Republicans Try to Block New Light Bulb Restrictions
- Thread starter Cancel 2018. 3
- Start date
Billy the Great Khan
Uwaa OmO
Funny story about vac tubes. They're STILL the most energy efficient way to transfer electricity in equipment. But they aren't economical or size efficient.
Cancel 2018. 3
<-- sched 2, MJ sched 1
you're still obsessing over this? i've moved on...you should too nannyzappa
zappasguitar
Well-known member
I found this info on consumerreports.org
Myth: Compact fluorescents are pricey.
Reality: Some CFLs now cost less than $2 compared with $9 to $25 in 1999. Several lasted five to 10 times as long as regular bulbs in our tests, and Energy Star-qualified models use up to 75 percent less power. They're also warranted for as long as nine years. Write the purchase date on the bulb in indelible ink. And save your receipt.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...supplies/lightbulbs/cfls/overview/cfl-ov-.htm
Where did you find your info?
Here's an article that pretty much sums up my feelings about the standard light bulb vs. the CFL:
"The good news is that CFLs use about 75% less energy than traditional incandescents. They last a lot longer, too. What's more, they don't heat up nearly as much as ordinary bulbs - a plus in many situations.
The bad news is pretty bad, though. CFLs cost much more per bulb than ordinary bulbs. In fact, if you're looking for a three-way or dimmable bulb, they can cost up to $15 apiece. Of course, you save money in the long run. But if you don't have the cash in your pocket up front, the price may just be over your head.
There are other downsides too. Unlike incandescents, which you can safely toss in the trash, CFL's are made with toxic mercury. That means special disposal - which means extra time and planning.
And for some homeowners, the biggest downside is that CFL's don't produce the lovely, warm light of an incandescent. They don't go to full power right away (they "dim up"). And even the bulbs that are supposed to be adjustable don't adjust as well as an old fashioned light bulb.
Are CFL's worth it?
For certain applications, they're awesome. They're terrific outdoors, where the quality of the light is far less important than the cost of leaving the lights on all night. They're not bad in rooms that are used mostly for storage or similar purposes.
For living rooms, bedrooms and so forth, though, they're hardly ideal. And that's why new manufacturers are coming up with a whole selection of green light options - ..."
http://www.examiner.com/green-home-in-national/pros-and-cons-of-cfls-compact-fluorescent-lights
"The good news is that CFLs use about 75% less energy than traditional incandescents. They last a lot longer, too. What's more, they don't heat up nearly as much as ordinary bulbs - a plus in many situations.
The bad news is pretty bad, though. CFLs cost much more per bulb than ordinary bulbs. In fact, if you're looking for a three-way or dimmable bulb, they can cost up to $15 apiece. Of course, you save money in the long run. But if you don't have the cash in your pocket up front, the price may just be over your head.
There are other downsides too. Unlike incandescents, which you can safely toss in the trash, CFL's are made with toxic mercury. That means special disposal - which means extra time and planning.
And for some homeowners, the biggest downside is that CFL's don't produce the lovely, warm light of an incandescent. They don't go to full power right away (they "dim up"). And even the bulbs that are supposed to be adjustable don't adjust as well as an old fashioned light bulb.
Are CFL's worth it?
For certain applications, they're awesome. They're terrific outdoors, where the quality of the light is far less important than the cost of leaving the lights on all night. They're not bad in rooms that are used mostly for storage or similar purposes.
For living rooms, bedrooms and so forth, though, they're hardly ideal. And that's why new manufacturers are coming up with a whole selection of green light options - ..."
http://www.examiner.com/green-home-in-national/pros-and-cons-of-cfls-compact-fluorescent-lights
I still don't want to change....another article:
"The Pros
A 20 watt fluorescent bulb puts out just as much light as a standard 100 watt incandescent bulb (approx. 1500 lumens). In fact, most people think this 20W bulb is brighter than a 100W bulb. This is because a fluorescent bulb gives off light that is whiter (evenly spread across the whole visible spectrum) as compared to a regular bulb giving off a more “yellowish” light.
Some of these bulbs show on the box a greater range of operating temperatures (-30ºC to 40ºC) than older designs of fluorescent bulbs, but please still look at “Cons” below regarding this.
Because of their long life, these bulbs are especially well suited to places that are hard to reach to change bulbs.
By far the biggest benefit is the money you will save. I’ve put together a little cost comparison at the bottom of the page for you, because most of the time people are scared away from fluorescent bulbs because of the initial cost. Just to let you know, up until last year I was buying these bulbs at about $22 each, but Ikea (no, really, I’m serious, IKEA!) is selling 20W bulbs at $7.50 each! All of the calculations are based on 6000 hours of operation time, which is the approximate lifetime of one fluorescent bulb.
The Cons
There are drawbacks to everything, and fluorescent bulbs are no exception. But the pros heavily outweigh the cons in my opinion.
First, although the operating temperature of some of the bulbs (like the Sylvania brand) is listed as -30ºC to 40ºC, these bulbs will not operate as well at low temperatures (anything dipping below about 7ºC). They will take a while to come on and will not be as bright. They will also not last as long. I would not recommend using these bulbs anywhere outdoors, even in the summer time. Related to this, these bulbs are very sensitive to weather. Some compact fluorescents say on their boxes that you can use them in enclosed outdoor fixtures, but I would highly discourage this! The ones at Ikea are for indoor use only. I wouldn’t suggest using them in bathrooms, since in my experience the high humidity causes them to burn out sooner.
Second, some designs of bulbs do not instantly come on when the switch is flicked. It takes a couple seconds for them to “warm up.” This is because the ballast has to step up the voltage a bit, and that takes a couple of seconds.
Third, these bulbs are using some delicate electronics. It’s not like you can throw regular bulbs against a wall and expect them to work, but fluorescent bulbs are more susceptible to damage. Always check all bulbs you buy to make sure they haven’t been damaged in transit. Don’t use in fixtures that may get bumped around a bit. Never use these bulbs in an emergency lighting system.
Fourth, because of the high voltage that all fluorescent bulbs use, there are cases of these bulbs interfering with radio, TV, cordless phones, and other such signals. In my personal experience (with these bulbs all over my home), I have never had any such interference… never!
Finally, I will agree that it takes a while for the savings to make up for the initial cost. Still, the fact is they do! And the whole time you’re using these bulbs, you’re not just saving money, you’re saving power too, and that’s good for all of us!"
http://www.studyphysics.ca/fluro.htm
"The Pros
A 20 watt fluorescent bulb puts out just as much light as a standard 100 watt incandescent bulb (approx. 1500 lumens). In fact, most people think this 20W bulb is brighter than a 100W bulb. This is because a fluorescent bulb gives off light that is whiter (evenly spread across the whole visible spectrum) as compared to a regular bulb giving off a more “yellowish” light.
Some of these bulbs show on the box a greater range of operating temperatures (-30ºC to 40ºC) than older designs of fluorescent bulbs, but please still look at “Cons” below regarding this.
Because of their long life, these bulbs are especially well suited to places that are hard to reach to change bulbs.
By far the biggest benefit is the money you will save. I’ve put together a little cost comparison at the bottom of the page for you, because most of the time people are scared away from fluorescent bulbs because of the initial cost. Just to let you know, up until last year I was buying these bulbs at about $22 each, but Ikea (no, really, I’m serious, IKEA!) is selling 20W bulbs at $7.50 each! All of the calculations are based on 6000 hours of operation time, which is the approximate lifetime of one fluorescent bulb.
The Cons
There are drawbacks to everything, and fluorescent bulbs are no exception. But the pros heavily outweigh the cons in my opinion.
First, although the operating temperature of some of the bulbs (like the Sylvania brand) is listed as -30ºC to 40ºC, these bulbs will not operate as well at low temperatures (anything dipping below about 7ºC). They will take a while to come on and will not be as bright. They will also not last as long. I would not recommend using these bulbs anywhere outdoors, even in the summer time. Related to this, these bulbs are very sensitive to weather. Some compact fluorescents say on their boxes that you can use them in enclosed outdoor fixtures, but I would highly discourage this! The ones at Ikea are for indoor use only. I wouldn’t suggest using them in bathrooms, since in my experience the high humidity causes them to burn out sooner.
Second, some designs of bulbs do not instantly come on when the switch is flicked. It takes a couple seconds for them to “warm up.” This is because the ballast has to step up the voltage a bit, and that takes a couple of seconds.
Third, these bulbs are using some delicate electronics. It’s not like you can throw regular bulbs against a wall and expect them to work, but fluorescent bulbs are more susceptible to damage. Always check all bulbs you buy to make sure they haven’t been damaged in transit. Don’t use in fixtures that may get bumped around a bit. Never use these bulbs in an emergency lighting system.
Fourth, because of the high voltage that all fluorescent bulbs use, there are cases of these bulbs interfering with radio, TV, cordless phones, and other such signals. In my personal experience (with these bulbs all over my home), I have never had any such interference… never!
Finally, I will agree that it takes a while for the savings to make up for the initial cost. Still, the fact is they do! And the whole time you’re using these bulbs, you’re not just saving money, you’re saving power too, and that’s good for all of us!"
http://www.studyphysics.ca/fluro.htm
Here's a couple of things....I don't like ethynol in my gasoline and I don't want to have to wait for a light to "warm up" when I turn it on. I certainly don't want to have to pay $7.50 for a bulb when I can get a pack of 4 brighter bulbs for $1.25. And who uses a 20 watt bulb anyway? Maybe in my oven. Further, have you read the stuff you are supposed to do if you drop and break one of these things in the house? Sheesh...
1.Before cleanup
◦Have people and pets leave the room.
◦Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
◦Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.
◦Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb.
2.During cleanup
◦Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
◦Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.
3.After cleanup
◦Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
◦If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.
http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html
1.Before cleanup
◦Have people and pets leave the room.
◦Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
◦Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.
◦Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb.
2.During cleanup
◦Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder.
◦Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.
3.After cleanup
◦Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of properly. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
◦If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.
http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html
zappasguitar
Well-known member
If one wanted to go to the lengths described then more power to them, but according to some:
"If you do a common sense job of cleaning up (open the windows, clean up, and remove the debris), then your mercury exposure would be the equivalent of taking a tiny nibble of tuna, according to Francis Rubinstein, a staff scientist at Berkeley Lab. What if you did the worst job possible, say closed all the doors and smashed the bulb with a hammer? It's still no big deal, says Rubinstein, who points out that it would be the equivalent of eating one can of tuna."
zappasguitar
Well-known member
I was reading up on those as I was looking into facts about the CFL's and I will wager that in 10 years the CFL's will be in danger of getting phased out by the LED's. We just have to wait for the cost to come down a bit.