light bulbs

[Dave Shepard]

As with any new technology, there will be an adjustment period for everyone to figure out how they are going to fit into the grand scheme of things. Proper application of technology is important. Lot's of people wouldn't switch from horses to tractors because they didn't understand them, and didn't apply (use) them correctly. CFLs may not be a perfect, seamless transition from the incandescent light bulbs, but in many applications, they are a huge improvement. In the grand scheme of things, they may just be a stepping stone to even better technology. I support them, even though they may not be perfect for every application. I don't know if out right banning is ideal either, sometimes you just need a different quality of light. Incandescents have lead in them, should they be thrown in the landfill? Perhaps the lead is stable enough that it won't leach, but I think that they should be recycled, seperate the lead, glass and metal. I wouldn't be surprised if someday there is another recycling bin at the transfer station for all types of old light bulbs.


Dave

[turningfoolslady]

another concern 0f mine is that eventually we will have to pay to dispose of our burnt-out cfl's as they contain a small amount of mercury(obviously a hazardous waste)at what cost would be my next question as in its not the tiny amount but the various processes to separate it from the rest of the bulb...so much for money savings

[Ianab]

Do they make LED light bulbs?  Id love to hook up led solar light bulbs. edit, just searched and they do!

LED lights will probably become more popular as the technology improves / prices drop. At present they dont have a very high light output and are too expensive.
Still usefull in places that are difficult to change a bulb and dont need bright lighting. The LEDs last a VERY long time if they aren't abused. If you have to set up a scaffold or a manlift to get to a light fittting, putting a $50 LED bulb in there that should last 20 years makes sense  

Cheers

Ian

[Don_Papenburg]

My observation on CFL s Buy American branded if at all possible, Look for 5000K light output or a daylight Rating if you want bright white light.If the package does not give a Kelvin temp rating do NOT buy the bulb.
 I have had good luck with these peramaters.  Unless I smash the bulb I have not had to replace one in three years.

[Dave Shepard]

Don, I guess that is an example of having to learn what works and what doesn't. We already know what to expect from the old ones, we just need to learn how to make the best of the new ones.


Dave

[Don_Papenburg]

I was about to give up on them . The old Utube type CFLs were very slow and not very bright .  I still have two that I should /might take a 2x too     I had not planned on getting any more , but then I was tired of replacing the regular bulbs every month. Some would not last a week    I bought my first spiral tube CFL and have not gone back .     I just hope the wizzards that get the LEDs developed have enough brains to make them screw into standard sockets.

[Homer]

RE led's. White leds don' last like the red or blue. white is not perfected

[Deadwood]

I agree that CFL's are not the end-all, be all, but ultimately I think by using LED, halogen and CFL's we will spend far less on electricity and all be better for it. Unfortunately the grid needs some serious revamping. I would love to see a few nuke plants built myself, but adding power to an aging power supply system is not going to help. Its like putting in a 200 amp service into your house. Unless you increase the size of the wire going to your shop, you can not get any more out of your new amperage. As Americans we need to realize that the grid system is aging, its running at full capacity and we need to add more transmission lines.

I don't see that happening soon. People don't want to spend money on poles and wires when they drive on pavement and never really "see" electricity to begin with. Besides adding transmission lines means cutting trees and all matter of "bad" things, and no one wants a big powerline "in their backyard". People just expect power to be there when they flip the switch. That is why I am a big proponent of conservation. If I can maintain my lifestyle and yet save kws, I think its good.

As for tossing the CFLs out, where is the rest of the country? Maine has had a CFL, halogen, incandescent lightbulb recycling program for years. I can set out my lightbulbs at the end of my driveway for recycling at the first Wednesday of every month...and I live out in the sticks even in Maine standards. Even if I was not able to do this, I could call the Efficiency Maine number and they would tell me where I could recycle them.

[PineNut]

I will probably do the same with the CFLs that I do with other mandated savers. I usually turn the lights on when I enter a room and turn them off when I leave. But when it takes so much time for the light output to some up to specs, I will just leave them on all the time. Is that energy saving?

[rebocardo]

> we will spend far less on electricity and all be better for it

That is what started it for me a few years ago when the bulbs were $8 each. I might not recoup my costs for three years on the 1st single bulb, but, when I started replacing burnt out ones one at a time, it did add up month after month. I dropped about $10 a month eventually.