I feel if canada and the usa got together and thought about changing their street lights over to energy -efficient lighting,that would help out alot with global warming .

If every one replaced one bulb every month, soon your whole house would be changed over from incandesant to flourescent bulbs. It would cut down on greenhouse gases and save you money as well.

I almost already have...the the only incandescent bulb left is in the middle of a storage room filled with boxes...or in appliances (which might be the one place where a different non-incandescent replacement solution will be needed).

At a Toastmaster's meeting last week, one of the speakers stated that if every household replaced 3 incandescent lights with flourescents the reduction in pollution would be equivalent to taking 8 million cars off the road. That's quite a stat!

I think its a good idea to use less energy. I believe that one must also keep in mind the environmental issues.

Yes, (compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)) use less power to supply the same amount of light as an incandescent lamp of the same lumen rating, they can be used to decrease overall energy consumption.
Generation of electricity is a major source of pollution in various forms. According to Environment Canada:

"The electricity sector is unique among industrial sectors in its very large contribution to emissions associated with nearly all air issues. Electricity generation produces a large share of Canadian nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide emissions, which contribute to smog and acid rain and the formation of fine particulate matter.
It is the largest uncontrolled industrial source of mercury emissions in Canada. Fossil fuel-fired electric power plants also emit carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change. In addition, the sector has significant impacts on water and habitat and species. In particular, hydro dams and transmission lines have significant effects on water and biodiversity."[10]

CFLs contain small amounts of mercury[11][12] and it is a concern for landfills and waste incinerators where the mercury from lamps may be released and contribute to air and water pollution.
In the USA, lighting manufacturer members of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have made a voluntary commitment to cap the amount of mercury used in CFLs:

Under the voluntary commitment, effective April 15, 2007, NEMA members will cap the total mercury content in CFLs of less than 25 watts at 5 milligrams (mg) per unit.
The total mercury content of CFLs that use 25 to 40 watts of electricity will be capped at 6 mg per unit.[13]

Some manufacturers such as Philips and GE make very low mercury content CFLs.[14] Safe disposal requires storing the bulbs unbroken until they can be processed.

Consumers should seek advice from local authorities. Usually, one can either:

* Return used CFLs to where they were purchased, so the store can recycle them correctly; or
* Take used CFLs to a local recycling facility.

We now have a sensor on the lights so they only come on when there is movement around the house.

Kane, what's the benefit of burning energy, shortening the lifespan of your bulbs and polluting the night sky (I am an amateur astronomer) by keeping the lights burning. Afraid of the dark? :)

And just think, if your turned them off when you went to bed, you would have even bigger savings!