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Do New Bulbs Save Energy if They Don’t Work?
New York Times ^ | March 27, 2009 | Leora Broydo Vestel

Posted on 03/28/2009 3:34:42 AM PDT by reaganaut1

[A] lot of people these days are finding the new compact fluorescent bulbs anything but simple. Consumers who are trying them say they sometimes fail to work, or wear out early. At best, people discover that using the bulbs requires learning a long list of dos and don’ts.

Take the case of Karen Zuercher and her husband, in San Francisco. Inspired by watching the movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” they decided to swap out nearly every incandescent bulb in their home for energy-saving compact fluorescents. Instead of having a satisfying green moment, however, they wound up coping with a mess.

“Here’s my sad collection of bulbs that didn’t work,” Ms. Zuercher said the other day as she pulled a cardboard box containing defunct bulbs from her laundry shelf.

One of the 16 Feit Electric bulbs the Zuerchers bought at Costco did not work at all, they said, and three others died within hours. The bulbs were supposed to burn for 10,000 hours, meaning they should have lasted for years in normal use. “It’s irritating,” Ms. Zuercher said.

Irritation seems to be rising as more consumers try compact fluorescent bulbs, which now occupy 11 percent of the nation’s eligible sockets, with 330 million bulbs sold every year. Consumers are posting vociferous complaints on the Internet after trying the bulbs and finding them lacking.

...

In California, where bulbs have been heavily encouraged, utilities have concluded that they will not be able to persuade a majority of consumers to switch until compact fluorescents get better. That is prompting them to develop specifications for a better bulb.

The effort aims to address the most consumer complaints: poor dimming, slow warm-up times, shortened bulb life because of high temperatures inside enclosed fixtures, and dissatisfaction with the color of the light.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: energy; fluorescent; fluorescentbulbs; lightbulbs
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This is a problem because Congress has passed a law banning incandescent light bulbs in the year 2014, as discussed here .

Republicans could appeal to "leave us alone" voters by simply promising to let them use the light bulbs they want.

1 posted on 03/28/2009 3:34:42 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

If they don’t work, they don’t use any energy.


2 posted on 03/28/2009 3:35:52 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: reaganaut1

100% in savings.


3 posted on 03/28/2009 3:38:50 AM PDT by libh8er
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To: reaganaut1

My experience with fluorescent replacement bulbs has been quite positive. Great savings in electric costs and easy replacement from the mfg in the vent of a failure. I had 2 failures/not working at all experiences and in both cases after calling thew supplied 800 # I was quickly sent a replacement.


4 posted on 03/28/2009 3:38:55 AM PDT by 101voodoo
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To: reaganaut1

“Inspired by watching the movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” “

That was their big mistake.


5 posted on 03/28/2009 3:39:52 AM PDT by djpg
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To: reaganaut1
We tried a couple in parts of the house where they would not be swithced on and off a lot (extended use only). They died far, far more quickly than advertised, and the one in the fixture outside died the fastest of all (one month). I'm stashing incandescents, and will claim they are still in service if anyone has a cow about it later.

Just another greenie scam, imho, and NOT a benefit to the environment, either with all the mercury they'll eventually spread around.

6 posted on 03/28/2009 3:40:07 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: djpg

““Inspired by watching the movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” “
That was their big mistake.”

I agree. Anyone that falls for a scam promoted by Goreon
deserves to get burned.

I think LED bulbs will soon be the replacement for Incandescent, but not quite ready for prime time, yet.

CFLs are ancient technology and a scam.


7 posted on 03/28/2009 3:47:06 AM PDT by AlexW (Now in the Philippines . Happy not to be back in the USA for now.)
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To: 101voodoo

My experience echoes yours. There is one light I keep on 24/7. I was replacing it every month. Since changing to fluorescent, I’ve changed it once in 3 years.

And I can have 100 watt light in sockets designed “not to exceed 60 watts” with almost no heat buildup.

Once you get used to the time lag between “switch” and “light”, they’re great.


8 posted on 03/28/2009 3:49:14 AM PDT by wolfpat (Revolt, and re-establish the Constitution as the law of the land!)
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To: reaganaut1
Perhaps because of a defective neighborhood transformer, my incandescents burned out frequently. I switched to FEIT 130-volt incandescent bulbs, and have yet to replace one after several years. It was a solution looking for a problem, and I'm satisfied with FEIT's incandescent answer.

Two years ago, I moved into a house fully equipped with the new folded florescents, and am content with these "N:VISION" bulbs.

(Actually, they are too bright, but I'm living with it).

9 posted on 03/28/2009 3:49:49 AM PDT by Does so (The 0bama will quit before 6 months are up: I called it right on Perot.)
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To: reaganaut1

If the gov’t ever mandates their use, I will not use them. Got enough incandescents hoarded already to last for years.

Screw them.


10 posted on 03/28/2009 3:50:45 AM PDT by cydcharisse
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To: reaganaut1

Maybe she shouldn’t have bought the cheapest bulbs she could find.
I started replacing old bulbs as they burned out with Sylvania compact fluorescents about two years ago. I’ve had no problems and am satisfied with them. Yes, they aren’t instant on, but neither are the long tube flourecents.


11 posted on 03/28/2009 3:54:29 AM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: reaganaut1

I can’t stand them. They give me headaches. I stocked up on incandescents a couple months ago and plan to keep them stocked as long as possible.


12 posted on 03/28/2009 3:55:49 AM PDT by bgill
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To: Larry Lucido
If they don’t work, they don’t use any energy.

The bulbs in question are the perfect example of leftist government action. They charge you more for something that has no value. Then you're expected to figure out a way to dispose of the toxic waste. But if you do so improperly, you'll go to jail or face heavy fines.

Mark

13 posted on 03/28/2009 3:55:58 AM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: reaganaut1
Inspired by watching the movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” they decided to swap out nearly every incandescent bulb in their home for energy-saving compact fluorescents.

Talk about a couple of dim bulbs!

14 posted on 03/28/2009 4:01:52 AM PDT by SAMWolf (The difference between God and Barack Obama is that God doesn't think he's Barack Obama)
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To: Larry Lucido
"If they don’t work, they don’t use any energy."

It took energy to make them. That is lost without benefit if they fail to work. I've had some such bulbs that have worked fine, and others that failed prematurely. I think its more a manufacturing QC problem rather than a design problem.

15 posted on 03/28/2009 4:13:15 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog ( The Hog of Steel)
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To: SAMWolf

I changed out all my incandescent bulbs BEFORE it became fashionable. When one “moon lamp” burned out I returned it to Home depot which replaced it immediately as they have a 5 year warranty. When you buy these bulbs, they are all made in China since it is to dangerous to use mercury in the US. Costco sells cheap crap anyway so they got what they paid for - problems!

Since I keep track of my electric bills, I did see a reduction in Kw used after installation of CFL’s.


16 posted on 03/28/2009 4:14:28 AM PDT by supermop (Somebody has to clean up the mess he will leave)
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To: reaganaut1

The damned things interfere with AM radio


17 posted on 03/28/2009 4:14:59 AM PDT by Pardeeville Liberator
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To: 101voodoo
Have to agree with you about these bulbs. I swapped out all of the bulbs in my house, with the exception of a ceiling fan which has a dimmer light switch on it, and they have all worked great. I've had them in for around two years now with no failures. My electric bill went down some, which is always a good thing. My only gripe is that they do take a little while to warm up.

These bulbs last quite a long time. I have one in my garage that was here when we bought the house 11 years ago that is still working.

If cap and trade goes through I'll be stocking up on candles. That's a democrats definition of progress.

18 posted on 03/28/2009 4:15:02 AM PDT by RU88 (The false messiah can not change water into wine any more than he can get unity from diversity.)
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To: reaganaut1

First. I have a couple of these ‘green’ bulbs in areas that are hard to reach, such as the garage ceiling, and the hallway to the house from the garage. Usually left burning for hours and hours. The bulbs have been up there for a couple of years. No problem at all.

That said, whenever incandescent bulbs are on sale I stock up.


19 posted on 03/28/2009 4:23:45 AM PDT by Carley (President Obama Dropped a MOAB on America)
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To: reaganaut1

I DETEST fluorescent bulbs of any kind, and will not have them in the house (I have a few long tubes in the garage, however).

I’m waiting for the price of LED light bulbs to become competitive.


20 posted on 03/28/2009 4:25:39 AM PDT by Peter W. Kessler (Dirt is for racing... asphalt is for getting there.)
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