One Billion Bulbs

On Tuesday, I wrote about how Australia is planning on phasing out incandescent lightbulbs in favour of compact fluorescents and similar more energy-efficient models. Some time back I’d heard about a group called “One Billion Bulbs” (rediscovered via This Boy Elroy). They want to replace one billion old fashioned lightbulbs with compact fluorescents. They ask us to “Imagine the possibilities”:

Imagine if people all over the world mobilized to replace one billion standard incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs. What would that mean? It would mean that those people would save money each month on their electricity bill. It would mean they would save enough energy to light tens of millions of homes for a year. It would mean the prevention of greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual emissions of millions of cars.

Even the world’s largest retailer, America’s Wal-Mart, is getting in on the act promoting compact fluorescents and other “green” initiatives. One Billion Bulbs gives ordinary people throughout the world the chance to participate in this by recording every old fashioned bulb they replace with compact fluorescents.

The group is currently in Phase 2, trying to reach 50,000 bulbs replaced. New Zealand is currently at 116.63% of its Phase 2 goal, which makes us one of the green countries on their world map. Australia is at 40.32 percent, needing 95 more bulbs changed to reach their Phase 2 goal.

I’ve added a chart at the bottom of the right side of this blog which both details the progress so far, and provides a link to participate. One person can’t save the world, but one person taking a simple act—like switching to energy efficient lighting—can help. Check it out for yourself.