Change the World Wednesdays: Energy Efficient Lights

I am pleased to report that these are more resistant to magical interference, which means the lightbulbs in my office now last for several months instead of blowing out every 2-3 weeks like the incandescent ones did.

Y'know, that never occurred to me as an explanation for why "5 year" incandescent bulbs never last more than a month or so with me. Let alone regular incandescents - those, as you say, burn out every 2-3 weeks. It's worst in the kitchen, my sewing room, and our bedroom. :)

Elizabeth,

It's certainly right to consider different types of lighting...but should people be forced to do it?

I agree with your view on LEDs, weak light, and use a few fluorescents.
Still, the old bulbs are useful too....

Americans choose to buy the ordinary light bulbs around 9 times out of 10.
Banning what Americans want gives the supposed savings - no point in banning an impopular product!


All lighting devices have different advantages and give out different types of light.
That's why they exist for people to choose.
The ordinary simple light bulb responds quickly with bright broad spectrum light, is
easy to use with dimmers and other equipment, can come in small sizes, and has safely been used for over 100 years.


For some that is a reason for banning it: Why keep simple old technology?
Because if modern lights were better, people would buy more of them instead.
Consumers don't avoid products only because they are expensive - or no other expensive products would be sold.
Nor do they keep buying cheap but poor products.

There are - for example- well known batteries and washing up liquids that are expensive but sell well because they "last longer"
- as they show in their advertising.
Fluorescent light manufacturers and distributors are very happy to let governments promote their case,
and happy that they ban the lights that people are buying, so the fluorescent (and/or LED) light manufacturers can win market share
- why should they bother making better products and advertise them?
They can clean up the market and charge what they like when those cheap competing rivals keeping down prices are gone.

Is this the New America?
You can buy any car, as long as it is an Obama car?
You can buy any light bulb, as long as it is an Obama light bulb?

Put it this way:
New LED lamps are on the way.
If they are good, people will buy them - no need to ban ordinary light bulbs (little point).
If they are not good, people will not buy tham - no need to ban ordinary light bulbs (no point).

"Look at all the energy we save",
says President Obama.
Since when does America need to save on electricity?
There is no energy shortage, there are plenty of energy sources, and Middle East oil is not used for electricity generation.
Consumers pay for any power stations, just as they do for factories and shops generally.
Certainly it is good to let people know how they can save energy and money - but why force them to do it?
As explained on the website linked below, money/energy savings from a ban are not that great anyway.


"Look at all the emission savings",
says President Obama.
Do his light bulbs give out any gases?
Power stations might not either:
In Washington state practically all electricity is emission-free, around half of it is in states like New York and California.
Why should emission-free households there be denied the use of lighting they obviously want to use?
Such households will increase everywhere, since emissions will be reduced through the planned use of coal/gas processing
technology or energy substitution.
Again, emission savings are not as great as supposed anyway:

Why Light bulb bans are wrong (list of reasons with references)
http://www.ceolas.net/#li1x (http://www.ceolas.net/#li1x)

About why all efficiency regulation is wrong,
and how they affect performance, construction, appearance, price and savings on buildings, dishwashers, cars, light bulbs etc
http://ceolas.net/#cc2x (http://ceolas.net/#cc2x)

LED lights have the potential to be much more efficient than CFL. But you need entirely different lighting concepts, like walls that glow (and can be dimmed) instead of noticeable lamps.

I'm using a LED chain in my bathroom, originally meant for a huge Xmas tree. It uses only 2W and is bright enough so you don't have to turn of the big 20W fluorescent light above the mirror unless you want to shave or do your makeup or something like that.