What a bright idea!

Eco, meaning economical AND good for the environment is the word of the day at Danish furniture retailer, IKEA. Kudos to this company for no longer carrying traditional light bulbs in any of their stores and replacing them with a more energy efficient variety.

Even the most lazy environmentalist among us can surely manage to swap out their incandescent bulbs for the more eco-friendly ones that use up to 80 percent less energy and last much longer than their old-fashioned predecessors. When we moved into our house three years ago, this was one of the first changes we committed to making. Yes, these lights do cost more at the get-go, but they quickly pay for themselves when you see how infrequently you'll find yourself replacing them.

This is not the first time this mass retailer has rallied for the earth. All wood products used by the company are garnered from responsibly harvested forests (meaning all products are certified as originating from wood overseen by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).) All stores themselves are moving toward reliance on 100% renewable energy sources. The company also minimizes the use of chemicals in the production of both their textiles and their catalogs. Many products also use recycled materials in the manufacturing process. All glass sold is lead-free and many food items stocked are organic with more healthy offerings in the works.

Hopefully other major companies will follow IKEA's example. The next time you're in the market for some inexpensive household goods, make an effort to support stores like this that are committed to more than just their own bottom line.