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Twirly Light Bulbs Saga - so, they are not heaters, eh?
by Karlin
15 y
4,238 3 Messages Shown
Blog: Path of my Life
Twirly Light Bulbs Saga
It was being reported last week that the CFLs [Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs] were not the energy saving invention they were thought to be. The news is that the actual energy savings in producing light were offset by the loss of heat that incandescent lightbulbs produced, and that heat loss was being made up by burning more fossil fuels. "Energy Audits" showed that CFLs were not actually saving energy or emissions - so we were heating our homes with lightbulbs after all - who woulda thunk??
I have heard the 'anti-environmental jerks' laughing out loud when they heard this news, claiming it is just more evidence of the idiocy of greenies, and that all those stupid ideas to save the world are as worthless as the premise that the world needs saving at all.
However, I believe that the "twirly lightbulb saga" is not the failure that some are making it out to be, you just have to see it in the right light.
In fact, it was a monumentally successfull exersize. The fact that so many of us made the switch to CFLs is evidence that the masses are not only willing and able to make changes in our lives to address the global warming problem, but also THAT WE DID IT. We were asked to do our part to reduce emissions by reducing our energy use by switching to CFLs, and we did.
So when are "they" going to do their part?
The anti-enviros - the oil people, the conservatives, etc., thought they could stall real action to reduce emissions by making the public feel guilty about their role in producing greenhouse gas emissions.
So, when are the big polluters going to do their part?
Now that we have shown our willing-and-ableness to make changes, when will the coal fired power plant investors start to put money into renewable energy? When will the oil importers do their part for the environment and the economy by finding way to reduce our oil use in favor of electricity? Where are our electric cars??
It wasn't even our idea to use CFLs. Real environmentalists allways knew it was a small idea that would not have much of an impact on global warming; it was the "make the public feel guilty" people that pushed the CFLs, and the corporate sector that produces hardware items that smelled a quick profit in it. They just cannot help themselves about feeling smug that the twirly lightbulb idea was not so great after all, even if it was actually THEIR idea in the first place!!
In the end though, it really does make sense to continue using the CFLs, please don't give up yet. Energy savings are a good thing, and it will all make sense when we have replaced most of the fossil fuel energy sources with clean electricity from renewables.
If we need heat, then use heaters, not lightbulbs, because we can find more efficient ways to heat buildings than with lighbulbs - such as geothermal energy, which makes so much sense, and dollars over time. If we are heating with electricity, as I am in my little apartment, with clean hydro-electric, the baseboards are on the floor where heat is needed, and the lightbulbs are up in the ceiling, and I don't need heat up there. So I won't be going back to incandescant lightbulbs anytime soon... besides, I kinda like the light that the twirly bulbs give off, I have become accustomed to it, like I knew I would.
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Karlin
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- Re:
Twirly Light Bulbs Saga - so, they are not heaters, eh?
by zuuch
15 y
1,815 1 of 1 (100%)
Hey Karlin
I appreciate that your heart is in the right place with regards to environmental integrity.
However it seems you may not be aware of other threads on this site on the subject of mercury toxicity.
Having been made extremely unwell by exposure to emissions from broken cfl bulbs while working in property development I would very strongly advise anyone against using any kind of bulb containing mercury. If left undetected these products can leave buildings contaminated for decades and cause a wide range of severe illnesses.
Bulbs don't often get broken but hey it happens. Any potential saving in energy cost for years would be wiped out by even one breakage. It can cost upwards of 2000 dollars to get your house properly detoxed if it happens. Why take the risk ?
If you have any installed in your house or office remove them and wrap them in very thick layers of newspaper, then several layers of plastic or other airtight container. The trash men don't want to breathe it in either. If you break one in your house you should evacuate the house and get advice from an environmental protection agency of some sort.
Fortunately the industry has already responded by developing low energy LED bulbs and anyone who wants to save money on juice should move straight onto those instead which are mercury free.
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zuuch
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- Re:
Twirly Light Bulbs Saga - so, they are not heaters, eh?
by Karlin
15 y
1,901 0 of 1 (0%)
Yes, I agree with you, the mercury is a big issue with CFLs, and I guess I was remiss in not mentioning it.
Again, it was not the environmentalists who were saying that twirly lightbulbs would save the planet, it was mostly a government and hardware store initiative.
Your info on taking them out is good, I have one CFL with a loose connection where the glass goes in the ceramic part, and will DEFINATELY do as you suggest - thanks.
I am very sorry to hear you health has taken a dive. I also have health problems, and in fact they could very well be due to mercury exposures!!
LEDs are a better light anyways, yup.
Thanks for your reply, and for reading my blog!
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Karlin
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