the light bulb police are coming

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/business/14light.html?ref=science

The article uses figures for the percentage of electricity used for lighting
that are about 7.5 times the figures given by DOE web sites. Either the DOE
is incompetent or the people hoping to profit by forcing everyone to switch
to CFLs are cutting their figures from whole cloth.

I've cited this page before.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/recs2001/enduse2001/enduse2001.html

Table 2 indicates that lighting represents 8.8% of 2001 US residential
electricity use. From other DOE statistics, residences use about 1/3 of
total electricity with industry and commercial sites using approximately the
same 1/3 fractions. That means residential lighting uses 8.8/3 or 2.933% of
total electricity, not the 22% claimed in the article.

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Posted by Robert L Bass on March 14, 2007, 8:37 am

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> That means residential lighting uses
> 8.8/3 or 2.933% of total electricity,
> not the 22% claimed in the article...

Regardless what percentage of the total
is used for lighting, each incremental
step we take to reduce energy usage
reduces pollution and reduces our
dependence on foreign oil. Since both
of those are (IMO) worthwhile objectives
I believe it's a good idea to use more
efficient lighting. That includes CFLs.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>

Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota � Florida � 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com

=============================>

Posted by BruceR on March 14, 2007, 9:18 am

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Robert L Bass wrote:

>> That means residential lighting uses
>> 8.8/3 or 2.933% of total electricity,
>> not the 22% claimed in the article...

>
> Regardless what percentage of the total
> is used for lighting, each incremental
> step we take to reduce energy usage
> reduces pollution and reduces our
> dependence on foreign oil. Since both
> of those are (IMO) worthwhile objectives
> I believe it's a good idea to use more
> efficient lighting. That includes CFLs.

While every little bit does help, does it really make sense to spend
$2.50 for a CFL instead of a quarter for a bulb? I use a lot of CFL's
but only in locations that are either a PITA to change a bulb or where I
want to reduce heat buildup. Some disadvantages of CFL floods is their
warm up time. It can take a full minute before the light comes up to a
useable intensity. That's fine for the outdoor lights but doesn't cut it
for a closet or workshop.

Posted by Robert L Bass on March 14, 2007, 7:02 pm

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> While every little bit does help, does
> it really make sense to spend $2.50
> for a CFL instead of a quarter for a
> bulb?

I guess it depends on how much you
value the future of the planet. While
we're on the subject though, where
do you get light bulbs for $0.25 and
CFLs for $2.50?

> I use a lot of CFL's but only in
> locations that are either a PITA to
> change a bulb or where I want to
> reduce heat buildup...

Understandable.

> Some disadvantages of CFL floods
> is their warm up time. It can take a
> full minute before the light comes
> up to a useable intensity...

We have them in our condo in Brazil.
You're right. That's annoying but I'm
willing to live with it. The strange
thing is the color temperature.

> That's fine for the outdoor lights but
> doesn't cut it for a closet or workshop.

My workbench has conventional
fluorescents over it. They were there
when I bought the house. I think CFLs
would be OK there. I don't mind if
it takes a minute or so. Closet lights
are on for such a short time that CFLs
would be impractical so those will remain
conventional for the foreseeable future.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>

Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota � Florida � 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com

=============================>

Posted by Steve on March 14, 2007, 7:54 pm

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>> While every little bit does help, does
>> it really make sense to spend $2.50
>> for a CFL instead of a quarter for a
>> bulb?

>
> I guess it depends on how much you
> value the future of the planet. While
> we're on the subject though, where
> do you get light bulbs for $0.25 and
> CFLs for $2.50?

That sounds about right to me...look at the local WalMart or Home Depot

>> I use a lot of CFL's but only in
>> locations that are either a PITA to
>> change a bulb or where I want to
>> reduce heat buildup...

>
> Understandable.
>

>> Some disadvantages of CFL floods
>> is their warm up time. It can take a
>> full minute before the light comes
>> up to a useable intensity...

>
> We have them in our condo in Brazil.
> You're right. That's annoying but I'm
> willing to live with it. The strange
> thing is the color temperature.

You need to find a purveyor with more selection. Local Home Depot has
multiple color temps for both PAR 30 and conventional bulb replacements

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General Home Automation the light bulb police are coming