Friday saw two satisfying discoveries that may be of interest to you if you strive to use less energy and to reuse rather than replace.
The first is that the incandescent light bulbs with the small fitting that I was despairing over being able to replace with compact fluorescent bulbs can be replaced! I found in my local hardware store that companies have now (maybe for a while?) started making CFLs with the small fitting! Hurrah! Having now found this fitting, I think most fittings, shapes and sizes of bulbs that I’ve seen (in this context) can replaced by CFLs of similar fittings, shapes and sizes.
The second is just as satisfying. I went to Staples to buy another package of ink cartridges for my printer, and while in the checkout line I noticed an odd package with a syringe, and so curiosity made me look closer. Turned out to be a kit to refill many (it said) types of ink cartridge. It was $15 for many refillings versus the $33 for a whole new cartridge (just talking about the black ink part of the package you can see in the picture). Seemed like an excellent deal, if true.
It was not clear if the type I have could be refilled (although a peeling of the label on the old one I had with me revealed a suggestive hole…) and there’s almost never any point asking staff in these stores anything because they seldom know the answer… so I bought it and took it home to do some research.
I’m feeling smug now. The refilling worked marvellously, with excellent printing results, and I now have my front door light working again.
-cvj
