Incandescent bulb’s future dims

MSN ^ | 11-11-2007 | MSN

[Westlander]

If U.S. lawmakers have their way, the lights may soon go out on Thomas Edison's greatest invention -- the incandescent light bulb. The 19th-century inventor brought illumination to the world's fingertips, but according to Congress, his invention isn't efficient enough for an age anxious about energy supplies.

"Only 10% of the power used by today's incandescent bulbs is emitted as light, while the other 90% is released as heat," Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., said when she introduced her legislation to ban standard light bulbs.

To eliminate this waste, Harman has proposed legislation that would effectively eliminate incandescent light bulbs from store shelves nationwide as early as 2012.

[jrsmc]

I HATE florescent light bulbs! I will not have them in my home!

[Cardhu]

I received this in my e-mail this morning and have translated it from the Spanish for you guys:

"If Google had a black screen, considering the great amount of people who use it, we calculate that 750 megawatts will be saved annually.

To show you, Google has created a black version, called Blackle, with exactly the same functions as the version in white but, obviously, with a smaller consumption of energy. Every little helps, so use:

http://www.blackle.com/

I have verified that it works exactly as the regular Google and, not only will help to the environment, that we already know, but that we will save light, that is to say, we will save money.

If that does not convince you of the ecological necessity, if I had printed this message it would have used a ton of paper. One ton of paper requires the cutting of 15 trees, and the consumption of 250,000 liters of water.

The environment is the responsibility of everyone.”

What do you think?

[listenhillary]

Isn’t wearing black-face racially insensitive and not politically correct?

[listenhillary]

They have a little counter on blackle. Interesting,

300,443 Watt hours saved

[LukeL]

She is complaining that 90% of a light bulbs energy is lost due to heat. But in any system primarily one where you have a filament burning at 1000s of degrees Celsius, you will have a majority of the energy lost to heat and not converted to light.

[ReignOfError]

I think my LCD monitors have backlights that burn a constant number of electrons, whether the photons are visible or not. If I’m wrong on the physics, someone please correct.

I don’t use screen savers. When the system goes to sleep, the screen goes to black. Yes, there’s still a trickle of current — the dreaded “vampire electronics” — but the discs aren’t spinning and the monitors aren’t lit.

[Westlander]

1,000 C is 1,832 F. Must be one heck of a socket surrounded by cement block. And you stated ‘thousands’ of C’s on a filament. Huh?

[Fred Hayek]

LED’s do not have the fragility or disposal problems of CFL’s. The new high output LED’s are in fact more efficient than the CFL’s. The only drawback with the “white” LED’s is that their spectrum is a bit too much to the blue end. In time, that will be solved.

[mylife]

yup

[Westlander]

No screen savers here either. System goes into snooze mode after 15 minutes. Admittedly though I bought a 21 inch CRT monitor last month for $50. New in the box with speakers. Too hard to pass up that deal, and it was from a brick and mortar store.

[LukeL]

my mistake, I was reading flurocent, it is more like 550F

[ReignOfError]

When I replace my gas furnace -- probably this year -- I'm thinking seriously about getting a wood-burning stove as part of the system. My dad had one 20+ years ago, and it provided enough heat that the gas furnace only kicked in on the coldest nights. And if I don't use it, it don't hurt nothin'. Just damn, if I could get a stove that can burn junk mail, I might be able to heat my house through the winter for free. I can't stop folks from dumping fuel on me.

This is in Atlanta. I suspect that Maine is a bit different; more need for heating for more of the year.

I don't have an electric stove, because I don't like them. Matter of taste. I like to cook with fire. But I do like your idea of a kettle on top of the wood stove -- making good use of what would otherwise be waste heat.

I very ofter cook once, eat twice or more. That is, While cooking, I'll double the recipe and have a second meal for another day. Two meals for the energy cost of one.

I'm a bachelor. It's hardly worth the effort to cook a meal for one, so when I cook, I usually put most of the result into bags or tupperware, which goes into the 'fridge or freezer. A minute or two in the microwave, and it's good to go.

I recently got one of those vacuum-seal gadgets, and that oughta help me put less stuff to waste.

Often at night, in the winter, especially if not running the wood stove, I will burn my kerosene lamps.

I love my oil lamps. My mom bought them to add ambience to our Christmas gatherings. I put them out one Christmas and decided not to put them away. In the spring and summer, they're a backup if a tropical storm knocks out the power. In the fall and winter, they're a backup if an ice storm knocks out the power. It's a warm, friendly glow in either case, more so because the lamp oil I have on hand is cinnamon-scented. I ought to kill the electric light and fire up the lamps more often.

I have a gas furnace, but with an electric blower -- so if the power goes out, my house is effectively without heat. The heat coming off those oil lamps is a pretty nice thing to have. That and hot water.

[rmh47]

She is complaining that 90% of a light bulbs energy is lost due to heat. But in any system primarily one where you have a filament burning at 1000s of degrees Celsius, you will have a majority of the energy lost to heat and not converted to light.

I understand that. CF bulbs work on a different principle and are two to four times more efficient than incandescant bulbs (lumens/watt). That's what this whole discussion is about.

What I don't understand is how that translates into a diatribe at Rep. Harmann about not understanding thermodynamics. (I can think of plenty of other reasons to yell at Rep. Harmann.)

[LukeL]

Because of the quote of a light bubls energy being lost to heat. For the most part in order to generate light you need to heat up a materail to the point that it glows.

[Westlander]

Decent article.

http://members.misty.com/don/bulb1.html#mll

[Cardhu]

I found this on Google (Blackle)

You know how Blackle is suppose to save energy?

Not so, per the following comment left on my original Blackle post:

" If you use LCD monitor, you'll end up wasting more energy by using Blackle. Not to mention that you'll stress your eyes and suffer from eye problems. Blackle will save energy only for CRT displays (which . On an LCD monitor, it will waste more energy than normal Google.

Almost all the modern monitors are LCD monitors, as CRT monitors are obsolete. The so-called "Save Energy" seems to be a ploy by Blackle to attract more traffic to their site, as they earn money for every search made on their site."

[longtermmemmory]

LED lamps are not being pushed because the florescent makers want to power protect.

Regular light bulbs give no royalties for tech.

Florescent bulbs have patent royalties.

someone has a better lobbyist.

the environmental movement is all about profit. It makes the oil companies look like mother teresa.

[Cardhu]

Ping to Post #216

[Suzy Quzy]

General Electric...PARENT company of NBC, who is Pushing this Global Warming CRAP, MAKES these EXPENSIVE BULBS!!! They are behind this.

MERCURY IS DEADLY!!!!

[Westlander]

Never put a water container directly on a wood stove. It may warp or crack the stove. Place your container on a raised rack with legs. Lanterns! Oh yes! Contact Woody Kirkman for anything you need - he’s got everything and he and his wife are cool.

http://www.lanternnet.com/