[Graeme]

Home Depot Giving Away 100,000 Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs in California

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')o receive a free light bulb, residents must visit one of the 158 The Home Depot stores participating and sign the ENERGY STAR Change a Light pledge, indicating they will replace one standard incandescent light bulb with an energy-efficient CFL. In addition to the free light bulb, Californians also will receive a special $4 coupon that can be used for purchasing a variety of multi-pack CFLs.

[perdition79]

It's a good idea. My entire hovel is lit with compact fluorescent bulbs. If you read the lumens rating on the 25W bulb, it's almost the same as the cheapest 150-watt incandescent bulbs.

I have 10 CFL bulbs in my apartment. Between the bulbs and digital programmable A/C thermostat, the power bill is down $40 a month in the summer and $14 a month in the winter. (A/C sucks down too much power!) The only drawback to fluorescent bulbs is using the bathroom mirrors: your skin looks greenish in that light, and every single imperfection on your face shows up--you always look dirtier and more wrinkled than you are. When making the switch, I advise especially vain people to keep regular lighting above the bathroom mirror.

[coyote]

Dec 2004 Recall of TCP Fluorescent bulbs

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')ASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturers named below, today announced voluntary recalls of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: 3-way compact fluorescent light bulbs

Units: About 158,000

[gg3]

Despite my strong dislike of big box stores, I think Home Depot is being sincere.

Back in 2000, about middle of the year, the Emeryville CA store had CFs on sale for something like $2.00 per bulb, which at the time was unheard of. Needless to say, my friends & I used that as a good excuse to convert all of our lighting.

Re. bathroom lights: many bathroom fixtures don't have space for a CF of high enough wattage to provide adequate light for shaving, flossing your teeth, finding the spec of sawdust in your eye or the splinter in your hand, etc. There are CFs available with a good light spectrum that doesn't make you look cadaverous, but you may have to change the fixture. I still use incandescents in only two places: the bathroom (can't change out the fixture) and the bedroom (because the overhead lights are on a dimmer).

[Madpaddy]

gg3,

you're not trying hard enough

http://www.thegreenguide.com/blog/freshfinds/340

[static66]

Well, it's here, the first big pillar in mega-retail has lost a chunk out of it's structure.... the way this usually happens is a line is drawn across the P&L for the company and everything below the red line is closed.... in the case of a giant like Home Depot, the number of stores has got to be pretty substantial so they take little bites at the list and quietly announce that they are closing some "under-performing" locations.... 15 stores this round, then they will announce another 20-25 in the next round when the dust from this round settles.... hold on to your hats.... when big retail starts it's fall it will obliterate everything in it's path.....

[Pops]

Yea I heard about this too.

Not too surprising given the Home Equity ATM is going dry, but still a problem in the making for DIYers.

[MD]

Just about one year since their last leader exited with $250 mil or so?

Typical.

[eastbay]

I wouldn't read too much into this. Lowes is planning to open many new stores. I think this speaks more about Home Depot's poor image and service than about the poor economy.

You can all move along now. There's nothing to see here.

[static66]

Pops, DIYers are one thing, the reality is that these large box-stores have become the anchor in the towns they reside in employing some 100 people and sprouting a good number of satellite stores on their periphery.... a dominoe effect happens
and it happens quickly.... in the past when a large retailer left a particular location it was usually vacant for a very short time before another large retailer came in and filled the void.... not happening this time.... when you hear it happening in your neck of the woods have your town planners create a food processing facility out of the shell.... your gonna need it!

[static66]

silly ebay, you can't get your information from that rag!!! Lowes will be closing stores this year.... I Guaran-fuckin-tee it!! If you want to make a little gentlemens bet on Lowes growth or contraction, I am game.... but at least read the economist for christ sakes!

[LID]

With a home depot in town, that probably means that the old local hardware store closed shortly after the big box store opened. Now you have to drive out of town to get supplies.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('static66', 'P')ops, DIYers are one thing, the reality is that these large box-stores have become the anchor in the towns they reside in employing some 100 people and sprouting a good number of satellite stores on their periphery.... a dominoe effect happens
and it happens quickly.... in the past when a large retailer left a particular location it was usually vacant for a very short time before another large retailer came in and filled the void.... not happening this time.... when you hear it happening in your neck of the woods have your town planners create a food processing facility out of the shell.... your gonna need it!

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('static66', 'P')ops, DIYers are one thing, the reality is that these large box-stores have become the anchor in the towns they reside in employing some 100 people and sprouting a good number of satellite stores on their periphery.... a dominoe effect happens
and it happens quickly.... in the past when a large retailer left a particular location it was usually vacant for a very short time before another large retailer came in and filled the void.... not happening this time.... when you hear it happening in your neck of the woods have your town planners create a food processing facility out of the shell.... your gonna need it!

[mos6507]

Just in time for the mayday pro-illegal immigrant marches.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'J')ust about one year since their last leader exited with $250 mil or so?

Typical.

[blukatzen]

Home Depot was a shell of it's old self. I had to do some remodelling for my elderly aunt, on one of her income properties, and I was the subcontractor.
Back then, you could actually GET someone in a dept. like electrical and talk to them, etc. but now, they just warehouse parts and supplies. Manufacturers pay for space at the stores and have their own subcontractors service the stores, like information on a product, shelf-talkers, etc.
Home Depot in my opinion is no longer anybody's dream handyman-place. I would rather go in and get an honest opinion on a job than some kid handing me what he *thinks* could help me.

Oh yeah, and the do-it-yourself check-out lines that ALWAYS seem to have a problem, jam up and you STILL have to call service for help hitting the "reset key". Progress, right? I just get a kick out of the fact that hardly anybody is in their stores anymore. Time to "think out" of the big box....

Blu

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('static66', 's')illy ebay, you can't get your information from that rag!!! Lowes will be closing stores this year.... I Guaran-tee it!! If you want to make a little gentlemens bet on Lowes growth or contraction, I am game.