RSS FeedsA Case For Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Jan 03, 2007
I know this subject has got nothing to do with content writing, copywriting, or even blogging, but it impacts us all and if it impacts us all, I think there’s no harm discussing it here. As you can read it on Seth’s blog, the CF bulbs are the most environment friendly lighting devices and still very few people use them. He says:
- A FC bulb in its lifetimes saves you $66.
- It reduces the amount of mercury in the atmosphere.
- It helps you help reduce the greenhouse gases
In the American case (in India a majority of people don’t even know what compact fluorescent light bulbs are) the FC bulbs can even cut down the quantity of oil they have to import. So why don’t people use them? I think, first of all, they are a lot costlier compared to the normal bulbs. Take for instance in India, a normal bulb costs around Rs. 11 (approx. $0.25) and a CF bulb costs a minimum Rs. 90 (approx. $2) depending on its shape and power. So when an average person (and I don’t think an average person thinks about environment on a regular basis) goes to purchase a new bulb to him or her the regular bulb appeals more. He or she isn’t far sighted enough to calculate the long-term benefit, even economic. He or she is more interested in today, and today, Rs. 11 seems a lot less than Rs. 90.
Secondly, people don’t take proactive steps unless there is a matter of life and death. There is this deadly inertia that plagues the society at large and keeps us from thinking about the most pressing concern: the environment. In our everyday short-sighted pursuits we forget that we’ve got just one earth to live and just one atmosphere to screw up with. Once we lose it, we lose it forever.
People are not going to change; so how do we make sure more and more people use the CF bulbs in their houses?
- Make them cheap
- Make them easily available
- Make it easy to install them
- Promote them aggressively
- Gradually eliminate the regular bulbs from the market
- And make them more bright
The last point has a reason. We use the CF bulbs and fluorescent tubes in almost all the rooms (I think, not in the toilets) and I’ve noticed they are not very bright. A normal bulb is a lot brighter than a CF bulb, so instead of one, you have to use two, or even three CF bulbs in a single room to make it properly lit.
Once these things are taken care of, I think people will start using the CF bulbs without even realizing it.
Technorati Tags: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, cf bulbs, seth godin, environment, pollution
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January 7th, 2007 at 12:39 am
I, too, have installed CFs in and around my house. As a result of not reading the fine print on the packaging I installed several in receptacles that were controlled by a dimmer switch. That wasn’t a good idea. Three lamps at $2 (or more) apiece made a noise like, “phhht” and came to an early demise.
Regardless of my own ineptitude, my experience has been that not every CF lamp will last the advertised 5-10 years. When I first installed CFs I found myself replacing some of them, at $2 (or more) apiece, only weeks, not years, later. On the other hand, some are still beaming dependably. Unstable technology? Quality control?
Replacing comparatively expensive lamps can be mentally hard to justify when you can see the immediate savings in a fifty cent bulb verses a $2 (or more) bulb. And I don’t think I’m the odd-man-out for not convincing myself that purchasing yet another CF for $2 (or more) will be to my advantage because I will eventually install a CF that will last for years and years while it fulfills its meager need for electricity as if sipping electricity fron a saucer. I’ll not hire an electrician to confirm the lamp’s power frugalness but will assume the long-term savings are, indeed, there.
Certainly CFs around the house are a good aid to learning patience. They’ll teach you that good things, or at least sufficient lumens, come those who wait. When CFs are installed in conventional, non-dimmer-switched, receptacles, and they’re dutifully performing as advertised for years and years, one must still accustom himself to the brief interval between the time the switch is activated and the CF actually turns itself on - dimly. That’s not a problem unless you’re like 98% of Americans and expect 60 watts worth of light to immediately burst forth from a lamp that’s advertised to be the equivalent of a 60 watt lamp. However, within the minute the CF will be glowing as advertised, possibly for 5, 7, even 10 years. And for only $2 (or more) per lamp.
Then there is the gorilla-proof packaging…
January 8th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Hi Roger.
You are right about the CF bulbs not being as reliable as they are claimed to be, but I think we can spend the extra money just because they are good for the environment…in case they really are. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
January 8th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
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January 19th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Even with the drawbacks, CFL’s are reported to use 75-80% less energy and last 5-10 years. Some people report that they don’t care for the light they emit, but its a good buy for low-traffic areas (garage, halls, utility room, etc.)
Take the consumer out of the equation - - imagine the energy savings if corporate america made the switch. They are the ones using the most energy. While wal-mart and GE have jumped on board with promotional efforts, I suspect there to be an increase in CFL popularity…even if the companies are using the product as a promotional tool to show their “green-ness”.
Here is Ann Law’s post on the subject: http://www.bizmology.com/2007/01/19/seeing-cfls-in-a-new-light/)
January 21st, 2007 at 9:49 am
Hi Daysha, I totally agree. The corporations can make a huge impact. In fact I love that Shell ad where they promote the wind energy. You are also right about using the CF bulbs in low-traffic areas. Thanks for the link.
February 16th, 2007 at 10:42 am
I have been in the lighting business for 20 years and have witnessed the evolution of the CFL. What I have found that the key to liking the light is directly associated to the brand bulb you buy. It is all about color temperature. Some brands cast a “white” light that is not easy on the eyes - what you want to look for are bulbs that truly produce 2700K.
We sell nearly every brand out there but I can absolutely say that what you want in your house is TCP brand. TCP is the largest producer of CFL’s in the world and from our experience as a distributor; we believe they are the closest to producing true 2700K. Whether you buy them from us is your choice but it makes me sick when I go into someone’s house and their yellow walls turned green - simply because of the color temp that the CFL produce.
Another option is Cold Cathode technology. These are lower wattage bulbs that produce a nice yellow light and come in a variety of designs. They work great in lamps that you want to leave on all the time. I have them in lamps in our house and they never go off… and I can unscrew them at any point with our burning my hand. They take a while to warm up but they are great for the environment and they cast a good light. Here is a link if you want to check them out.
http://www.soslightbulbs.com/shop/customer/home.php?cat=1703
We all want everyone to convert to CFL’s or LED’s or even the newest technology Cold Cathode Lamps BUT we all need to have a good experience when we plug them in AND actually like the light output. If any of you need or want to learn more go to http://www.soslightbulbs.com then click the home icon in the center of the page - we have put some pretty informative stuff on there, even a energy savings calculator.
I know that this sounds like I am selling BUT I want everyone to have a good experience with a conversion to low wattage CFL’s whether or not they buy them from SOS is really up to you. I think Home Depot is carrying a decent line of CFL’s that we have tested if you would prefer to buy them there. What is ultimately important is that we all try to conserve where we can and be less dependant on power companies to produce more and more energy through environmentally unfriendly means such as coal plants.
http://www.SOSLightBulbs.com
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I’ve bought them, paid more $$ for them. The light output is less, and it looks bad, a strange cold hue. Then they stopped working very quickly!
So they saved me lots of electricity, but only because the didn’t work LOL!
I’ve seen the light, no more for me! I know that you socialists will try to force them on people against their will (like you do with all your schemes) but you need to face it, if they don’t succeed in the marketplace, they can’t do any good.
February 24th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
here is a really good way to get more people to use compact fluorescent light bulbs!
A buddy of mine, who is a teacher, came across this company that works with schools to do environmentally friendly fund raisers. Not only do the schools make extra money but they help the environment and make people more aware of global warming as well. They also offer lesson plans for teachers who are interested in teaching their students about the environment as well as lesson plans for An Inconvenient Truth with Vice President Al Gore. Their main product is compact fluorescent light bulbs which save a ton of energy and money compared with incandescent bulbs. They are called One Plant Fund raising and their website is http://www.oneplanetfundraising.com. Definitely worth checking out!
February 26th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Regarding “No CFL for Me”
I would suggest that you give it another try with another brand. A fairly good plan is to only change “can” lights when they go out one at a time. That way you don’t have to suddenly adjust to a slight color shift.
If the bulbs are not used on a dimmer and fail prematurely - take them back and get a refund. If we have a customer that has an early bulb go out prematurely we replace it… Most retailers should.
The CFL promotion is not a scheme… it is simply an option for home owners that are tired of wasteful uses of energy.
I hope this encourages you to give it another try.
http://www.SOSLightBulbs.com
March 7th, 2007 at 2:57 am
Thanks for every body’s input. I know it’s very late, but I would like to make a comment on what “No CFL for me” said. Although I agree that these bulbs don’t emit enough light and they do need a technological, environment friendly upgrade, you seem as if you do everybody a favor by trying to conserve power. The world is livable today because a few people dedicate their lives to preserving it whether one agrees or not. There are thousands of people quietly saving our forests, rivers, grasslands and oceans, and in one way or the other we owe our existence to them.
March 9th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
I am not against CFL usage (hell, I have been using them for many years now) but as people have realized already, they are not perfect and good for all situations. But here is something to think about. When they burn out, what do you do with them? Do you throw them in the garbage? Did you know that they contain mercury? So obviously they need to be recycled. Have you ever opened one to see how it was made? They contain a printed circuit board and some electronics. The glass tube actually uses more glass than an ordinary bulb. They also have plastic parts. So think about the big picture and specifically about how much energy to make them and recycle them it takes. Consider also the pollution associated with the aboves (water, soil, air, etc). I think the end result, which is saving you a little energy) only represents the tip of the iceberg. This is not clean (or green) technology.
March 12th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Ray, you’ve raised an interesting point here. Thanks for bringing this up.
May 27th, 2007 at 11:37 am
are dimmer lights good for teh enviroment or they don’t help at all becuase i’m doing a project and i have to know thanks…
July 30th, 2007 at 10:32 am
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September 11th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I’m concerned that these compact fluorescent light bulbs may backfire on us all!
Their mercury content and contamination potentials for impacts on neurological quality of life and reproductive integrity are scary enough. Then there’s their Radio Frequency Interference impact on migraine and tinnitus sufferers.
If the compact fluorescent light bulbs become mandatory replacements of incandescent bulbs, then what options will sufferers of RFI-induced or RFI-sensitive migraines or tinnitus have? Will we have to choose between oil lamps and battery operated LED lamps?
As a tinnitus sufferer, if I’m fortunate to be having a symptom-free day, I try to avoid buildings equipped with compact fluorescent light bulbs. If I’m already experiencing tinnitus effects, then the bulb units associated loud “hissing” keep my visits to such places as short as possible. Unfortunately, I’m finding that more and more businesses are installing these “hissing” noise-makers.
If enough tinnitus sufferers make their CF bulb experiences known, then maybe governments and businesses will either allow exceptions or promote alternatives.
In all, I think governments and environmental groups have jumped to an ill-advised and narrow-scope conclusion in adopting these CF bulbs. they could easily prove to be a modern mercury-contamination/RFI counterpart of the lead water pipes that poisoned the citizens of old Rome!
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
SOSLightBulbs.com recently got this press release concerning mercury content in CFL’s. We thought this could be of interest to your readers.
———————————-
Use even less mercury with MaxLite’s™ low mercury compact fluorescent lamps. Reinforcing its goal of producing the lowest mercury CFLs, MaxLite™ was one of the first in the industry to participate in the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association’s (NEMA) initiative, “Voluntary Commitment on Mercury in CFLs.” Participants in the program pledge to limit the mercury content of their self-ballasted CFLs (residential use only) with less than 25 watts to 5 mg. and those with 25-40 watts to 6 mg. per bulb. MaxLite™ CFLs utilize only 1.2 to 2.5mg of mercury per lamp; half the amount present on the tip of a ball point pen, as compared to typical CFLS containing 4 mg. of mercury.
Always ahead of the curve, MaxLite™ has created a unique procedure to control the amount of liquid mercury in its compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). In its burner production, MaxLite™ accuracy is achieved by the utilization of a sealed tool akin to a medical injection tube. This permits defined quantities of liquid mercury to enter it each time the fluid is drawn. Then the identical amount of liquid mercury is infused into the burner. One amalgam dice is placed into the mercury control of the amalgam lamps. The amount of mercury is also fixed as the amalgam dice’s weight is controlled by amalgam manufacturers.
The low mercury quantity is the least amount MaxLite™ deems feasible for a compact fluorescent lamp to maintain a long and productive life.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Don’t believe the manufacture’s claim of lasting 5 to 7 years. I’ve been using CFLs about 5 years and the average life of a CFL is about 6 months. This provides a slightly better that break evan over incandescent light bulbs.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
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June 12th, 2008 at 1:17 am
I just replaced every bulb in our house during our remodel-6 months ago- and they both quit in the master bath..what the fuck?!
this is shit.
Warren
Smoke more pot please.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Anyone with children, a wife, pets or who have friends that visit their home are insane to bring a CF bulb into their environment. What next? Mandate the use of asbestos because it is greener than Styrofoam? There is already enough poison in this world to kill us all, now we have congress dictating that we must add to our risks. What people continue to take for granted is that all of this unscientific and un-provable crap about humans causing global warming is a given. It boggles my mind. Are we all nuts to be lead around so easily? There is just as much evidence that the Sun is going through a regular warming cycle as the evidence that warming is caused by greenhouse gas. In fact, the only provable case for global warming happened in the dark ages when most greenhouse gases were created by human and animal flatulence. Maybe people ate more beans back then. The problem with the “warming sun cycle” theory is that is not in the financial interests of the mainstream. Whenever you go against the mainstream, you will be streamrolled. I have no quarrel with people who want to use CFs. These are the sheep being herded around by the Global warming self interest consortium and if they feel good about reducing GHGas so be it. Let them. I will not use them and will fight against this law until I die. Besides, I don’t like the light, I have tinnitus, they cost too much, I had one almost blow up on me and they don’t last as long as regular bulbs.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:08 am
I am astounded at the naivity of the ‘green brigade’. I have CCFL’s in the workplace and have just taken them out and replaced them with real lights. Yes - CCFL’s use less energy but, on average, they last for about three weeks!! Do the sums . . the cost of these over a year far outweighs the cost of electricity and the harm to the environment by the increased numbers made and dumped is massive compared to the cost of a single incandescent every year. OH. . . of course, we have to clear the room, put them in two plastic bags and drive 50 miles to the nearest dump to dispose of them correctly. . . even more CO2 to do that. It’s time people started using their calculators and a little common sense than falling in line with the sheep (my thanks to George Sorrel). For God’s sake STOP THIS MINDLESS LUNACY before we destroy the world we all want to save!!!
September 10th, 2008 at 8:51 am
That’s strange Jim. Every since we switched over to CFL’s, we’ve changed just one bulb. It’s been more than a year.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:08 am
The ones I have had to change are in the rest rooms - switched on and off every few minutes. They can’t cope with that. Maybe I should get everybody to leave them on all the time - waste energy, save bulbs.
Many thanks for your input, Amrit. I really do want to save energy but am close to being persuaded that green = scam.
September 20th, 2008 at 1:04 am
CFL’s don’t do well in humid environments because they create a high voltage inside.
In your bathroom, you can use the old lamps or leave your CFLs on all the time (hopefully, their warmth will keep them dry.)
For sure, the cheaper CFL’s wear out quicker. Difficult to say whether the high quality lights are worth the price.