Previously I wrote asking Kossacks for help finding a national retailer that would sell us LED lightbulbs that fit into standard household light sockets.
In the comment threads, I received information that at least one major retailer, Home Depot, will sell a LED light that fits most household ceiling light sockets.
See the product webpage:
Here
Unfortunately this light isn’t in the retail stores – until you ask for it.
We want ALL retailers to sell the most efficient and the longest lasting light bulbs. If readers print out the information from the website and go by their local store, the manager just might listen and act. And then go to competitors stores. Follow me below.
When the helpful commenter directed me to the fact that Home Depot is selling a PAR 30 LED light for $30 -- but only through it’s website – I took action, again.
I had written to Home Depot and manufacturer Lights of America previously, asking for more and better LED lights available at retail. By this I mean lights with more lumens, such as a 75 watt incandescent bulb would have, a bulb that would light an entire room from above. (Let’s face it, sometimes when your lightbulb burns out, you don’t have 3 days to wait for an Internet order to arrive. You need to go to a bricks and mortar store.)
I suggest that other Kossacks do what I did: Print out the Home Depot LED bulb webpage, and go into Home Depot and ask: Why isn’t this LED lightbulb available in this store, because it is on your website?
Home Depot’s answer to me: “ We’ll have that bulb in the store at the end of February. May we call you when it arrives?” Why, yes you can.
Now, the next step – heading over to Lowes, True Value, and Costco and saying “How come Home Depot sells these bulbs, and you don’t?”
Now $30 for a lightbulb is still way too much. Even if it lasts 30 years.
And Congress needs to use both the carrot and stick. The carrot to support research into “the forever lightbulb” and the stick to require that all lightbulbs sold meet a very high standard of efficiency.
The first group that needs to be required to install the most efficient lights are the new homebuilders. They are the most vicious (evil) price negotiators, and they have a profit motive to pass along the small cost of better lights along to the buyers of a new home.
In fact, new homes should be required by law to be built with only tankless hot water heaters, ground source geothermal heat pumps, and other green technology. Of course, the homebuilders will NEVER voluntarily install green tech, they can install “contractor grade”(cheapo) materials and make an extra $200 off of unwary new home buyers. Just like with health insurance and preexisting conditions exclusions, most builders sink to the level of the minimum requirements imposed by government. (Builders are most of the opposition to green homes being built.)
But, if we need 60 Senators to make all new homes truly green, can’t we at least put a stop to new homes with bleeping incandescent bulbs! Some buyers are old folks, who actually can't get on a ladder to change a bulb.
Thanks to the commenters for the guidance. Now, go shopping. And keep us posted if cheaper PAR 30 LED bulbs become available. Your less fortunate neighbors need them. Note the stories in the comments of those who “had to save up” to buy a green lightbulb. That’s patriotism, and sacrificing for your country, my friends.
I want to stress that Home Depot is no better than any other store -- they are just large and national. I've looked at Home Depot, Costco and Lowes for years for LED lights large enough to light an entire room. So far, I've only found them on HD's website. Please enlighten us as to other retailers that offer LED's that can light an entire room.