engadget.com — Following on from Australia's pledge to phase out the usage of incandescent bulbs, the 27 leaders of the European Union have decided that all member states will have to use energy efficient lighting before 2010.
Mar 10, 2007 View in Crawl 4
Closed AccountMar 12, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------tehbored wrote:"I wonder what Thomas Edison would say."----------------------------------------------------------------------Probably something like"It took you people over about a hundred f**king years to change technologies. WFT?!
magicjavaMar 12, 2007
P.S. Disposal of these bulbs is not the only concern. If the bulbs break you'll be exposed to the mercury they contain. Here again is that info from the government about mercury exposure:Quote - "Exposures to very small amounts of these compounds can result in devastating neurological damage and death. For fetuses, infants and children, the primary health effects of mercury are on neurological development. Even low levels of mercury exposure such as result from mother's consumption methylmercury in dietary sources can adversely affect the brain and nervous system. Impacts on memory, attention, language and other skills have been found in children exposed to moderate levels in the womb."Source : - <a class="user" href="http://orf.od.nih.gov/Environmental+Protection/Mercury+Free/MercuryHealthHazards.htm">http://orf.od.nih.gov/Environmental+Protection/Mercury+Free/MercuryHealthHazards.htm</a>
davidgxMar 12, 2007
"To reduce wasted energy. I'm sick of this quasi-conspiracy theory bulls**t.If you can make a post or comment on a public website saying your government is over-oppresive, they aren't over-oppresive."No kidding. People don't realize, or just wont accept the fact that corporations can only ever be counted on to do one thing, whatever will increase their profits. Evil? No, it's just the nature of business. Change has to be forced, kicking and screaming all the way.
brhbMar 12, 2007
This is really great, except, what about the people who don't have fireplaces, or wood burning stoves, gas or oil heating either.They use *electricity* to heat their homes. An old fashioned lightbulb is a really efficient electric heater. 95% or so, with 5% for light. Anyway, these people go and pay 10 times as much for a new lightblub, with an energy expensive manufacture process, full of mercury and all the other crap, giving them some horrible unnatural blue light. Then they go and turn up their electric heater a touch, and use just as much, if not more, electricity than before, to make up for the reduction in heating. GREAT. And when their done, you get the added bonus of all that birth defect causing chemical being released into the enviroment, because most will never be properly disposed. I'm thinking of small shops, small houses, places without boilers. A similar idea applies to people using electric immersion heaters as a method of heating their premises.I'm guessing it will still reduce overall carbon emissions.(and before some idiot replies with something about oil or gas being a more efficient way to heat your home, I know. You have not understood me, go away and think, before wasting everyones time by replying.)
jabelarMar 12, 2007
I'm a big proponent of free market, but there are some markets where government regulation is needed: a) for infrastructure projects (including electricity), b) for technology markets where big investments have to be made with high risk (like pharmaceuticals), c) products that affect ecology, health, safety.
bon555Mar 13, 2007
In my situation, the compact fluorescents were used in an open configuration (i.e. lamps with shades). The bases of the CFL’s were also vented which may have contributed to their demise in a high humidity environment. As noted above, colder temps will slow the use of CFL’s before anything else. Many people live in areas where the temps are very low during the winter months. Any unheated porches, garages, boat houses (where bubblers must be used to keep water from freezing), unheated barns, walk in freezers and coolers etc will still require incandescent bulbs. LEDs may be one option, but being low voltage semiconductor devices, I’m not sure how well they will handle magnetically induced voltage spikes.
johngalt01Mar 13, 2007
When will we hear the environmentalist warning bell about all the Mercury vapor entering the atmosphere and water supply when all these compact florescent bulbs start to break and get disposed of in normal garbage landfills?
troywraggApr 10, 2007
This is a great article showing that we will need government support in order to make the "green movement" carry forward. When we will get it is the real story. It isn't about Global Warming or Resource Depletion, its about the collection of issues currently harming our environment. Whether it's light bulbs or buildings, every little bit helps.At The Mantria Group, L.P. we strive everyday to build high quality eco-communities, understanding that being green means it was interal to the design from the very beginning, not an aftermarket add-on used for enhanced marketing.If you are interested in learning more about The Mantria Group, L.P., please feel free to contact me anytime at troy@mantria.com-Troy WraggChief Environmental OfficerThe Mantria Group, L.P.
cclapperMay 20, 2007
I think inefficient lightbulbs are road to hell. Why we can't just switch to better ones? couple of bucks want make a difference in our pockets.<a class="user" href="http://www.switch-utilities.com">http://www.switch-utilities.com</a>