There is a big push for people switch home lighting from incadescent (good ole lightbulbs) to fluorescent?
Answer:
I heard about these long ago, before the campain, but I move a lot and at the time they were $7 per and too much of a hastle to pack.
It's more financially feasable now but now I am concerned about the quality of the light. Fluorecents, I think, intensify SAD.
Besides, I tend to wake and sleep with the sun so I don't use a lot of electricity for lighting.
Long time ago. It's a pain to change bulbs, especially in high places. The fluorescent last longer.
It's a little bit of an investment. I don't think we switched just because of the whole "green" campaign. But I do think we switched because Walmart had a big display on "green" items. We walked past and picked up a few light bulbs. Tried them out, picked up a few more. If you add $7 to your weekly shopping bill, your whole house will be switched over in about a month. (depending of course on the size of your house).
I think the stores have the largest ability to push the green movement. By selling organic, environmentally friendly products in high traffic areas. (next to the registers, at the end of the aisles, in a display)
If Walmart can convince just 20% of the people who shop there to switch to energy efficient lightbulbs, can you imagine the effect on the earth? And that's only 20% of one store!
I've had 4' fluorescent tubes in my house ever since, in rooms where the light is on most of the times, savings on electricity are evident, somewhere in the 40% range. Changing to fluorescent bulbs in a bathroom or basement wouldn't make any sense, since the light would only be on in there for a few minutes. Another advantage of fluorescent lights is that they do not emit the incredible amount of heat like regular light bulbs do.
Roughly 75% of the energy consumed by incandescent bulbs is wasted in useless heat, which is OK during winter but not during summer.
In Australia this push has been on for many years and is reaching a climax...
When the compact fluro's are given away free (many programs do this in Oz) it works very well !
Otherwise, yes, it's a financial struggle to effect 'bulb change'. The upfront cost as you said to replace all globes is the perceived obstacle.
However, I believe the primary obstacle is poor design of buildings that created the need for such a large volume of globes in the first place.
'Skylights' and clerestory windows allow Sunlight to replace about half of the globes in a house . The upfront cost could again be a stumbe if you are retro-fitting, but these simple design solutions need to be done as a matter of standard design practice - all new houses ought to have none of these lighting issues.
Besides reducing electricity (and hopefully the fossil fuels/nukesused to make it) the use of sunlight also reduces the residents electricity bill, and improves wellbeing (see business research on 'Green Buildings').
So, stay in the same building for as long as possible to get the financial benefits of good lighting design.
The architecture and construction companies in Oz have been woefully slow to 'see the light', so our State Governments have had to set up standards.
Progress is happening. I ask all Australians and North Americans to find a role to play in this progress.
All most all of our bulbs have been replaced, except for the one that's on a dimer switch, it won't work with a florescent.
I own an apartment building that has lights on 24hs a day and the light bulbs last 2 years which is much longer than the regular ones that I was changing every 5-6 months. I got my bulbs from the 99cent store 2 for 99 for the 60 or 75 watt and then99 for the 100 watt. IKEA also has them pretty inexpensive also. You can't use them on dimmer switches or any flushmount lights but outside lights and lamps are great.
I have been using them for 5 years now and love them. Hoping one day there will be some for the dimmer ones but glad that there are more of a variety then 5 years ago. It is worth the switch. Check you local energy company to see if they have a deal for you also. I know my neighbor got a box of 20 bulbs for free. I am in CA so we need them here.
I switched from incadescent to fluorescent many years ago. The idea of switching was introduced by my uncle who is a contractor. Many skyscrapers were looking for ways to cut down on their electric bills. At the time, these were unknown to the majority of residents but were a big in commercial properties. I'm glad to see that they are available pretty much at all major stores at one's convenience.
CF bulbs are getting cheaper now because the greed mongers have gotten the most profit from the bulbs already.
much better than incans.
I've had my apartment switched over for a few months now. I haven't noticed a huge drop in my energy bill, but I feel better about it since I am helping the environment. :)
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