Warm white/ Soft white CFLs are indistinguishable from incandescent equivalents.
Posted on 01/02/2007 8:57:15 AM PST by mathprof
As a way to cut energy use, it could not be simpler. Unscrew a light bulb that uses a lot of electricity and replace it with one that uses much less.
While it sounds like a promising idea, it turns out that the long-lasting, swirl-shaped light bulbs known as compact fluorescent lamps are to the nation’s energy problem what vegetables are to its obesity epidemic: a near perfect answer, if only Americans could be persuaded to swallow them.
But now Wal-Mart Stores, the giant discount retailer, is determined to push them into at least 100 million homes. And its ambitions extend even further, spurred by a sweeping commitment from its chief executive, H. Lee Scott Jr., to reduce energy use across the country, a move that could also improve Wal-Mart’s appeal to the more affluent consumers the chain must win over to keep growing in the United States.
“The environment,” Mr. Scott said, “is begging for the Wal-Mart business model.”
It is the environmental movement’s dream: America’s biggest company, legendary for its salesmanship and influence with suppliers, encouraging 200 million shoppers to save energy.
For all its power in retailing, though, Wal-Mart is meeting plenty of resistance — from light-bulb makers, competitors and consumers....
A compact fluorescent has clear advantages over the widely used incandescent light — it uses 75 percent less electricity, lasts 10 times longer, produces 450 pounds fewer greenhouse gases from power plants and saves consumers $30 over the life of each bulb. But it is eight times as expensive as a traditional bulb, gives off a harsher light and has a peculiar appearance.
As a result, the bulbs have languished on store shelves for a quarter century; only 6 percent of households use the bulbs today.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I have four floods (150W) around our house. They light from dusk to midnight. BTW, the new Intermatic digital timers have a dusk and dawn setting based upon your region of the country (north, central, south). When CF outdoor floods became available, I replaced my power hungry incandescents. There is a few minute warmup to full brightness, but since they are on a timer, that is not an issue.
My in-house lights that are on timers are CFs. To avoid any harshness, lamp shades color the light. Seldom used lights are still incandescent.
"one CF is around 8 bucks."
You just need to know where to shop. Big Lots had a pallet load last week. The price - 4 for a buck. (The local utility company subsidizes them.)
The free market works. It's in the utility company's interest to encourage increased use of these rather than build new power plants.
I've got four of them in globe fixtures and none of them have burned out prematurely. I went to CF bulbs about 3 years ago and I've probably replaced about 3 bulbs total from those particular fixtures in that time. The one in my stairwell is on it's original bulb, (still hanging in it's glass globe), while the other three have probably all been replaced once now.
The life of an incandescent bulb varies a lot with line voltage. If you dim a bulb slightly it might last ten times as long although efficiency suffers.
The CF on my front porch averages more than two years. Some in my house last even longer.
***So unless they can fix the bizarre Dr. Frankenstein effect and make the things shine brightly the moment you turn them on, I won't be a customer.***
I'm with you. I'd fall down the stairs if I had to wait a minute for the light to work well. I wonder how many people are going up and down stairs w/o the light on, especially in an immergency situation.
I think I'll sign off now and go walk the perimeter. I heard something hit the house a while ago, so I suppose I'd better make sure the trash cans are secured.
Can't do much about the neighbor's debris, but I can at least take care of mine.
Later!
Just don't try to put 'em on dimmers, unless you enjoy continually flickering lights like in a horror movie.
Tubes have a CRI (color rendition index). Anything over 80 is really good. Electronic ballasts do away with flicker.
The combination of the two makes a light that is far superior to incandescent. It's too bad people remember their experiences with the old technology, which really was terrible.
Warm white/ Soft white CFLs are indistinguishable from incandescent equivalents.
I guess it's been about 7 or 8 years since you shopped for CF lightbulbs.
I get mine at Home Depot, where you can get a six-pack for about 13 dollars. I replaced about 40 bulbs in my new house and it does make a difference in the electric bill. The fourteen lights in my kitchen and family room use 196 watts. Before, they used over 900 watts. Just those lights save me about 100 dollars a year. Well worth the initial up-front cost.
***Add to that list the greedy utility companies, that would really notice their profits dropping if everyone converted to the energy-saver bulbs.***
When Carter told everyone to use less electricity, the electric companies RAISED their rates because they were making less money.
We've tried all of the shades. I feel like I am living in an office with the natural shade, and the "warm" glow gives off such a yellow-jaundiced look that is even worse than the industrial feel of the others. I've agreed to use them in the bathrooms, closets, and garage.
I agree, but until they come out and come down in price, I'll still be money ahead after installing about 40 CFLs.
I saw some new ones at Lowe's last week.
They were shaped similar to the 'flame' decorative style.
The base is bulkier but the glass portion is candelabra style.
I've installed CF in many of my fixtures. As the incandescent bulbs burn out,I replace with CF. Even 3-way in the living room table lamps.
Some of the decorative bulbs I'll likely leave as standard though.
They even have yellow bug lights in CF now.
I bought the same thing for much less at Aldi's. You might shop around or wait for a sale if there's no Aldi near you. But, they will pay for themselves in savings. Not just power but they give off less heat.
My only complaints are you can't go by their labeling for comparative light (you've got to go a step up), and there's no 3-way bulb.
That's interesting, thanks. I'm intrigued, but it seems like the ones that I have found are $20--or more!
On the other hand, a bulb that lasts decades (and is cheap to operate) is an interesting proposition.
I don't have any problem with a delayed on. All mine turn right on like the regular bulbs.
"Car lights serve the first purpose."
Hardly. There is a reason there are lights at major intersections, etc. Even new halogen lights don't cast the "general" light streets lights give.
They basically serve to tell other cars where you are -- not actually light up the road.
Go drive in West Texas wild and watch a 4 way stop sneak up on you.
There is a lot of science that goes into street lights and already not a lot of wasted money or effort."
Been there and again I didn't say take them all out, I said 50%. I realize there are critical needs. I offer an easy solution and accept the exceptions that would have to be made. I am telling you there is so much waste with lighting up the night it makes me sick every time I fly over the country at night.
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