Lesser Known Free Utilities for Windows

From decimation.com:

I thought it would be interesting to focus the lesser known freeware applications that are available instead of just listing all the popular freeware applications (Firefox, SmartFTP, etc). I’ve tried to attach a screenshot with each program so you can get a feel about what the program does before downloading it.

Feel free to comment if you think I missed something and would like it added. Remember that the focus of this post is not to point out well known pieces of software but to focus on the lesser knowns.

• Acrobat Reader Speedup
  • This program will dramatically increase the speed it takes for Adobe Acrobat Reader to open. I can’t imagine not using it.
  • UPDATE 1: Foxit Reader - Replace Adobe Acrobat all together with this program. This is a lightweight program that is less than 2mb. Since I have no specific need for Adobe I’ve recently switched.
• allSnap
  • Another simple program that snaps your windows automatically like you see in Winamp. You can go to the site to see a video of it in action.
• AutoHotkey
  • A simple utility that allows you to map hotkeys to perform certain actions.
• Billy
  • This is a really small and portable mp3 player. Good for a USB thumb drive.
• Burrrn
  • This tool is for creating audio CDs with CD-Text from various audio files from wav, mp3, mpc, ogg, aac, mp4, ape, flac, ofr, wv, tta, m3u, pls and fpl playlists and cue sheets.
• Citrus Alarm Clock
  • A simple program that has whatever audio program you pick start playing music at a set time. It will play any music choice, has a fade in feature, lets you choose day of the weeks and times. Cheap way to replace that alarm clock.
• CoreFTP
  • Another alternative to SmartFTP and FileZilla, this is a lightweight FTP client.
• Dark Room
  • Taken from the site, “Dark Room is a full screen, distraction free, writing environment. Unlike standard word processors that focus on features, Dark Room is just about you and your text.”
• DriveImageXML
  • If you need to make a backup of XP or 2k3 or clone a drive, this utility is for you.
• Eraser
  • If you really need to delete a file then I would recommend this. It will remove a file from your PC and remove all traces of it.
• EverNote
  • Taken from the website, “With EverNote you can easily capture, store and quickly access typed and handwritten memos, webpage excerpts, emails, phone messages, addresses, passwords, brainstorms, sketches, documents and more!”
• Faststone Capture
  • Pretty cool screen capturing utility. Allows you to select windows, objects, and even free hand selections.
  • UPDATE 1: FastStone Screen Capture went shareware beginning with Version 5.4 as of 05/14/2007.

    Version 5.3 is the last true freeware (for personal use) version.Version 5.3 can be downloaded here.

• HFS (HTTP File Server)
  • This program allows you to setup file sharing using an open source http server. Works right out of the box. I use this daily to transfer data from my main PC to my media center PC.
• IZArc
  • An alternative to 7-Zip and WinRAR. It extracts all the well known formats along with the lesser known ones. I love it and it’s free.
• jEdit
  • “jEdit is a mature programmer’s text editor with hundreds (counting the time developing plugins) of person-years of development behind it.” It is a multi-platform program since it is written in Java.
• Launchy
  • This program allows you to launch programs based on its indexed database of programs. Similar to Vista’s search and run feature, but much more powerful.
• Lclock
  • While you probably won’t need this if you run Vista, this utility has a configurable popup calendar that opens when the system tray clock is clicked.
• MP3Gain
  • MP3Gain analyzes and adjusts mp3 files so that they have the same volume.
• Multimon
  • It manages your dual monitor desktop. I actually use Ultramon but this one is free for those not wanting to spend any money.
• nLite
  • nLite allows you to build custom Windows CDs. You can exclude certain features so they don’t even install in the first place. A way to make Windows how you want it on installation.
• Notepad++
  • One of my favorite notepad replacement programs. Has features like syntax highlighting and tabs. Check out this HOWTO article on replacing the default notepad.exe with this one.
• Notepad2
  • Another notepad replacement. It is very simple, which I like. I use it often at work instead of Notepad++.
• Password Gorilla
  • A small little utility that can fit on your USB thumb drive. It is program and database combo that stores all your passwords. Just plug it in and you can connect to any site. Sure would suck to lose it.
• Portable Apps
  • This application allows you to use your USB drive to run all types of apps built for a USB drive. It also has an optional menu interface to launch them.
• PrimoPDF
  • You can easily convert any file into a PDF file. It pretty much does any type of printable file type. And it’s free and not just a trial version.
• Process Explorer
  • Now you can replace your task manager with something that has a little more power and and provides more details. Gives you a ton more data when hunting a process.
• Programmer’s Notepad
  • This notepad was designed with special featured aimed at the coder. Check out the site for more details.
• Quicktime Alternative / Realplayer Alternative
  • Simply put, you can install these and not have to install Quicktime and Realplayer to view movies anyone. Though, who still uses Realplayer to encode movies?
• Rainlendar
  • This is a small little desktop calendar that has useful things like a todo list and reminders.
• RightLoad
  • Since I’ve installed this application, I can’t imagine not having it. It integrates FTP support into your right click menu. You can now upload a file is two clicks.
• Screamer Radio
  • Stream internet radio for free. As simple as that.
• Snippy
  • If you have a need to easily copy information from a website then this utility is for you. Click on the Snippy icon – mouse cursor changes to a pen – mark an area of the screen – the marked area is now in your clipboard.
• StrokeIt
  • “StrokeIt is an advanced mouse gesture recognition engine and command processor.” This utility allows you to make mouse gestures to perform certain actions on your computer. When it recognizes the gesture it will fire off a set of commands.
• Synergy
  • This program is probably one of my favorites. It allows you to use one mouse and keyboard with two computers without needing a KVM switch. One computer runs the server software and the other runs the client software. You can have a dual monitor setup (without dragging windows from one to the other, but close) with a few minutues of configuration. Highly recommended.
• Taskbar Shuffle
  • “No hotkeys, no extra steps, just rearrange the buttons on your Windows taskbar by dragging and dropping them. Allows you to rearrange your system tray icons by dragging and dropping as well (but that does require a hotkey).”
• Teracopy
  • Teracopy will replace the horrible Windows copy dialog with one that allows you to stop, pause, and recover copying. Lightweight and free.
• ToDoList
  • A freeware to-do-list. Real simple to use.
• True Launch Bar
  • This is a Windows Quick Launch replacement. It is very customizable and obviously exceeds the features that Windows has.
  • UPDATE 1: Sorry for the confusion. True Launch Bar is not freeware. I got Free Launch Bar and True Launch Bar confused. Free Launch Bar is a lighter version of True Launch Bar.
• unxutils
  • Not exactly my thing but I know some of you out there like this type of stuff. This is just a set of some common GNU utilities for Win32 without needing Cygwin.
• Volumouse
  • You can now control your sound volume on your system just by using your mousewheel. It’s a really cool piece of software. I’ve been using it for awhile. I was worried it wouldn’t work in Vista when I upgraded but it did.
• Weather Watcher
  • I was amazed when I came across a weather program that wasn’t a front end for spyware. While I’d prefer a different UI it gives you your weather without ads.
• WinDirStat
  • This utility will show you, visually, how your hard drives look. Really cool if you’re looking to free some space and need to find the larger files. Alternatives include SequoiaView, Spacemonger, and JDiskReport.
• WinExpose
  • While still under development, this program aims to mimic Macs OS X’s expose feature.
• Winwget
  • A Windows version of wget. It acts as a simple download manage

Here are some other resources for more freeware. I’ll be looking over those lists to add to mine if I see something that is lesser known.

• Large list of over 450 freeware applications - Link
• Freeware listing for both Windows and Mac - Link
• Another list of all the popular freeware - Link

Save The Internet

How to list an eBay auction for maximum profit

How to list an eBay auction for maximum profit

August 9th, 2007 under Money, eBay This article written by: Mike Panic

Over the last 8 years I have been buying and selling items on eBay for myself and more recently, small businesses. In that time I’ve learned a few tricks to help get you maximum profit for your items with just a few tweaks during the listing process. Here is a checklist to go through when listing your items. List the item on Sunday Know the item you are listing Research what similar items have sold for Be honest with your description Be realistic with what you expect to get for it Avoid most eBay add-ons Get a good starting bid, avoid reserves, use Buy It Now List the item for maximum visibility Be as descriptive as possible Use quality photographs Explain any flaws Spell check Explain shipping & handling fees up front Create a disclaimer Reply to all questions in a timely manner Ship fast Use PayPal Promote your auction List the item on Sunday. It is a proven fact that listing a standard seven day auction late Sunday afternoon into early evening will give you the best chance of a great auction selling price. More people are likely to be home and you will get the exposure of the remaining part of that day and the entire following Saturday. If you live on the east coast of the US, list it somewhere between 6 and 9pm, this will give people on the west coast ample time to see it. Ideally, you want as many people to see it in the last few hours as possible, which is when most people make the decision to buy. Know the item you are listing. Sounds silly, but many people don’t know exactly what it is they are selling. Say for example you are selling a toy you bought for your toddler but they hate it. You threw out the box when you gave it to him, so you lost a lot of the information about it, what age group it was for, etc. Without that information, you cannot make a solid, descriptive auction. The information should be available on the manufactor website, so search for that. Likewise, if you are selling something like a handmade wood bowl that your grandfather gave you, list that it is a handmade item and that it is one of a kind (if it truly is). Research what similar items have sold for. You’ll need to login to your eBay account to do this then go to the advanced search options. Search for already completed auctions to get an idea of what recently ending items have sold for and how much of a bidding war too place. With this information you should be able to properly gauge what your item is worth and start the auction accordingly. Be honest with your description. Sounds easy enough, but the number of sellers who don’t give any information or very little about an items real condition can often not get as much money from their sale or have to deal with numerous questions during the auctions. If you are trying to sell a set of bookshelf speakers for example and you know that on the left side of one of them is a small mark, take a photo and make sure you note it in the description. By being honest you will not only save the aggravation of dealing with an unhappy buyer after the fact, you will be more likely to come off as a real person selling the item. Buyers like to know that they are getting something from an honest seller. If you embellish your listing you are only selling yourself short. Likewise, be sure that you mention other details that some may care about. Often times when selling used clothing it is a good idea to mention that your home is smoke free and pet free, only do this if it is indeed true. Be realistic with what you want to get for the item. After you’ve done your research on what similar items have sold for, be realistic with the condition of the item you are selling and how much you can get for it. Sometimes people shoot for the stars and end up not selling the item; by not selling it you waste money in listing fees. If you are not comfortable with the price at which recent auctions have ended, don’t list your item. There is a chance the market for that particular item will have an upswing, just as likely as it could have a downswing though. Avoid most eBay add-ons. There are dozens of options when listing your auction, you can see all the sellers fees here. Most of them will not get you more money in the end, such as fancy templates, making the title line bold and putting a funny little outline around your listing in search engines. Unless you have something really rare, I’d avoid these. Get a good starting bid, avoid reserves and use Buy It Now. Low starting prices attract buyers, reserves scare them away, and so I’d avoid using them unless you really need to get a certain amount for the item. Listing your item at $1.00 with no reserve will more then likely draw attention but be aware that it might only sell for $1.00. Over the years, the Buy It Now option has become more popular; I personally prefer to buy auctions with them. There is a small fee associated with it, but auctions that list with the BIN add-on usually sell faster. List the item for maximum visibility. eBay offers several add-on features for a fee to get your item to stand out better in the search results, some of these are worth looking into some are not. The only one I’d ever really consider is the thumbnail view of your item to the left of the text link. What you can do for free is use all the space available for your auction title. Currently eBay gives XX characters, use all of them. Additionally, use the underscore to separate words instead of a blank space. Why you ask? The modern type is dynamic to each letter; the lower case letter l takes up less horizontal space then the lowercase letter w. By using the underscore instead of spaces you will essentially widen the auction title and possibly get it to spill onto a second line for free. An example can be seen here: New Playstation 3 Core System With 2 Controllers New_Playstation_3_Core_System_With_2_Controllers Not only is the wider one easier to read, it will attract more viewers. There is also an add-on when listing your auction called Gallery, it is a $0.35 add on feature. While I am against most of these add-ons because they can really cut into your profits, this is one that is worth it. Why? Because it will show the buyer what your item looks like from the search results field. This can be very handy for many different types of auctions, in addition to drawing more attention to the listing. Be as descriptive as possible. If the item is of electronic nature, say a home stereo, see if the manufactor still has the specs listed on their site and either link to it or copy over the important ones. In addition, list your personal experience with the item, how it works, functions, etc. You’ll want to make a point of listing everything positive you can about the item. In some cases, I’ve also listed why I’m selling some items, depending on what it is. Recently I sold a piece of luggage that I purchased in California on vacation that was needed to haul home all the stuff I bought. It was used once as a carry on and was in as new condition. This information was listed in the auction. Also take the time to list the environment the items lived in. If for example you were selling clothing, even new with tags on it, list in the auction that the item is new with tags and if applicable, that it comes from a smoke free, animal free home, kept in a cool, dry closet. Don’t lie here! Explain any flaws. Take photos of scratches, dents, scuffs, wear, etc. No matter how small it is, disclose the information in both photographs and pictures. This lets the seller know how are trying to be honest and up front about the item. You don’t have to go into full detail about how everything happened, just be sure to list them. Use quality photographs. If it is something small, get a piece of white poster board from a local Wal-Mart type store and place it on your kitchen table. Put the item on it and turn on all the lights in that room. Take a few pictures of it making sure nothing else is being shown but the item and the white background. If the item is fairly small, look for a macro setting on your camera and use that. For any given item, 3-6 quality photographs will go a long way. Resize them down to be used on the web; an easy way to do this is with the freeware program Irfanview (Windows only, Mac users can use iPhoto). Once open, go to Image > Resize / Resample and click the 800×600 option, then OK. Save these to a new location. Since eBay only gives you one photo for free, use a free web photo hosting solution for the other images to be listed in your auction. Some of these sites are: xs.to PhotoBucket ImageShack They all provide code to place them into eBay auctions and are free to use. I’ve been using xs.to for sometime and never had a problem. Simple and straight forward. Spell check. Take two minutes and reread what you wrote, make sure it makes sense and there are no spelling errors. Not only will this make the auction more valid for your potential buyer, it is the right thing to do. Explain shipping & handling fees up front. When listing your auction, eBay has the boxes you can use for shipping, flat rate, by weight, etc. I think it is also worth listing in the auction itself what the shipping & handling fees are, where you will and won’t ship to, what the insurance options are, etc. My experience is that buyers prefer flat rate shipping, so you will need to determine what your item weighs packed up and what the rate is from who you will use as a shipper (UPS, USPS, FedEx, etc.). I usually add $1-4 to that to cover my costs of the box, packing material and gas to drive to where I’m mailing it from. Insurance is an option in the listing process, you the seller decide if you want to make it required, optional or not available. I usually use the optional portion, 50% of the time the buyer will want it, and the other half they won’t. Create a disclaimer. At the bottom of all my auctions I use something similar to the following: I have listed this item to the best of my ability. If you have any questions, please contact me with at least 24 hours prior to the auction ending so I may reply to them. Payment is expected within three days of the auction ending, PayPal is the preferred method. The item will be shipped within one business day after payment has been received. Insurance is optional, however it is recommended. Please leave positive feedback for me when the item arrives, I will do the same for after you have left feedback for me. If for some reason there is an issue with the item when it arrives, please contact me ASAP to address it. Reply to all questions in a timely manner. Common sense here folks. Don’t list an item and go on vacation. Do check your email and eBay account at least twice a day to look for questions. Reply to them in a timely manner and address each question to the best of your ability. Ship fast. If you can, ship an item the day of payment or the following day. This will help build a positive feedback rating for you as a fast shipper, something a lot of buyers look for. No one wants to pay for something on Monday to find out it hasn’t shipped out till Friday. Take this into consideration when listing your item. Use PayPal. PayPal allows instant payment and the ability for you the seller to receive credit card payments. By doing so, you have now enabled someone who may not have the cash to purchase your item to do so by putting it on their credit card. Additionally, it allows you to track payments and create shipping labels for both USPS and UPS. Using the built in option for shipping labels will also send notification to the buyer that the item has shipped and what the tracking number is, one less thing you need to do. There are too many instances where checks and money orders bounce, get lost in the mail, etc. to make them worthwhile. Additionally, it adds time until the buyer receives their item. Promote your auction. On any given day there are millions of items listed. Just having a clever title isn’t good enough anymore. You need to tell people you have an auction. Get on the social network of your choice, like MySpace and make a blog or bulletin post announcing your auctions. Don’t go around spamming people, but once when you list the auction and another the day before the auction ends can help drive extra traffic to your auctions. Lastly, build relationships. Use the feedback options on all auctions, making sure to emphasize what the buyer has done right, using terms like fast payment or painless transaction. This will make you seem much more human and more buyers will want to deal with you. Should have an issue, do everything in your power to resolve it as fast as possible.

CFL, Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs - Questions and Answers

What is an energy-saving compact florescent light bulb, and how does it differ from regular incandescent bulbs?
CFLs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to six to ten times longer: 10,000 vs. 1,000 hours. They save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime.

CFLs also generate 70 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling. CFLs produce no sound and fall within a warm color range. They are available in different sizes and shapes to fit almost any fixture, either indoors or outdoors.

Why should consumers use energy-saving bulbs?
CFL bulbs save energy, producing more light per watt than a standard incandescent lamp. Using CFL decreases energy consumption—resulting in energy savings—and helps reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gases. The World Wildlife Fund recommends conversion to CFL bulbs in our fight against greenhouse gases. The environmental non-profit group, "18Seconds," states that if every U.S. home bought one CFL, the effect on greenhouse gases would be equivalent to taking two million cars off the road.

If all households were to change two to three incandescent bulbs to CFL, it would contribute to large total energy savings and reduce the negative impact by producing less greenhouse gases.

Additionally, the bulbs don't get hot. They are well suited also for outdoor use and areas where a light is lit for a long time.

Why is the CFL bulb somewhat more expensive than an incandescent bulb?
The product and the production process are more complex. CFLs are more expensive as compared to the incandescent since:

· CFL needs electronic materials where as incandescent does not need any.

· CFL needs two filaments while incandescent needs only one.

· CFL needs a special coating while incandescent does not need this.

How much money can I save if I start to use CFL bulbs only?
The main savings lie within costs for energy. The energy may account for a big part of the running expenses for a household. A CFL bulb costs three to five times more than an incandescent bulb, but it lasts up to ten times longer and gives five times the light output compared to an incandescent bulb.

In a nutshell, if you use a CFL instead of an incandescent bulb with similar light output for the same time, you spend only a one-fifth on the electricity bill. The more CFL you use, the more you save.

What is the cost of the IKEA CFL bulbs?
IKEA offers 11-watt 3-pack linear CFL bulbs for $3.99 and an 11-watt 2-pack globe for $9.99.

Is it true that CFL bulbs contain mercury? Why and how much?
CFL bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing—an average of 5 milligrams. Mercury is an essential, irreplaceable element in CFL bubs and allows the bulb to be an efficient light source.

Is it safe to use mercury in bulbs?
Today there is no other production technique; however, in the production process the amounts of mercury added are strictly controlled. IKEA and researchers are working hard to find techniques that will reduce the amount of mercury even more. IKEA has voluntarily imposed tougher limit levels of mercury in CFL (three milligrams) than demanded in the Restrictions of Hazardous Substances directive (five milligrams).

The industry is currently aiming at totally mercury-free CFL lighting, but this is still five to ten years away.

Additionally, IKEA places strict demands on customer and co-worker safety and product quality. In the product specifications to suppliers, all legal and IKEA-specific demands are defined. Risk analysis is made during product development, and in production comprehensive test routines are in place. IKEA uses independent accredited test laboratories for verification. IKEA follows government norms for safety tests as well as standards for life and quality testing.

How should I dispose of my CFL?
Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist. If better options do not exist, place the CFL in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in your trash. You may also bring your used mercury containing light bulbs to your local IKEA store for free disposal. Another option is to check directly with your local waste management agency for recycling options and disposal guidelines in your community.

What happens to the used bulbs someone brings back to IKEA for recycling?
The waste of electrical equipment and light bulbs are taken care of by approved recyclers, experts in recycling processes.

The bulb goes through a separation process into glass, powder and mercury. Separated mercury goes through a process of triple distillation which takes away all contamination (mercury has a tendency to attract other materials). After the triple distillation is finished the mercury is reused.

Will IKEA continue to sell incandescent bulbs?
The IKEA ambition is to find alternative lighting solutions that are more efficient and have less negative impact on the environment.

What does the future hold regarding energy-efficient lighting?
Some possible new alternatives to today’s light sources are:

· LED (Light Emitting Diodes) is the furthest in this development and with today’s knowledge there are no problems with heavy metals. IKEA hopes to increase the use of this light source into everyday lighting. Today it is mainly used in decorative lighting.

· The development of halogen technology called IRC (Infra Red Coating) is also encouraging as the lifespan and efficiency may reach CFL levels without heavy metals. IKEA continues to follow the development in this field.

· Mercury-free CFLs are also under development. Research suggests that in time we can have a performance comparable to today’s CFL. But this is still 5-10 years away from any real industrial production. This technology may be passed by LED and halogen technology before this.

How can I use CFL lighting to enhance my home?
The possibility of creating functional and attractive lighting in the home is endless. IKEA recommends that the characteristics of each light source are taken into consideration and that lighting is planned for the whole home.

In the kitchen, counter top lighting with an efficient fluorescent lamp gives good working light and over the dining table a pendant lamp works well with a CFL bulb.

You can use CFL bulbs with paper or textile sculpture lamps on the floor or as table lamps.

Energy-saving CFL bulbs are also well suited for table lamps, glass fixtures and for outdoor lamps.

article source: www.csrwire.com

Tech Tags: Compact+Fluorescent+Light+Bulbs CFL lightbulbs global+warming

21st Century Citizen’s Ultimate Guide to Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs

The new fad seems to be compact fluorescent light bulbs. Does switching to these bulbs actually save money? How much money will I save? Does this really make a difference to the environment? All of the answers are in the excellent article below.

The article below is from www.21st-century-citizen.com:


21st Century Citizen’s Ultimate Guide to Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs

This is the first aricle in a series on Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs. We’re publishing this series so there will be a set of pages that provide everything a person needs to know about CFL lighting. If there is anything missing, please contact us so we can consider adding it to the series.

Introduction / Summary

Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs will save energy and cut your electric bills. They cost more initially, but will last as much as 10 to 15 times as long as regular light bulbs.

CFL bulbs only need 20-25% of the energy of a normal light bulb, so you’ll save money on electricity. How much money you’ll save depends on how high your bills are already. If your electric bill is $200/month then on average you could save $10-15/month by switching most of your lights to CFL bulbs.

One problem with CFL lights is that they are made using mercury, which is toxic. Newer CFL lights are now being made that use less mercury. Some US States are considering requiring the lights to be recycled.

Since they can do so much to lower electricity use, CFL lighting is expected to play a big part in slowing global warming and reducing oil dependency. In fact, according to the EPA’s EnergyStar program, we could save enough electricity to light 3 million homes if each home in America replaced only one light. That would prevent the same greenhouse gas emissions as taking 800,000 cars off the road.

Switching to CFL bulbs is a simple way to play a part in helping slow down global warning. You can save money and feel good while you’re doing it.

Lifespan

According to OSRAM’s on-line catalog, CFL lights can last between 6,000 and 15,000 hours of normal use. That’s over 10 times as long as the expected life of a normal light bulb which is only 700-1000 hours.

Cost and Payback

A normal 75 watt bulb priced at an on-line discount website cost 79 cents per bulb. A 6-pack of similar CFL bulbs was available from an on-line discount website for $15.16, or just about $2.50 apiece. Electricity costs are assumed to be about 10 cents per Kw-Hr.

Purchase cost per bulb:

1. Normal Bulb = $0.79 USD (or 79 cents)
2. Equivalent CFL = $2.50 USD

Electricity cost to use over life time:

1. Normal Bulb: 75 Watts * 1000 Hrs * 10c/Kw-Hr / 1000 = $7.50
2. Equivalent CFL: 20 watts * 12000 Hrs * 10c/Kw-Hr / 1000 = $24.00

Cost per year:

1. Normal Bulb: $7.50 lifetime cost * 1.5 bulbs / year = $11.25 per year
2. Equivalent CFL: $24.00 lifetime cost * 1/8 bulbs / year = $3.00 per year

In other words, a normal bulb costs $11.25 per year while the CFL costs only $3 per year. Switching to a CFL bulb will pay for itself in under 6 months.

Switching the top 10 lights in your home to CFL bulbs could save you $80/year on your electric bills.

Downsides

The main drawbacks to using CFL Bulbs are that they cost more to buy initially, and they also contain small amounts of Mercury inside them.

The Mercury is used inside the bulbs to increase their efficiency. Only a small amount is used, but you should still be careful. (A CFL bulb contains only 1/100th of the mercury in old-style mercury thermometers.)

The main issues with Mercury are:

1. If they break, the mercury can escape into your home, and
2. They should not be disposed of into your normal trash.

If a CFL bulb breaks in your home, the amount of mercury released isn’t much — but you should use caution if this happens.

According to the U.S. EPA, here are directions to clean up a CFL bulb that has broken. [PDF] Here are their directions:

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?

EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:

1. Open a window and leave the room (restrict access) for at least 15 minutes.

2. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner. Wear disposable rubber gloves, if available (do not use your bare hands). Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard. Wipe the area clean with a damp paper towel or disposable wet wipe. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.

3. Place all cleanup materials in a plastic bag and seal it. If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the CFL in two plastic bags and put into the outside trash (if no other disposal or recycling options are available). Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.

4. The first time you vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag once done cleaning the area (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag and/or vacuum debris, as well as the cleaning materials, in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.

Newer CFL bulbs are now being made that use about half of the mercury that older ones used.

Do Brands Matter?

In general, brands don’t matter that much. The main thing to look for is one that has low mercury content and is affordable.

Walmart recently put out a press release indicating they had pushed their suppliers into offering products that contained lower amounts of Mercury. The four manufacturers mentioned that were lowering their Mercury contents were GE Consumer & Industrial, Philips, OSRAM SYLVANIA, and Lights of America.

Where to buy CFL Bulbs

While it’s been accused of taking advantage of its size to dump problems on others, in this case I really can’t think of a better place to buy CFL lights than Walmart.

Walmart has taken the lead on CFL’s in terms of using their market power to lower the cost to consumers as well as in pushing the manufacturer’s to lower mercury content in the lights. In fact, on their website you can’t even find non-CFL lights.

On-Line References

The top references I’ve found on-line with regard to CFL Lights are:

1. Wikipedia’s Entry on Compact Fluorescent Lights
2. Walmart for price comparison and shopping
3. Popular Mechanics Article, May 2007
4. NPR Story on CFL’s, Feb 15, 2007

Bookmark to:

Tech Tags: Compact+Fluorescent+Light+Bulbs CFL lightbulbs global+warming

Simply Google - all of Google's hidden features in one webpage!

Simply Google
Google Sites	Google Searches		Google Blogs
Google Analytics	Web		Official Google Blog
Google Accounts	Images		Adwords API
Google Alerts	Groups		Blogger Buzz
Google Mail	News		Google Base
Personalised Home	Froogle		Google Code
Google Suggest	Local		Google Enterprise
Google Sets	Blogs		Google Maps API
Google Moon	Books		Google Reader
Google Mars	Maps		Google Research
Google Store	Scholar		Google Talk
Google Current TV	Video		Google Video
Google Zeitgeist	Music		Inside AdSense
	Feeds		Inside AdWords
Google Fun	Base		Inside Desktop
Mentalplex	Directory		Inside Sitemap
Pigeon Rank	Finance
Moonbase Google	Catalogs		Other Blogs
Google Gulp	Answers		Google Blogoscoped
Google Romance	History		Search Engine Watch
	Bookmarks		Inside Google
Downloads	Linux		MSN Search
Desktop	Apple		Yahoo Search
Earth	Microsoft		John Battelle's Searchblog
Talk	Movies
Toolbar	Definitions
Video Player	Weather
Picasa	bbc.co.uk
Pack	The Answer
	Other Searches
	Yahoo
	MSN
	Ask
	Wikipedia
	IMDB
	del.icio.us
(goo-home.com is the simple version of google.com that has been de-googlized) Created by Chris McEvoy - April 2006