SpaceGhost Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/01/19/lighting_efficiency.ART_ART_01-19-09_C8_0LCIKQC.html Efficient bulbs will light the way By law, incandescents are on their way out Monday, January 19, 2009 2:59 AM BY ERNEST SCHEYDER ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.dispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/images/jan/0119_bn_LIGHTING_01-19-09_C7_H3CIN8P.jpg An LED floodlight, such as this one from Lighting Science Group Corp., is much more efficient than other bulbs. "The way we interact with lighting systems is going to change dramatically." Terry McGowan American Lighting Association NEW YORK -- Light-bulb makers have revamped some plants, closed others and invested enormous sums of money in preparation for a technological shift that they think will revolutionize the industry. Yet the fact that the incandescent bulb, which has remained largely unchanged for more than a century, is about to be phased out by law is lost on the vast majority of the public. The phaseout of the iconic light bulb begins in three years as part of the energy bill signed in 2007. They will be edged out by light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, made from semiconductors, and compact fluorescent bulbs, known by their twisty, tubular shape. New regulations require, for example, that a typical 100-watt bulb be replaced by one that provides the same amount of light with 72 watts. Light bulbs will have to be even more efficient by 2020. The author of the energy bill's lighting provision, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said at the time that incandescents "will be virtually obsolete" by 2014. Osram Sylvania, one of the world's largest bulb producers, commissioned a survey to find out whether the public agreed, only to find out that 80 percent of Americans don't know the light bulb, as we know it, is on the way out. Major bulb manufacturers and retailers are meeting in Dallas this week to find ways to incorporate LEDs into more products, but they have been in transition mode for years. General Electric has closed lighting plants in Brazil, Mexico and the U.S., and Osram Sylvania is modifying existing plants. The European Union will start phasing out incandescent bulbs in September. Specialty incandescent bulbs -- such as those used in appliances -- will be available on a limited basis. The cost of switching over to LEDs and compact fluorescents could be a jolt to some consumers. Royal Philips Electronics introduced a line of LEDs in Europe last year for about $90. General Electric's base LED bulb sells for about $35 to $40. Prices will come down as technology improves, said Charlie Jerabek, president and chief executive of Osram Sylvania. And the new bulbs do eventually pay off, economically and in efficiency. A recent study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., estimates that global financial savings from LEDs could exceed $10 trillion within 10 years because they last much longer. Americans keep about 73 million lights on every day for a period of between four and 12 hours, with about 28 million powered by energy-efficient bulbs, according to the Department of Energy. The new lighting standards coming online are expected to lower consumers' annual electricity bills by $13 billion in 2020. Incandescent bulbs, invented by Thomas Edison more than 120 years ago, brighten a room by heating a metal filament in a vacuum, but they waste large amounts of heat. Compact fluorescent bulbs contain a gas that reacts with electricity to create invisible ultraviolet light. When that light hits material inside the bulb, it is converted into ordinary light. But some people find the light from compact bulbs harsh, and the fluorescents contain mercury, which is toxic, so they shouldn't simply be thrown in the trash. LEDs emit very little heat, do not contain mercury, are about 40 percent more efficient, and if installed correctly, last for more than 50,000 hours. For lighting engineers, LEDs have become the new playground. They can be designed to change colors and have multiple applications, from mood lighting in the living room to the harsh environment of a rock concert. "The way we interact with lighting systems is going to change dramatically," said Terry McGowan of the American Lighting Association. "It's limited only by your imagination, or your budget." And when this happens, I bet the rates for electric will skyrocket because we will use so much less. I mean when the industry is going to take a 13 Billion dollar cut, it has to be made up somewhere. I love how America works sometimes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 AEP is already raising shit 52%. That ought to about cover it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach1647545520 Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 LEDs FTW! I might start early with this switch over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakotart Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Yes I knew that. I need to get some incandescent bulbs because reading under this CF bulb is killing my eyes. I wonder if an LED would be better to read with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrousbird Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I wonder how much these LED lights are going to retail for. I see everyone going to CF, even though the color of the light never looks that good. I don't really like the light of CF lights. We have a shared hallway w/ 6 lights, and one of those bulbs would regularly burn out every 1-2 weeks. Replaced all with CF, and 3 months later all are going strong while using 1/4 the energy with the same amount of light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted January 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I wonder how much these LED lights are going to retail for. I see everyone going to CF, even though the color of the light never looks that good. I don't really like the light of CF lights. We have a shared hallway w/ 6 lights, and one of those bulbs would regularly burn out every 1-2 weeks. Replaced all with CF, and 3 months later all are going strong while using 1/4 the energy with the same amount of light. Royal Philips Electronics introduced a line of LEDs in Europe last year for about $90. General Electric's base LED bulb sells for about $35 to $40. Prices will come down as technology improves, said Charlie Jerabek, president and chief executive of Osram Sylvania. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Being forced to use digital tv. Being forced to use new lighting technology. Possible gov't programs to get rid of old cars. Evidence gathered illegally may be used in some cases now. Can't own certain guns. People fighting to add multiple dollars in taxes per gallon to gallon of gas. Company after company being bailed out. WTF is going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakotart Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Also, I believe that Canada is making the switch requirement way before 2014. California as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I see everyone going to CF, even though the color of the light never looks that good.I don't really like the light of CF lights. . If you don't like the color, the solution is simple...just get the tempeture that you like best. http://www.1000bulbs.com/ Is one of the best sites out there. I've replaced every light in our house over the past year. CF's aren't cheap, but they do use way less power, generate far less heat and color temp wise, you can get just about anything you would like. They have LED's too. Although I've not opted for those just yet. That will come though. The problem you're seeing is most of the CF's in the store are that shitty yellow/green hotel temp of 2700k. Or the opposite...they are 5000k blue like the ricer headlights I see everywhere. I prefer 3,500, nearly pure white...like a waiting room at the hospital for the garage and laundry room and pantry. Most everywhere else, I opt for 3100k, which is much nicer. Very slight tint of warmth without the shitty hotel look of yellow/green. Much easier to read by for sure. Just make sure you read the specs and pdf's of the bulbs they offer. They have tons of brands. Most all of ours, except the bathroom 4" globes fire up very, very fast. The bathroom ones take about 1-2 minutes to reach full brightness. Worse in the summer time when they are cold due to AC. However, they are not bad. It's actually nice in the morning not to get blinded right away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted January 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Also, I believe that Canada is making the switch requirement way before 2014. California as well. This is not a mandate for consumers to switch, there will no longer be old bulbs made for purchase...... Cali has nothing over Federal Law mandating Manufacturers will no longer make the old bulbs in the US or import them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrousbird Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 No one needs to buy them now, so $35-40 means nothing. How much will they be when incandescents are no longer an option? Being forced to use digital tv. WTF is going on? The only people forced to go digital are those on Farmer Vision. It's free, so can you really complain about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 No one needs to buy them now, so $35-40 means nothing. How much will they be when incandescents are no longer an option? The only people forced to go digital are those on Farmer Vision. It's free, so can you really complain about it? Farmer vision. Cute. A lot of the older people in my family still use rabbit ears on very old televisions. I don't care for a federal law mandating how a company can transmit its services to a customer. As far as these bulbs go... I have been buying efficient bulbs since my first apartment many moons ago. It's not a bad idea to use them, it's a bad idea for a federal law forcing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lustalbert Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Being forced to use digital tv. Being forced to use new lighting technology. Possible gov't programs to get rid of old cars. Evidence gathered illegally may be used in some cases now. Can't own certain guns. People fighting to add multiple dollars in taxes per gallon to gallon of gas. Company after company being bailed out. WTF is going on? I belive it is called socialisim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I belive it is called socialisim. Oh, that's right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrousbird Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Farmer vision. Cute. A lot of the older people in my family still use rabbit ears on very old televisions. I don't care for a federal law mandating how a company can transmit its services to a customer. Bandwidth. It's public airwaves. If an analog signal could be crammed into the same bandwidth the HD signals were in, I doubt there would be a problem. But it can't (at least to a point common TV's could tune into it). Analog is a HUGE waste of bandwidth. You can easily fit 12 standard definition channels digital channels in the same bandwidth as a single analog channel...even more depending on compression schemes. This is something that should have happened 10 years ago (when it was supposed to). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I know the why's behind the switch. The tv stations, tv makers, transmitter companies, etc should have switched their hardware and software on their own. It shouldn't be forced down people's throats by their federal government. I am all for digital tv, efficient lights, 60mpg cars... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrousbird Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 The problem is, that bandwidth is needed, and these TV stations sure as hell wouldn't change a damn thing until being pushed to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceGhost Posted January 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 So why the fuck does Wow have so few HD channels? Such bullshit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 LED bulbs are pretty expensive now. But I did put an LED/Solar floodlight set on my chicken coop. Cost me about $35 and I get light even now when the sun isn't up that much. LED is so energy efficient. I just switched my heating to all electric, now I have to put up solar panels to offset the cost of electricity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonneVille Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I know the why's behind the switch. The tv stations, tv makers, transmitter companies, etc should have switched their hardware and software on their own. It shouldn't be forced down people's throats by their federal government. It's the only way it was gonna happen at all. If it wasn't forced by law, then yeah, a lot of people might have made the switch to get the better picture/reception, but only if their local stations made the switch. There was no way in hell the stations were gonna switch unless forced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergwheel1647545492 Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Being forced to use digital tv. Being forced to use new lighting technology. Possible gov't programs to get rid of old cars. Evidence gathered illegally may be used in some cases now. Can't own certain guns. People fighting to add multiple dollars in taxes per gallon to gallon of gas. Company after company being bailed out. WTF is going on? CHANGE!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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