Comments on: Top 10 myths of efficient light bulbs http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html Sustainable Energy Insight Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:18:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Condor http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-14755 Condor Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:05:53 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-14755 I do not believe the energy savings are what they say - I put 5 CFLs (9w) in my living room and, according to my energy meter, they use almost 200W in total (I think it is the power factor).<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14755','Condor'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14755','Condor','I do not believe the energy savings are what they say - I put 5 CFLs (9w) in my living room and, according to my energy meter, they use almost 200W in total (I think it is the power factor).'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I do not believe the energy savings are what they say – I put 5 CFLs (9w) in my living room and, according to my energy meter, they use almost 200W in total (I think it is the power factor).
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]]> By: ascoss http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-14538 ascoss Tue, 25 May 2010 11:56:51 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-14538 Climate change is a global problem, and yet each one of us has the power to make a difference. Even small changes in our daily behaviour can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions without affecting our quality of life. In fact, they can help save us money!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('14538','ascoss'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('14538','ascoss','Climate change is a global problem, and yet each one of us has the power to make a difference. Even small changes in our daily behaviour can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions without affecting our quality of life. In fact, they can help save us money!'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Climate change is a global problem, and yet each one of us has the power to make a difference. Even small changes in our daily behaviour can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions without affecting our quality of life. In fact, they can help save us money!
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]]> By: Jimmy http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-8851 Jimmy Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:17:15 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-8851 It amazes me how resistant to change people are! Clearly CFLs are a pretty good alternative to the old fashioned incandescent bulbs. They are lower energy and waste less to heat, they last longer (generally) and are now pretty cheap. And it's convenient way for every household in Europe to play their part in a much needed reduction in CO2 emissions. Just because this change has slightly and trivially encroached on your creature comforts by forcing you to use slightly longer bulbs that don't fit the shade or by changing the colour of the light so it doesn't match your lama-wool sofa now is not a big deal. Get over it and quietly play you part in reducing the massive amounts of damage we are inflicting on our planet.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('8851','Jimmy'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('8851','Jimmy','It amazes me how resistant to change people are!\r\n\r\nClearly CFLs are a pretty good alternative to the old fashioned incandescent bulbs. They are lower energy and waste less to heat, they last longer (generally) and are now pretty cheap. And it\'s convenient way for every household in Europe to play their part in a much needed reduction in CO2 emissions.\r\n\r\nJust because this change has slightly and trivially encroached on your creature comforts by forcing you to use slightly longer bulbs that don\'t fit the shade or by changing the colour of the light so it doesn\'t match your lama-wool sofa now is not a big deal. Get over it and quietly play you part in reducing the massive amounts of damage we are inflicting on our planet.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> It amazes me how resistant to change people are!

Clearly CFLs are a pretty good alternative to the old fashioned incandescent bulbs. They are lower energy and waste less to heat, they last longer (generally) and are now pretty cheap. And it’s convenient way for every household in Europe to play their part in a much needed reduction in CO2 emissions.

Just because this change has slightly and trivially encroached on your creature comforts by forcing you to use slightly longer bulbs that don’t fit the shade or by changing the colour of the light so it doesn’t match your lama-wool sofa now is not a big deal. Get over it and quietly play you part in reducing the massive amounts of damage we are inflicting on our planet.

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]]> By: Steve http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-8834 Steve Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:28:55 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-8834 CFLs are an improvement over incandescents as a lighting technology. Not only do they use a lot less electricity but they are getting better, and problems people may report in terms of light quality and bulb life should be diminishing. However, the next technology wave will offer even higher energy savings and advantages. LEDs are already emerging on the market and although today they are really expensive within five years they should be superior to incandescents or CFLs in almost all respects. Lifetime costs, bulb life (+50,000 hours), energy demand, light quality, flexibility. So if you can't stand CFLs, then wait until your bulb burns out and replace it with an LED.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('8834','Steve'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('8834','Steve','CFLs are an improvement over incandescents as a lighting technology. Not only do they use a lot less electricity but they are getting better, and problems people may report in terms of light quality and bulb life should be diminishing. However, the next technology wave will offer even higher energy savings and advantages. LEDs are already emerging on the market and although today they are really expensive within five years they should be superior to incandescents or CFLs in almost all respects. Lifetime costs, bulb life (+50,000 hours), energy demand, light quality, flexibility. So if you can\'t stand CFLs, then wait until your bulb burns out and replace it with an LED.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> CFLs are an improvement over incandescents as a lighting technology. Not only do they use a lot less electricity but they are getting better, and problems people may report in terms of light quality and bulb life should be diminishing. However, the next technology wave will offer even higher energy savings and advantages. LEDs are already emerging on the market and although today they are really expensive within five years they should be superior to incandescents or CFLs in almost all respects. Lifetime costs, bulb life (+50,000 hours), energy demand, light quality, flexibility. So if you can’t stand CFLs, then wait until your bulb burns out and replace it with an LED.
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]]> By: Marcin http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-8801 Marcin Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:05:39 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-8801 I'm totaly against "Energy saving bulps". 1) They are not energy saving - to have the same level of light I need 3 or 4 of them. 2) They also waste energy to temperature. Other think is that we are using them mostly at night so otherwise we need to use electricity to heat rooms. 3) Many of us feals that eyes are tired quicker then with normal lightbulps So there are 2 ways of preserving ours lightbulps: 1) buy them now 2) buy them on holidays on non EU countries<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('8801','Marcin'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('8801','Marcin','I\'m totaly against \"Energy saving bulps\".\r\n1) They are not energy saving - to have the same level of light I need 3 or 4 of them.\r\n2) They also waste energy to temperature.\r\nOther think is that we are using them mostly at night so otherwise we need to use electricity to heat rooms.\r\n3) Many of us feals that eyes are tired quicker then with normal lightbulps\r\n\r\nSo there are 2 ways of preserving ours lightbulps:\r\n1) buy them now\r\n2) buy them on holidays on non EU countries'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I’m totaly against “Energy saving bulps”.
1) They are not energy saving – to have the same level of light I need 3 or 4 of them.
2) They also waste energy to temperature.
Other think is that we are using them mostly at night so otherwise we need to use electricity to heat rooms.
3) Many of us feals that eyes are tired quicker then with normal lightbulps

So there are 2 ways of preserving ours lightbulps:
1) buy them now
2) buy them on holidays on non EU countries

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]]> By: Mike http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-8778 Mike Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:53:50 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-8778 A year ago we went out and purchased CFLs for our “most on” fittings including (most important, 100w incandescent equivalents for the garage – which were the most expensive). We didn’t give their expensive price a second thought as we were convinced by the media that they would “save us money in the long run”.
During the last year we have had to replace the garage lamps four times. The smaller ones lasted a “little” longer but eventually at least a third had faded to black.
Now, before you start griping in protest of what I am on about; they were from different manufacturers and the fittings are well ventilated (expect for the fittings that no CFLs to date will fit). Bottom line is; we’re now sick of the media hype about these being best for the consumer. The only people who are benefiting are power companies and CFL manufacturers. No, we didn’t keep the receipts for the first batch but, heck, we defiantly have kept them for replacements and have even permanently marked the replaced CFLs with the receipt number and date of purchase. We are about to go to war on CFL manufacturers and we are reverting back to incandescent until such time as technology makes it feasible for the consumer.
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]]> By: Dabria http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-8676 Dabria Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:40:45 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-8676 We cannot rely on light bulbs which consume 40% of more power than efficient light bulbs. So it’s good choice to go for energy efficient light bulbs.
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]]> By: H Taylor http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-8673 H Taylor Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:47:08 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-8673 Keen as I am to save CO2 and money on energy bills, I have to disagree with points 1 and 4. The majority of the CFLs in our house (bought around 8 months ago) do take a long time to warm up (approx 5 mins to get to full light, and about 2 mins to get to enough light to see reasonably in the room) and were considerably more expensive than standard lightbulbs (around £8 each, if I remember). CFLs are improving, but there are big differences in quality.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('8673','H Taylor'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('8673','H Taylor','Keen as I am to save CO2 and money on energy bills, I have to disagree with points 1 and 4. The majority of the CFLs in our house (bought around 8 months ago) do take a long time to warm up (approx 5 mins to get to full light, and about 2 mins to get to enough light to see reasonably in the room) and were considerably more expensive than standard lightbulbs (around £8 each, if I remember). CFLs are improving, but there are big differences in quality.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Keen as I am to save CO2 and money on energy bills, I have to disagree with points 1 and 4. The majority of the CFLs in our house (bought around 8 months ago) do take a long time to warm up (approx 5 mins to get to full light, and about 2 mins to get to enough light to see reasonably in the room) and were considerably more expensive than standard lightbulbs (around £8 each, if I remember). CFLs are improving, but there are big differences in quality.
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]]> By: peter in dublin http://www.greenbang.com/top-10-myths-of-efficient-light-bulbs_11301.html/comment-page-1#comment-8671 peter in dublin Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:50:04 +0000 http://www.greenbang.com/?p=11301#comment-8671 Well… most of those “myths” are nonetheless…true!

Yes they are expensive,
and by kicking out the cheap light bulb competition, with fewer competitors, prices don’t necessarily fall either
http://www.ceolas.net/#li1ax

They don’t fit all fittings -
candle CFLs for example are much bulkier, and the base of CFLs is much bigger than incandescent bases

The talk of “Halogen ‘look-alike’ bulbs simply doesn’t hold up –
the most useful frosted ones are banned – so lots of glare from them

Small light bulbs whether CFLs or LEDS simply can’t be made bright like incandescents.

Yes, CFLs are slower to come on
- especially in the cold, modern lights or not.

They won’t save me money
= lots of reasons why may be true – any CFL money savings are not as great as supposed, there are many factors involved.

see ceolas.net/#li13x onwards
especially ceolas.net/#li15x
eg power factor issues, lifespan, heat benefit of incandescents, brightness decrease etc as shown by numerous -and official- research.

Mercury
the old coal power mercury yarn is outdated, and emissions can and will be substantially reduced with new technology:
More: ceolas.net/#li19x

Many more reasons the ban is wrong see
ceolas.net/#li1x onwards

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