LED Light Bulbs

LED Light Bulbs

I was doing some more free volunteer work at yet another church; Helping the in-house crew scrub down and clean classrooms during summer break, when the Pastor entered the room I was in, to talk to the maintenance man I was helping with moving desks and furniture. The Pastor stated some important light bulbs were burnt out again, and he seemed displeased. As the Pastor was leaving, he mumbled “we can send people into space, but we can’t make a decent light bulb”.

I asked Jeff (the maintenance guy) “what type of light bulbs keep burning out”. Jeff explained they were some low wattage indoor flood lights that shine down on the front wall of the church behind the Pastor’s

podium. I asked if I could see them. Jeff took me into the chapel and showed me the fixtures as he explained these two fixtures are straight wired (meaning no switch, they’re always on).

I asked if they have to be real bright. Jeff said “No, because we just want a glow on this wall when we turn the lights out. We don’t want total darkness. When we turn on the ceiling lights, the light from these two lights shouldn’t be noticeable”. He then asked what I was thinking.

I told him, he could do with these two fixtures, what I did in my whole apartment. He said “which is?”. I told him he could put in two LED light bulbs and he probably wouldn’t have to touch them again for at least five years. Not only that, but they would save a lot of money because they’re LED. As far as saving money goes, … they’re at least ten times better than compact fluorescents.

Before I knew it, I was in the church truck with him on a 20 minute ride south to the Germantown Wal-Mart where I bought my LED bulbs.

Armed with the church credit card, he also bought LED bulbs to replace problem bulbs elsewhere in the church too, including a couple desk lamps that use the screw-in style bulbs.

Being a maintenance man, he was well aware of the benefits to using LED lights. He simply wasn’t aware that the technology was already on retail shelves and available to the open public.

As we headed north back to the church, he pulled into a sub shop and asked what I wanted. I replied with saying I didn’t bring any lunch money. He then said “Even if you did, I wouldn’t let you use it. You just showed me how to save the church some money while making my job easier by not climbing that ladder so often”.

Not a bad day at all. People helping people, and I got a free lunch out of it.

I’m always talking about LED light bulbs. Basically they are the safest light bulbs ever made. They don’t shatter if dropped, leaving razor sharp glass. They are far safer than compact fluorescent bulbs because LED bulbs don’t contain mercury like the compact fluorescent bulbs do.

Compact fluorescent bulbs shouldn’t be used in homes with active children or pets. If these bulbs break, it should be known that mercury is a element that can be absorbed through the skin and other flesh. Mercury is also a element that can kill human beings. Not the sort of device you would want loved ones exposed to.

In addition to Wal-Mart, the internet is also a great place to buy LED bulbs. Prices vary from $5.00 to almost $100.00 per bulb, depending on the size and style.

The bulbs I’ve been buying say ‘not compatible with dimmer switches’. I don’t know if this means all LED bulbs are like this, or if there are some that can be used with dimmer switches.

One thing about the LED light bulbs is for sure. The benefits out way the purchase price. It’s about time.

Reporter Joseph Toth

Washington Micro Bank BBS