Incandescent bulbs have had their time in the limelight (pardon the pun), and it is time they left the stage. We need to move to more efficient lighting sources, and technology has finally advanced to the point where alternative lighting technologies can address the issue. Legislation like this will help by accelerating the process and providing incentive to address the demand.
The Australian government on Tuesday announced plans to phase out incandescent light bulbs and replace them with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs across the country.
Legislation to gradually restrict the sale of the old-style bulbs could reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 percent, said Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Under the Australian plan, bulbs that do not comply with energy efficiency targets would be gradually banned from sale. Exemptions may apply for special needs such as medical lighting and oven lights.
If you consider cost-of-ownership, flourescent and solid-state lighting are already viable replacements for standard bulbs.
I’d switch all my lights in a heart beat if they had full spectrum CFU’s. The light current bulbs give off is just to harsh. My basement is fully lighted by CFU’s, but then my basement is a pit and my wife does not venture there.
And what exactly are we to use in our easy bake ovens?!
Wrong answer: The solution is to surgically implant light enhancers in our eyes, then we wouldn’t need lights. Save a lot on materials, money, energy and time.
CF’s are great, I use them most places. The difficulties I’ve found – there’s no way they could do skinny little fluorescent tubes to fit the fixtures of any halogens, and halogens make wonderful bathroom lighting. Also specialty lamps with the tiny bases often can’t hold a bulb longer than one inch. And don’t forget garage-door-opener lights (too much vibration, I imagine).
CFs come in capacities up to 200 watts – about 800 watts of incandescent equivalent. So at least light output isn’t a problem.
#3 – Great idea! And I bet it wouldn’t be hard to enhance them so the authorities could keep track of us at all times, too! W00t!!!11
1,
Admittedly, the technology is not yet mature. However, don’t forget tht incandescent tech was not as mature as it is now when it was deployed. The stuff I’ve seen shows me we’ll be where we want to be with solid-state lighting and CFLs by the end of the decade.
2,
Graphics processing chips, of course.
3. “Wrong answer: The solution is to surgically implant light enhancers in our eyes, then we wouldn’t need lights.”
Nope, we should all become blind.
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=9680#comment-468425
I wouldn’t consider upgrading a computer program to a new version with less functionality, so why would I treat electronic hardware of any stripe the same way?
Ovens
Refrigerators
Some outdoor lighting
Decorative bulbs
There are still places where the simplicity and durability of an incandescent bulb makes sense.
8. James, you probably wouldnt get off the Titanic if you had had an oppurtunity either, we wouldnt want you to be inconvenienced in any way. See you at the bottom.
First of all, CF bulbs have mercury in them and while it’s not technically illegal to throw them away, you’re supposed to be recycling them. And hardly any place takes them. How big is the energy savings when you have to factor in the drive to a place that will take them?
Secondly the color of the light is horrific.
Thirdly, the first several hours I had CF bulbs plugged in, they did indeed match the brilliance of the incandescent bulbs they were allegedly replacing. The next day however, they were immediately much dimmer in comparison.
So for now, I have four of these little toxic disposal nightmares that I keep shuffling around in my closet, waiting for the day I have more closets or garages to light.
9,
Incandescents are durable?
I also don’t see the advantages of the CF. Similar to mike-in-newark’s experience, the CFs I’ve used do not have the lifespan of an incandescent bulb. I bought a new home 2 years ago, and it had a full complement of incandescent bulbs. I replace approximately 1/2 of the bulbs (mixing CFs with incandescents on the same circuit). Guess what? I’ve had maybe 3 incandescent bulbs burn out. All of the “bulb shaped” CFs died in a year. All but 2 (6 of 8) recessed 14w CF flood lights died within 2 years, and about 3/4 of the corkscrew lights have burned out. I can’t see how I saved any money on these devices given the high initial cost.
I’m sold on saving energy, but CFs don’t work well enough. I’m going to try out some LED bulbs next. As mythbusters found, they are the only bulb technology that can stand up to repeated on-off cycles.
How I’m saving money on lighting? I found some value packs of 8 incandescents at Target on clearance for 34 cents. I bought 5 packs. I turn the lights on as I need them and off when I don’t. At less than a nickel a bulb, it doesn’t matter if I stress them and burn them out sooner.
I have to say that I simply HATE the light thrown off by the CFs I have bought. I have become convinced that florescent lighting was developed by our Corporate and Governmental Overlords to break the spirits of cubicle inmates and outsiders who into their domains.
I still use the CFs, but only in combination with incandescents.
This is dumb beyond all means of measure. The nanny statists are at it again. There is no rational reason for this based on rights, therefore the law is unethical.
14,
There are sadly significant differences in quality between the latest Osram Sylvania CFL and Happy-Go Lamp Production products. I would love to see a quality complaint about a name-brand CFL. I’ll even forward the comments to the right people for you personally.
As with anything, the quality of a CFL is directly related to who makes it and how.
Generaly, I do see much longer life in the CF’s in my house, as opposed to the incandesents.
I have one 60 watt incandescent bulb which has one on the life extenders stuck to it which has been running about 12 hours a day for 4 years. These life extenders are a diode which sticks to the bottom of the bulb, and cuts the amount of electricity in half (have wave AC). The bulb is dimmer of course.
My problem with this legistation is about possible exceptions like, photographers, people who are made ill by flourescent life, automotive bulbs and such.
Here in Venezuela our government is replacing free of charge incandescents for CFs (incidentally giving our hills a nice yellow and blue sparkle at night).
Problem is, the government insists to install the bulbs themselves, instead of simply distributing them; which rises suspicions when one takes into account the proposed laws intended to expropiate houses deemed “too big” for its owners.
I count 26 CFL, 15 40w tubes and about 35 incandescents at home.
Why? CFL don’t work in dimmer circuits. They’re light is often harsh. Floodlight versions are too expensive and burn out too fast. I think the heat buildup in conical fixtures is too much.
They’re okay for hallways, kitchen, bath, garages and utility areas. They stink in most bedroom, livingroom and dining areas (unless you like to feel like you’re in some cheap cafeteria while you eat.)
So why I like to save money a mixture of the two seems more reasonable for now.
23,
I do believe there will be a long transition period.