What’s the difference between a noodge and a nudge? A noodge is a person or condition annoys you to the point that you do something it wants. A nudge lets you think it was your idea.

Nudging’s the idea behind the now-famous book, published eight years ago, about something called “libertarian paternalism.” It’s complicated, but it describes a system of using public policies to, well, nudge people to make decisions the policy-makers think are better for the individual and the commonwealth. Some of the controversy around “nudge” stems from the suspicion the nudgers will soon move to more compulsory means.

One of the authors is the ever-controversial Cass Sunstein, the first director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under President Barack Obama. Love him or hate him, he’s an interesting thinker.

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I’ve been nudged by public policy that favors new-fangled light bulbs.

I swore I’d be the last person to part with good, old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs.  Not that I don’t like new technology, but I never agreed with a law trying to force everyone to abandon such a cheap and useful product. The image of the light bulb long ago came to symbolize the very idea of … ideas. I’m no libertarian, but I figured if curly-cue bulbs were such an improvement, they’d sell themselves.

Also, my house is full of dimmer-controlled ceiling sockets. Early alternatives to incandescent bulbs wouldn’t work with dimmers. I worried they’d burn the house down.

Whatever. We’re now in the process or replacing all of the short-lived ceiling lamps with dimmable LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. These new bulbs cost several times as much as the old ones. But they last many times longer — years and years. Plus you can get them in warm or cool shades, depending on whether you want to simulate old fashioned bulbs or daylight. Next I’m going to replace the bulbs with little-bitty bases in the chandelier hanging over our front door. LED versions of those are available too.

Why the change of heart? It’s not the electric bill. That doesn’t even affect what kind of bourbon I buy. I’m tired of dragging out the step-ladder to change light bulbs. And of running to the big-box to stock up on bulbs.

Unlike individuals, federal agencies have been under a long-running series of mandates to keep cutting their energy bills. Even Lyndon Johnson reportedly roamed the White House at night, turning off lights to save on the ‘lectric bill.

The National Park Service has seen the light, so to speak. In the D.C. region, the staff has been changing out the lighting for the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and other sites. When you get into stadium-grade lighting, the savings can run to the millions. Plus, less labor in changing lamps. Another benefit: The lights don’t run hot like the old-style searchlight technology. Bugs that land on the lenses don’t burn and stick, like bacon left on the griddle too long. So the lighting is easier to keep clean.

The local NPS facilities chief, Doug Jacobs, spells it all out in this interview.  He says color was an important consideration in re-lighting these famous, Kodak Photo Spot objects. Some new-technology lighting brings an ersatz cast. The Park Service didn’t want the monument to look like a giant icicle.

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