Philosophy
Again the nanny government. What about those lamp shades that must rest on the spherical properties of an incandescent light bulb? Isn't the mercury a concern? Save energy and pollute the land?
Faced with a U.S. phaseout of incandescent light bulbs starting next year, some consumers are taking pre-emptive steps: They're stockpiling the bulbs.
Under a 2007 energy law, manufacturers must start phasing out incandescent bulbs in favor of more-efficient bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs.
While CFLs use at least 75% less energy, some consumers complain the lighting is dimmer, doesn't look as warm and doesn't come on right away. Some also worry about the disposal requirements because of the bulbs' tiny mercury content.
The American Lighting Association's Larry Lauck hasn't seen "statistical signs" of stockpiling but has heard anecdotal reports.
Ilse Metchek of Los Angeles tried to convert to CFLs but was so unhappy she squirreled away about three dozen incandescents, so "I will be able to read in bed without squinting."
Most Americans plan to switch to more-efficient bulbs, according to a recent survey by lighting company Osram Sylvania. Yet, given that cheaper incandescents are still in plentiful supply, some consumers can't resist stocking up.
Sue Larkin of Tulsa has hundreds: "I can't see a thing with the new bulbs and can't afford them anyway."
Says Susan Drake of Marietta, Ohio, "I have stocked up on enough incandescent bulbs to last for the next 50 years."
Such reports are common whenever a new standard is introduced, says the Natural Resources Defense Council's Noah Horowitz. He says consumers will still be able to buy incandescents, but new ones will have more-efficient halogen capsules.
"Unless you prefer paying higher electricity bills, there's no reason to hoard old incandescent bulbs," Horowitz says.
About 13% of Americans said they would stock up on 100-watt incandescents and continue using them after they are phased out in January, says the Osram Sylvania survey. The 75-watt version will be phased out in 2013, and the 60-watt and 40-watt in 2014.
Home Depot stores in California, where 100-watt incandescent bulbs were banned Jan. 1, a year ahead of the national schedule, has seen an uptick in sales of incandescents. But CFLs are selling better, too, thanks to increased awareness, says spokeswoman Jean Niemi.
Those disappointed with CFL lighting might prefer the 72-watt halogen incandescent that Horowitz says will give off the same light as the old 100-watt bulb. He says they cost about $2 each but can save $3 in electricity over their 1,000-hour life span. Another option, he says, is the LED (light emitting diode), which lasts even longer than CFLs and uses less power. He expects high LED prices to fall dramatically.
- Some Come To Laugh Their Past Away: Deadhead Jokes
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere: Came across this story and just had to use it -- a combination of physics, Comedism, and the Grateful Dead. It turns out that the early universe was populated with stars that did not rely on nuclear...
- The Methuselah Light Bulb
"The World's Oldest Light Bulb Has Been On for 110 Years" by Erica Ho June 16th, 2011 Time How many people does it take to change this light bulb? None. On June 18, the oldest-known working light bulb in the world will celebrate the 110th year...
- Bubble Lights On The Tree
I guess they are gone now. The bubbling light was created in 1935 by Carl Otis, and his later patents improved the design over the years. The lights worked by heating a vial of low-boiling liquid (lightweight oil, in early versions) with a hidden incandescent...
- E-lamp
Schematic of the Genura induction lamp. The power supply converts ordinary 60 or 50 hertz current into high-efficiency power that is fed into an electrical coil. The coil excites a gas plasma inside the bulb, releasing UV radiation that strikes the bulb's...
- Being "green" Isn't Easy...or Popular
Can you really legislate "being green". Resistance will always be present. "Even Boulder Finds It Isn't Easy Going Green" by Stephanie Simon February 13th, 2010 The Wall Street Journal This spring, city contractors will fan out across this well-to-do...
Philosophy
Incandescent light bulbs vs CFLs
Again the nanny government. What about those lamp shades that must rest on the spherical properties of an incandescent light bulb? Isn't the mercury a concern? Save energy and pollute the land?
"Some consumers resist new light bulbs"
by
Jayne O'Donnell and Wendy Koch
February 8th, 2011
USA TODAY
by
Jayne O'Donnell and Wendy Koch
February 8th, 2011
USA TODAY
Faced with a U.S. phaseout of incandescent light bulbs starting next year, some consumers are taking pre-emptive steps: They're stockpiling the bulbs.
Under a 2007 energy law, manufacturers must start phasing out incandescent bulbs in favor of more-efficient bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs.
While CFLs use at least 75% less energy, some consumers complain the lighting is dimmer, doesn't look as warm and doesn't come on right away. Some also worry about the disposal requirements because of the bulbs' tiny mercury content.
The American Lighting Association's Larry Lauck hasn't seen "statistical signs" of stockpiling but has heard anecdotal reports.
Ilse Metchek of Los Angeles tried to convert to CFLs but was so unhappy she squirreled away about three dozen incandescents, so "I will be able to read in bed without squinting."
Most Americans plan to switch to more-efficient bulbs, according to a recent survey by lighting company Osram Sylvania. Yet, given that cheaper incandescents are still in plentiful supply, some consumers can't resist stocking up.
Sue Larkin of Tulsa has hundreds: "I can't see a thing with the new bulbs and can't afford them anyway."
Says Susan Drake of Marietta, Ohio, "I have stocked up on enough incandescent bulbs to last for the next 50 years."
Such reports are common whenever a new standard is introduced, says the Natural Resources Defense Council's Noah Horowitz. He says consumers will still be able to buy incandescents, but new ones will have more-efficient halogen capsules.
"Unless you prefer paying higher electricity bills, there's no reason to hoard old incandescent bulbs," Horowitz says.
About 13% of Americans said they would stock up on 100-watt incandescents and continue using them after they are phased out in January, says the Osram Sylvania survey. The 75-watt version will be phased out in 2013, and the 60-watt and 40-watt in 2014.
Home Depot stores in California, where 100-watt incandescent bulbs were banned Jan. 1, a year ahead of the national schedule, has seen an uptick in sales of incandescents. But CFLs are selling better, too, thanks to increased awareness, says spokeswoman Jean Niemi.
Those disappointed with CFL lighting might prefer the 72-watt halogen incandescent that Horowitz says will give off the same light as the old 100-watt bulb. He says they cost about $2 each but can save $3 in electricity over their 1,000-hour life span. Another option, he says, is the LED (light emitting diode), which lasts even longer than CFLs and uses less power. He expects high LED prices to fall dramatically.
- Some Come To Laugh Their Past Away: Deadhead Jokes
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere: Came across this story and just had to use it -- a combination of physics, Comedism, and the Grateful Dead. It turns out that the early universe was populated with stars that did not rely on nuclear...
- The Methuselah Light Bulb
"The World's Oldest Light Bulb Has Been On for 110 Years" by Erica Ho June 16th, 2011 Time How many people does it take to change this light bulb? None. On June 18, the oldest-known working light bulb in the world will celebrate the 110th year...
- Bubble Lights On The Tree
I guess they are gone now. The bubbling light was created in 1935 by Carl Otis, and his later patents improved the design over the years. The lights worked by heating a vial of low-boiling liquid (lightweight oil, in early versions) with a hidden incandescent...
- E-lamp
Schematic of the Genura induction lamp. The power supply converts ordinary 60 or 50 hertz current into high-efficiency power that is fed into an electrical coil. The coil excites a gas plasma inside the bulb, releasing UV radiation that strikes the bulb's...
- Being "green" Isn't Easy...or Popular
Can you really legislate "being green". Resistance will always be present. "Even Boulder Finds It Isn't Easy Going Green" by Stephanie Simon February 13th, 2010 The Wall Street Journal This spring, city contractors will fan out across this well-to-do...