Light Bulb Moment, Part 2

A comment left on my first post asked: are there CFL's that are dimmable?

The answer is: YES. And, there are 3-way CFL's, too. You have to look for a bulb that is EPA Energy Star certified, and you may have to buy them online, but they definitely exist, and, they generally don't flicker. I found this on EPA's Energy Star website, which is a treasure trove of everything you always wanted to know about Energy Star products, how to chose what's right for you, and a wealth of information on energy saving in general. It is a terrific resource. And, today someone on the KOL -CHAI listserv posted a link to "the ultimate recycling" guide.There are links to these websites at the bottom of this post. And, there is a link to only one of many places to buy them as well. I hesitated to put this link, because i am not advertising or promoting any particular source, but since the question was asked, I took the next step and found a source. All you have to do is search for "dimmable cfl" and lots of sources will pop up.

Now, changing the subject, but still in the category of "lightbulb moments." Please note, I am not, by any means, shomer shabbos, but today I intentionally did not use my computer until approximately sundown. I turned it off last night. Just this simple act helped me to acknowledge that Shabbat is precious, a day of rest. And, while creating a day of rest for my computer, I created more of a restful day for myself. How does this relate to my "green Jew" persona? At first I thought, huh? And then I realized that acting with intention is how I've evolved into doing things that help the environment, making my own little mark in the battle against climate change, saving whatever resources I can, and, as a result, frequently trying to do more. For example, I took a five-minute shower the other day, and, while I managed to do it including washing my hair (;-D ), it was not easy (more on that concept in another post).

I think my point in this particular ramble in the wilderness is that each of us can make personal changes if we think about them. We need to think intentionally every time we get into our car, turn on a faucet, or pick up an empty soda bottle that someone has dropped and taking it home to recycle it. Soon it becomes part of our daily routine. And we continue to be champions for the environment. And, for me, doing these things, and knowing that there are Torah injunctions that require me to do them, deepens my Judaism as well.

By the way, Kol-Chai is an online forum on Judaism, the environment and ecology. To subscribe, send the message "sub kol-chai YOUR NAME" to listserv@jtsa.edu. There is not a lot of traffic, and what's posted is always interesting, and, often, provacative.

Shavuah tov,

Susan