Ethical and economical gloom
It’s definitely more atmospheric, but is this new found murk a health and safety risk? A grainy, yellowy light struggles to fill the corner of the room, but I suppose at least these new lightbulbs save energy. Not only should these bulbs save money and reduce consumption of our finite natural resources, but I didn’t even have to buy them!
One of Lewisham Council’s Energy Action team have just visited with some useful advice on how to save energy and reduce household bills. Afterall, being ‘green’ is just the new way of being tight, as a mate put it. Actually, I was lucky to get my consultation at all. I’d had to schreech my bike to a halt five minutes from home by my ringing phone, only to be told by the consultant that as their van had broken down around the corner from Gaucho Towers regulations meant that they weren’t allowed to come in as I wouldn’t be able to see the magic vehicle in from the front door. Luckily, I wasn’t late and managed to persuade her to stay.
The visit was only about five or so minutes and we both learned something. I learned that the London Warm Zone body gives out generous grants to get your loft insulated or re-insulated. I was also left with a leaflet on Energy Saving Tips for Lower Household Bills and another on the menace of Condensation. My advisor found her client, bouncing off his bike, was already a bit of a green nut but was very pleased to hear about the cheap and effective Stormguard Seasonal Double Glazing Film. This is a thin plastic sheeting, a bit like cling film, that I’d used to seal my draftiest window and increase the temperature in the kitchen by a good two or three degrees. A packet with enough inside to cover a good couple of windows only costs seven quid, so the Energy Watch advisor seemed impressed.
As our chat came to a close, she said ‘you’re a very nice man’, pulled out two more bulbs to add to my initial two and sprinted down the stairs. I set about replacing my incandescent bulbs with fluorescent replacements and plunging the flat into sepulchral gloom.
Tags: , energy saving, Energy saving lightbulbs, flourescent bulbs, incandescent bulbs, stormguard, warm zone