Walmart has officially announced the release of their own brand of CFL bulbs. This move will hopefully help promote this form of alternative and more efficient lighting within the mainstream market.
The retail giant has rapidly been converting the majority of their offered lighting products to more energy efficient and environmentally friendly forms since the beginning of this year. Despite being met with reservations from some of their major suppliers, such as GE, they have maintained, “We are going there. You decide if you are coming with us”.
Thus far consumers have been somewhat reluctant to adopt this odd shaped light bulb due to the softer lighting and increased price per bulb, In order to answer some of these concerns, Walmart plans to sell their own brand of CFLs at a 25% price cut and hopefully sell approximately 100 million before the end of the year.
CFLs have been around since the 1970s but have yet to gain popularity with the consumer market. Will this change in supply force a shift in the retail market? For the sake of wallets everywhere, I sure hope so.
2 Comments
SO-called “Green” energy saver fluorescent bulbs are major polluters, since they contain substantial levels of mercury. not a good idea at all. Also the phosphors are toxic to the environment. What a great way to pollute the environment. 100 million toxic bulbs dumped into the ecosystem.
It seems to me like the controversy is in handling old CFLs which will cause contamination when they break. Because corporations like Walmart pushing CFL sales the EPA’s also getting on their case to set up effective recycling programs. Cities are starting to offer them too. It’s your call if you want to let this keep you from buying the flourescent bulbs. I don’t think it should - by the time your next CFL’s (which you should check the mercury content of because they vary with the maker) lifetime is up I’m trusting there will be a safe and convenient way for you to get rid of it.