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 ...
They have ones now that are shaped like regular light bulbs. These are handy in places where the lamp shade clips to the bulb.
You can buy three packs of 100 watters at walmart for under 8 bucks, and they last forever.
I find that my lamp shades tint the light appropriately, no matter which bulb I use. It is the overall savings in price that I appreciate the most. That and I am not changing bulbs ALL THE TIME anymore.
CFL are the same as any other fluorescent lamps al the good one are triphosphorus coating but the spiral have to have a lower pressure in them because of there shape so the red they make is less red and more orange. The ones with the u shaped tubes make better red and have the best CRI and the highest power density of the fluorescent lamps .
I have never seen any low color temp of 2700K fluorescent lamps that had a CRI over 85. This is because none of the florescent lamps make true red. If you lower the red out put( higher color temp) then the lamp becomes bluer and the CRI will be higher. The CRI is taken for each color temp so a lamp with a 6500k color temp does not have to make any red. A apple will still look sick under a 6500K CFL or any high color temp fluorescent tube.
There are only a few arc type lamps that will make true red and one is the 4200K 150 watt Philips CDM 150 watt metal halide lamp. All the high end retailers are replacing there halogen fixtures with the CDM lamp It has a CRI of 96.
Of course not. You'd need a 50-watt fluorescent for that.
Here's the good news, in spite of all the nay-sayers. They use about 1/4 the electricity of an incandescent bulb. They have improved their quality a great deal in the past couple of years. And, they aren't anywhere near the $8.00 per bulb that some people are quoting. They were 2 years ago, but not now.
And the save you a LOT on your electric bill, even if you just put 'em in the 3 or 4 lights that get the most use in your home.
looking for fatal facial or body flaws
LOL! That's one fatal flaw I thankfully haven't found yet, although certain relatives have said that I have holes in my head.
Image just popped into my head so to say. ;?)
What brand of full spectrum lighting products are you happy with?
"full spectrum lamp (made by IGIA)"
Sorry!
"full spectrum lamp (made by IGIA)"
Sorry!
Walmart? Oh, the humanity! Non-union light bulbs!
Thanks! I hadn't heard of them. We don't have a Lowe's, though. Maybe Home Depot? (I read a lot and I'm VAINLY trying to avoid getting glasses, LOL!)
Haven't seen those yet.
Thats a shame, you might want to consider them for your outdoor fixtures.
Yeah, they're great for me so far. 2 years and running for the back door light. Not sure what brands everyone else is getting but mine are all GE.
No.
Ban all upward-facing lighting used to light the sides of office buildings. My office building must have at least 5000 watts of lighting pointing up the sides of the building, just so it'll look kewl at night. Waste of energy, and throws a heck of lot of light upward. In fact, I'd like to see all unnecessary upwards-facing lighting banned.
"They burn out fast in the garage because of the cold temperatures. They don't fit in most of my ceiling fixtures. They are very expensive."
I've got two of them OUTSIDE my garage. Winter temps here sometimes go below 0 F. Summer temps into the 90s with high humidity aren't unknown. Plus they're somewhat exposed to the elements (not directly, but the bottom of the fixtures are open to the air). These $2 apiece lights are still going strong after a couple years.
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