Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Not Worth Cost and Trouble

RightSideNews ^ | 12/13/08 | National Center of Policy Analysis

[Sammy67]

NCPA: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Not Worth Cost and Trouble Report Says Government Should Not Force CFLs on Consumers

DALLAS (Dec. 10, 2008) - Although touted by many as the smart energy choice, compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs are not suitable for many common uses and should not be required by the government, according to a new report by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA).

The Environmental Protection Agency states that CFLs will reduce energy use and will last longer than standard bulbs. However, NCPA Senior Fellow and report co-author Sterling Burnett argues: "For many uses, compact fluorescent bulbs may be more costly and

[supermop]

I purchased my CFL’s a couple of years ago from Home Depot. The package guaranteed a 5 year life expectancy. When some of them burned out I returned to Home Depot and demanded new bulbs. Got them too

[ansel12]

“Go to the EPA web site, search for CFL and mercury, and read the steps required to safely clean up a broken bulb. It’ll blow your mind! Basically, call HAZMAT.”

---

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#fluorescent

“Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

Have people and pets leave the room, and don’t let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

[supermop]

You seem to forget that this was cooked up on Bill Clinton’s watch. Chinese = $$$ = current life style for Bill

[reagan_fanatic]

I replaced all the incandescents with CFLs in my house about two years ago. So far, they’ve lasted longer than the incandescents did and I’ve noticed my electric bill has gone down about 10%.

The only ones I’ve had trouble with are the globe type CFLs that you use in vanities. They seem to burn out quicker than the regular bulbs do.

[RobRoy]

I am looking forward with this. I will not be buying for two years. This thing is changing quickly and it should go even quicker as the economy goes south.

[raybbr]

I figure I’m saving about $30 a month. Also, CFL’s last a lot longer and replacing incandescents adds up.

[cva66snipe]

I'll show you something to prove the myth of great savings. 20 bulbs on in the house at 60 watts {what most fixtures will handle maximum now} is 1200 watts. This is at 120 volts meaning roughly 10 amps current draw. Watts is a measurement of power amps is a measurement of how much current is flowing. A quick recovery water heater has 4500 to 5000 watt elements at 230. This means roughly a 20 amp draw at 230 volts. A refrigerator is about 1000-1200 watts usually at 120 volts. A dryer is the same as a water heater. The range of course varies.

If you plug in just one 1200 watt space heater you are using as much power as 20 sixty watt bulbs or 10 amps roughly. The formula is Volts X amps = watts Watts divided by volts = amps roughly. The light bulb issue is a big bunch of boloney fabricated to push more expensive bulbs.

In other words you are only saving a small portion on the least power users in the house to start with.

[fanfan]

Changing, eh?

Why would it go quicker now?

[cva66snipe]

Here’s an ideal. Light is actually measured in lumens not watts. So a typical 60 watt incandescent has 780 while a 100 watt has 1510. Two 60’s is 1560 but one 100 watt bulb will use less power and give off nearly as much light. But you must have a fixture rated for it. I took out most of my 60 watt fixtures and replaced them with single 100 watt rated ones at a net cost of about $2.00 a piece :>}

[longtermmemmory]

Regular light bulb = no patent royalties.

CFL light bulb = patent payment bonanza.

[fanfan]

I found a better bulb without a filament.

I'm glad that you are happy with your illumination.

:-)

[cripplecreek]

LOL yep.

You leave me and my bulbs alone and I’ll leave you and your bulbs alone. Light and leave lit I always say.

[JDoutrider]

I had one on near where we had a poker game going... At first we heard a small "chink", then it started hissing as it venting a stream of white gas. Needless to say that hand was declared void as everyone grabbed their adult beverages and left the room!

Never again will I buy those!

[RobRoy]

Yeah, I’m still waiting for “cheap” LED. I am surprised by your power consumption figures though. One reason there are “led” lights powered by usb ports is because the power requirements are so low. And for bicycle headlights they are a true breakthrough.

Is this accurate - power consumption wise?
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3222967/Incandescent-vs-CFL-vs-LED-Savings

I think the prices will drop pretty dramatically, eventually. Y’know, like calculators and CD players.

[RobRoy]

LED’s are really taking off now. I think we will very soon see the “calculator” or CD player type price slide. I’ve been waiting a few years and it is happening, but it has not gone parabolic yet.
‘

[fanfan]

“:-D

You’ve got it.

[fanfan]

Hopefully this year.

We’ll need it.

I have wind-up flash lights.

[Retired Chemist]

I use them in my house and I have one fixture that’s closed. The bulbs in that fixture don’t last anywhere near as long as the open fixtures.

[uncommonsense]

Here's where it gets expensive (not to mention unhealthy as I found out - getting mercury poisoning from broken fluorescent lights and having to go through chelation therapy). First, you spend 5x more on CFLs, then if you break one, you have to follow an elaborate cleanup process that culminates in throwing away any materials that came in contact with the glass.

From the EPA web site What to Do if a Fluorescent Light Bulb Breaks:

Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage

[MarkL]

They’re supposed to last 5 years but in reality they’ve been going out after about a year.

The problem is that they will last a very long time IF you turn them on and keep them on. However, the more often you power cycle them, the shorter their life span. And there are some applications where they are completely wrong... For instance inside appliances, like ovens and refrigerators.

Mark