Posted on 01/25/2011 1:42:00 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Calif. Discovers Fluorescent Lightbulbs Burning Out Faster Than Predicted
State government concludes that it will not realize the savings it expected
It was all flowers and roses when the state of California launched its $548M USD program to help promote consumer use of compact fluorescent lamps. Manufacturers and utilities were onboard because they received bonus pay to enact rebate programs. Citizens were happy as they received cheap CFL bulbs, which promised to save them money on power expenses. And the politicians were happy, as they looked sufficiently "green" to satisfy the eco-minded voters.
Now that utopian vision of futuristic lighting has dissolved into rancor and disappointment. A multi-million dollar program by the state designed to evaluate the actual results has concluded that energy savings were not as good as expected and that utilities were being over-rewarded for their performance.
At the heart of the problems is the fact that utility provider Pacific Gas & Electricity Corp (PG&E) has forced to cut estimates of CFL life average lifetimes from 9.3 years in 2006 to 6.3 years. The shorter-than-expected lifetime was due largely to people turning CFL lights on and off, and the fact that CFL bulbs were often put in disadvantageous locations like bathrooms or recessed lighting.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytech.com ...
What’s happening to all the mercury in those dead bulbs that provided such inferior light? Expect to hear of mercury poisoning in the near future.
Hoarding 100 Watt incandescents in our basement. Need to keep at it.
--- Gollee, Gomer, NO ONE could have predicted THAT !!!
, and the fact that CFL bulbs were often put in disadvantageous locations like bathrooms or recessed lighting.
Those silly people - trying to use them in regular places like that !
tsk...tsk...
Roll out the affordable LEDs already !
The EPA has a 3 PAGE "blurb" on what to do if one of these new bulbs break in your home. 3 PAGES!
Open a window, do NOT sweep, vacuum or pick up the broken bulb. Wait 10 minutes and use TAPE to pick up the pieces.
Yeah, sounds like a real winner to me.
No!
Now if only liberals would burn out faster than expected.....
Me too.
when you need them?
I’ve had a few LED bulbs experience near-infant mortality.
File this one under the “no duh sherlock” category.
Many have complained about this for years.
I’ve had mixed “success” with the CFL’s, so I’m not completely sold on them.
Been buying incandescents wherever and whenever I see them. Have hundreds stockpiled.
I've had a few incandescents expeience a brief poof of light then die when first energized.
Six YEARS still isn’t bad compared to the 4 months or so I get from incandescents.
Kind of like all the liberal policies.
“Unexpected” should be the #1 liberal word of the last century.
WE JUST BOUGHT OUT THE ENTIRE SUPPLY OF 100, 150 AND 200 WATT BULBS AT OUR LOCAL HOME DEPOT BEFORE THE INSANITY COMES TO ARIZONA.
GOING TO LOWES NEXT TO GET THEIRS.
These suckers have a tendency to EXPLODE as well.
I’ve seen 3 of them at our office explode instead of burn out.
...last week Walmart had the new bulbs out on the shelf...a 3-way curley-que bulb was $9.00!!!....how many people in our rural high-unemployment county are going to buy those I wonder??
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