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.

[maine-iac7]

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.

LOL

That IS another big advantage - and, hey, it not only helps save on not needing as much kindling to get the fire going, but is the ultimate in cost savings from recycling -

The heat coming off those oil lamps is a pretty nice thing to have.

Before I had my wood stove, (it saved my hiney in the Great Ice Storm of '98 when I was without power for 19 days in the middle of winter!) I had a 5 day power outage - 20 below outside.

I said to me: "Hmm, normally the house is heated with two floor vents in the living room, two in the kitchen/dining area, one in the office and one in the bath."

So I lit up a kerosene lamp in lieu of each vent.

The house stayed an average of 70 degrees! The heat coming out of the top of a lamp is many times hotter than a heat vent and it is constant!

I can do that now with just 2-3 lamps and don't hear the furnace kick in for hours.

Like I say, many, many ways to save on MUCH more energy than will be saved by the Nanny-state's mandated light bulbs...phony as a three dollar bill...

[wita]

I haven’t time it yet, but when it is cold outside and the lamps are cold it is many minutes before the light level is worth much. Therefor, in an unheated garage or shed, they are not good in the winter, without a long on time.

[maine-iac7]

Florescent bulbs have patent royalties. someone has a better lobbyist.

By Jove! I think (know) you've got it! Whole ball o'wax -

[HamiltonJay]

Well I have a few indoors, but because of their long “on” times I use them mostly for outdoors, where I know the light will be on for a long time, but if it isn’t instantly all the way on its no harm. Outdoor lights are generally good for this, as you leave your porch light on when you know you will be returning after dark hours from now.

I haven’t timed the difference between how long it takes to be “ALL ON” for the outdoor lights vs the few I have in some select indoor locations which never get below 70 degrees... but even at 70 degrees ambient temperature if the light hasn’t been on for a while, its a 15-30 second wait for it to be giving off full luminescence.

I am not opposed to CFL’s, I use them where I find them applicable, but they are NOT a replacement for an incandescent. When you want full light at the flick of a switch instantly the CFL’s don’t provide this. If they did I’d have them all over my house due to the cost savings, but they don’t. And to think you can mandate them is rediculous... if they do I’ll just become a criminal and buy incadecense on the black market.

Incandescence will die when a superior product is offered, not when government mandates it. LED’s have some potential, we’ll see what happens. I have no issue using a lower power consuming item, if it provides the same benefit and performance to me... CFL’s in many instances don’t.

[maine-iac7]

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

BINGO - especially in the form used in these bulbs - fine powder than can easily be ingested into the lungs - and the results down the line???

Of all the nanny-state intrusions, this one is the most dangerous and the most ludicrous.

Every day we hear of another recall from Chinese made goods - where is the CDC on this - That's one of the FEW functions of the federal gov't - to protect us from things we can't ourselves.

Forcing us to buy outrageously environmentally hazardous products - pray your kids aren't home alone and break a bulb =

The Commies in DC have been getting away with implementing so much that they think no one will notice...

[maine-iac7]

What I lack is wick cord

If your hardware stores don't carry it - Leyman's catalog has it all - lamps, wicks, chimneys, hardware, --- they cater to the Amish, so they have all the things pre-electric...

http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?itemType=CATEGORY&itemID=669&iMainCat=669&iSubCat=669

These are particularly good to have in a house with children or animals as they wont get tipped over...I have one in my living room and one in the kitchen/dining area - really handy to get to in a power outage...

I don't have the fancy cobalt tho'- much as I like the look. I have lamps with a larger oil capacity - longer between fills

[maine-iac7]

So where the hell is it?

It is without lobbyists and their congresscritter lackeys that will profit from making it a mandatory item for each and every household

[ansel12]

“but even at 70 degrees ambient temperature if the light hasn’t been on for a while, its a 15-30 second wait for it to be giving off full luminescence.

I am not opposed to CFL’s, I use them where I find them applicable, but they are NOT a replacement for an incandescent. When you want full light at the flick of a switch instantly the CFL’s don’t provide this.”

---

The BS I see you guys pushing is nonsense.

I have been using these bulbs for a good dozen years, in fact that is all I use now except for a couple of LED lights.

I’m not aware of a 15-30 second turn-on, my bulbs don’t burn out quickly, my bulbs don’t burst into flames, I know that they make versions for decorative applications like chandeliers and conventional globe shapes. The ones I use in my motion sensor porch lights work fine.

I have been buying mine dirt cheap including the 125 watt equivalent 2000 lumen version that I pay about $1.99 for, because I prefer it in my reading lamps.

As far as outdoor, cold weather versions and versions made for dimmers, I believe that those are available.

[maine-iac7]

When the price becomes more competitive, I’ll be near the front of the line.

Problem is, "competitive" is not in the Communist/Nanny State dictionary.

They are going to MANDATE the fluorescents - and next, lamps are scheduled to be 'dumbed down' to accept no higher than 60 watts...what would that mean as to LED lights?

[ExGeeEye]

I went to daylight-spectrum CFL bulbs almost as soon as I became aware of them. I’m looking forward to LED bulbs, and hope that the daylight-spectrum remains part of the palette.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

They want to force us to use fluorescent. Is there anything else we can use besides fluorescent, assuming they don’t ban everything else BUT fluorescent? I would rather be in the dark than use fluorescent.

[maine-iac7]

Make them illegal, and I’ll just become a criminal and get them on the black market.

I'm stocking up - am thinking of running an underground market - will include todays lamps also, as they are going to be mandated to not carry more than a 60 watt bulb.

So we can do business.

I'll be the little ole lady sitting behind drawn shades, knitting by the light of my contraband lights

[maine-iac7]

I would much rather see legislation to BAN DEMOCRATS.

I'll sign that one!

[maine-iac7]

Lighting is 25% of the average house’ electricity use

Maybe in the mega=house trend where there's 50 light bulbs in the house - half just in the kitchen area.

There are FAR too many light bulbs in newer houses than are needed =

Like Gore with his - well, take a look at this site - Here's your REAL problem: forked tongued Commies politicians - and the sheeple who go along without critical evaluation.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200703/CUL20070301c.html

Excerpt: "Bush's "Western White House" in Crawford, Texas, has been praised as "an eco-friendly haven" while the former vice-president's home in Nashville, Tennessee was criticized this week for heavy power consumption."

Read the whole article and bookmark it.

[NavyCanDo]

CFL’s don’t work on a dimmer?

3/4 of the lights in our home are on a dimmer. So unless they can come up with CFL that can dim, I’m out of luck.

I have nothing against the idea of CFLs, I love lowering my power bill, but before they pass any laws they better make damn sure the next generation of bulbs can do everything and more than what they are replacing.

[uglybiker]

Out of curiosity, do you have ionization type smoke detectors in your house?

I'll go one better....

Do you have an electronic thermostat or one of the older-style ones with a MERCURY switch?

[BraveMan]

Be careful where & how you use these. I had one in which the components in the base burst into flames. Luckily for me it happened while I was in the room.

I do not use these bulbs where they may be left on unattended

[ansel12]

“3/4 of the lights in our home are on a dimmer. So unless they can come up with CFL that can dim, I’m out of luck.”

http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/faqs/cfl.htm#1

[NavyCanDo]

Now if they could come up with something that can replace our reef aquarium lighting on our 150 gallon tank. It has 2 250 watt halides and 4 VHO’s that spin our electric meter like a 78 record.

[NavyCanDo]

Hmmmmmmmm Maybe there is things we can do to replace our dimming floods. Thanks for the link