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 ...
These work but they are expensive. I am gradually replacing all the old with the new as they wear out.
A simple solution for saving electricity: cut the nations street lights in half. Why do we really need all this light pollution?? Secondary benefit -- see the stars clearly on a cloudless night.
What about the increase in UV? IIRC, flourescent bulbs give off a small amount of UV, enough to cause photogray eyeglasses to slightly darken. Will we be reading about an increase in the number of cataracts and skin cancers, and lawsuits with Little Johnny Edwards channeling Thomas Edison or something?
are one most= are ON most
"Wal-Mart is meeting plenty of resistance — from light-bulb makers, competitors and consumers...."
Add to that list the greedy utility companies, that would really notice their profits dropping if everyone converted to the energy-saver bulbs. We have them in all our lamps and get them cheap at Sam's Club.
They don't last 7 years when you turn them on and off. They do use littel enough juice that I normally leave the lights on rather than on/off cycling.
I use em in places where the bulbs are not visible... sorry, but estetically these things are pretty ugly.
Great for $$ savings in terms of power usage.
Same here and we like them. They may be expensive but I can go years without a replacement instead of months.
The wife bought 5 of these from a vendor in an office park sale. 2 promptly broke. Now we know why they were so cheap.
Some of us get headaches from more than the appearance. I get them if I'm in a room lighted by them for more than a half hour or so. I use regular bulbs for most rooms, and for the office, the full spectrum bulbs (not the flourescants).
$8 for that lightbulb that is guaranteed for 7 years and will save you $50-$100 a year or more in electrical costs?
I'll find the $8.
Yes. I've wondered about these too, and I've been interested in them. Do you have any experience with the type of light produced by these bulbs? The upfront cost is pretty high, so I'd hate to buy it if I didn't like the light. How does it compare to other bulbs?
We replaced almost all of the bulbs in our house with CF this past fall. I have seen a marked decrease in my power bill using them.
littel=little...moron.
Doesn't take long at all. 100 watt bulb vs CF equivalent is annual savings estimate of $77 or something....
Doesn't take long to get your $$ back.
Who's paying $8 for one of these things? Where, at Saks Fifth Avenue? In the past 6 months, I paid one dollar for a pack of four, four dollas for a pack of four, and just last week 99 cents for a pack of two.
They cost between $1.50 and $3.00 now. They've really come down in price.
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 use them where I can, but until I replace most of my ceiling fixtures, I'll have to use the old style bulbs for much of my lighting needs.
"cut the nations street lights in half. Why do we really need all this light pollution?"
So people don't run over pedestrians.
So you can find your car in the parking lot.
Etc.
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