LEDs

While exploring the Terrapass carbon offset site, I discovered that they had LEDs to sell. Not inexpensive: $30 for a light with the equivalent of a 40 watt bulb. But it is supposed to use about 1000th of the energy of incandescents and will most likely outlast me.

Curious, I bought two - one to put over my kitchen sink, which is our most-used indoor light. I figured I would feel less unhappy if that light that stayed on every night til the wee hours of the morning due to some late-owl meanderings if it was energy efficient. The second one is still in its box. Not sure where to put it.

One thing I noticed right away when I screwed in the LED - it does not play nicely with the incandescents in the other kitchen fixtures. (we are a hybrid house - the kitchen now has an LED, 9 CFLS, and three incandescents. don't ask.) It goes better with the CFLs, but it is a different breed of light.

It is strong, but not diffuse. It is white but not harsh. Soft - like a shower of bright fullmoon light. To stand in its orb is to feel oneself outdoors, mid-month, on a cloudless night - and to wash dishes in its light is to imagine that the water is a tangible rush of its light cool on your skin.

Still and all, not all members of my family like it. And it does not give off enough light for aging eyes to feel sated in brightness. There are times I would like to slide up the dimmer switch - but there is none to be had. The bulb is as high as it can go. It was the highest strength I could find.

So the industry must continue to work both on the quality and power of the light, and on the price.

But to know that not only is my house powered by 100% wind energy; but that our consumption of even that energy is low (the lower our per household consumption, the further wind energy will go and the more quickly we can be weaned from fossil fuels) feels good.

And to glance into the kitchen with all the other lights off and see this glow of cool, calming moonlight transforms the space into the place of fairytales.