During our recent ATLA powwow with Maxwell, one of the topics discussed in detail was about the proposed legislation requiring CFL light bulbs and the ensuing reaction from you, our readers. Like many, we’re torn between being good shepards of our planet, while also wanting pleasant interior lighting. Right now, it’s definitely an issue of compromise we endorse, but with hopes of better solutions in the near future...a future which will likely include the technology of white light emitting diodes (LED).
On the Horizon: LED Lightbulbs
Treehugger points out a couple of bulbs that reveal what may be in store for consumers in the coming years; these geek endorsed bulbs put out 308 and 594 lumens of light using the cool temp, energy efficient technology, but these bulbs cost about $65. Ouch! Talk about a serious investment. But as someone notes in the thread accompanying the post, LEDs are likely about 5 years behind CFL technology, so in coming years we should see better light quality and lower costs. You could always give LED lighting a try with this 1.3 Watt 110V LED Light Bulb (60 Watt equiv) for $5.99. Until then, we're sticking with our hybrid CFL/incandescent indoor lighting mix.
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If the goal is to simply save energy, and not dictate to people what they can and can't have in their light sockets, then you're barking up the wrong tree.
In the theme of "let the market decide", a new billing plan by power companies is saving more energy than CF bulbs *ever* will.
It's demand based pricing.
When demand is high, power costs more to generate, and those with the special billing plan pay more for power consumed during those times.
According to economist Clark Howard in one of his shows earlier this week, the markets where this pricing plan has been introduced, the power savings has been phenomenal.
There's no reason why demand-based pricing can't be combined with the phase out of incandescent bulbs to further increase overall power savings.
I say slap a $5/bulb tax on standard-sized incandescent bulbs, starting sometime between 2010 and 2015, as compact fluorescent replacements are already widely available and generate substantially less pollution over their lifespans (even when they aren't recycled). By that time LED-based lighting will also have become practical and affordable, not to mention newer CF designs just now rolling out which are inherently dimmable (if I understand correctly, they don't use a traditional ballast, but conduct voltage thru the glass which can be adjusted to control brightness).
Keith,
Clark Howard isn't an economist. He's an author, talk show host, and columnist with a masters in business management. I'm a big fan, but he isn't an economist.
Jeff
ugh. I try really hard to be environmental in my choices but i can't stand these light bulbs. The light color is horrible. We do have them in our closets, but that's it. If somethign is going to be regulated, it should be manditory recycling. To me, there is no excuse.