out and buy CFLs? There are lots of places on the Internet to purchase them. The bottom line is that there is no reason to not change your lightbulbs.

So, why CFLs? CFLs produce the same amount of light as traditional lightbulbs, but use 80% less energy. CFLs also last 10-15 times longer. Despite the additional initial cost of CFLs, they pay for themselves in five months. Remember to purchase Energy Star - approved bulbs with the same output as those you are replacing.

The most important thing to remember about CFLs is that you cannot simply toss them in the trash when they burn out. CFLs contain mercury, so the bulbs must be disposed of properly. Check your town's website or http://www.earth911.org/ for collection programs.

So what are you waiting for? Go to http://www.unscrewamerica.org/ right now! Get all the information you need about CFLs and LEDs, then get shopping. Even if you don't live in America, you can and should still visit the website to determine if you can participate in the campaign. This is a change we can all make as we unscrew America and the world!