I use a CFL for my front porch that is colored yellow. Yellow does not attract bugs. They cannot even see the light. If I do not do this, I will be walking through a veil of bugs. It also attracts gecko to the area for their dinner. I use one that comes on at night and goes off after 4 hours, by use of a light timer.
This CFL is 10 watts. I would not do this every night with a 40 watt bulb. It's got to be cheaper to run one for 10 watts. I know 10 watts relative to 40 watts does not sound like much. It is probably psychological. It is not the environment that I'm concerned about here, it's my wallet. In reality, the cost of the CFL and it's lifetime probably does not merit my frugality.
I also use them throughout the house, where don't need a reading light. I don't care what they say, fluorescence is not the same light as incandescence for reading. I run some of these floor lamps for about 6 hours per night. They are mostly ambient. Again, it must be cheaper to run the lower wattage.
The only risk I see, is having mercury in my home. But I consider this a small risk.
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- Jim
Life is just one damned thing after another - Elbert Hubbard
The only risk I see, is having mercury in my home. But I consider this a small risk.
Obviously we need to be concerned about our environment and some of the points the author made have some validity but on the whole he comes off sounding like Chicken Little running around screaming the sky is falling. I’m not sure how he determined that more CO2 is generated in their manufacture then is saved by their lowered power requirements but I assume he would like to see all CO2 eliminated. Of course if we were able to get rid of all this nasty CO2 from our air then what will the plants “breath”? Then without plants where does that leave us?
Sounds like he is an incandescent light bulb manufacture who is about to be put out of business. Of course this idea to ban the incandescent light bulb is equally absurd and makes as much sense as banning the CFL.
Now if this guy is really as concerned about all this pollution as he appears to be then I would suggest the only way to show his true commitment is to change his life style and find a nice remote cave to live in while going out and forging for fruits and berries during the day.
Sure, if you don't have kids throwing things around in the house like they're not supposed to, then there's little risk actually.
Granted, individual bulbs don't contain much mercury. My issue is the amount of households using these bulbs & not discarding them properly. If it's 'just one bulb' we all know it's gonna go in the regular garbage. Times that by a neighborhood, the town, the state... So what's going to happen once all this mercury builds up in the dumps?
CFLs need to go into toxic waste so it can be recycled, but it's doubtful most people will go out of their way.
I don�t think I would worry too much about the CFL as I suspect that they will they will have a rather short life cycle as I see them being replaced with LED�s in a relatively short time frame.
The LED�s that are available today are nothing like the ones that were available just a few years ago. These new ones are capable of producing some serious amount of light. For example I recently helped a company make a prototype model for a trade show of a street lamp!
Below is a picture of my milling machine to which I have added new LED work lights. The room was somewhat darkened and all the light for this picture came from 3one watt LED�s. While this picture doesn�t show it real well there is actually plenty of light.
Also the standard 4 foot florescent tube has as direct replacement an LED version. It not as bright as the standard one, yet, but just give it a little more time.
I have an emergency flashlight, comes on when the power goes off. It has 3 leds. Plenty for when I need it. But LED still is not good enough for reading or close work. Great for ambient light. It is has an eerie whiteness, like the fluorescence. The LED TV technology is great. Companies seem to be working quickly to get to LED lighting, but the early ones will be pricey. I have to wait until others pay for that technology.
I swear, if all my internet options were cut off with the exception of one, I'd choose reading your posts as ya never know what you're gonna post next, but it's usually something fascinating! LOL
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Scientest
I don’t think I would worry too much about the CFL as I suspect that they will they will have a rather short life cycle as I see them being replaced with LED’s in a relatively short time frame.
The LED’s that are available today are nothing like the ones that were available just a few years ago. These new ones are capable of producing some serious amount of light. For example I recently helped a company make a prototype model for a trade show of a street lamp!
I swear, if all my internet options were cut off with the exception of one, I'd choose reading your posts as ya never know what you're gonna post next, but it's usually something fascinating! LOL
It is my goal to try and keep you pleasantly amused and entertained.
If you want to try an LED light just google LED�s and you will find a bunch to choose from, but as jfh mentioned the newest ones are pricey. However they do have a very long life like that of a CFL. Well maybe not like some of the newer el-cheapo CFL�s that seem to have a rather short life.
For what is worth they go about producing light in a similar manner as a florescent.
Their emitter starts out by producing UV light, but without the needing to use mercury vapor.
Then a florescent material converts the UV into visible light. The �color� of the white light is determined by a mixture of florescent materials.
Also the LED unlike the CFL does not care if it is turned on and off frequently.
I like my led lights... I have two in my living area (I have a one room studio apartment). At first when I put them in, I was thinking they arent very bright, but I guess my eyes have gotten use to them, because I dont have any problems at all... I will stick with the leds... I have never been a fan of the cfl's.
to save money tho, I would love to get the solar tubes.... those skylight type things that let you light up your house with the sun.... I would love to not have to use light bulbs during the day!!!
__________________ God is and all is well
~John Greenleaf Whittier~
I like my led lights... I have two in my living area (I have a one room studio apartment). At first when I put them in, I was thinking they arent very bright, but I guess my eyes have gotten use to them, because I dont have any problems at all... I will stick with the leds... I have never been a fan of the cfl's.
to save money tho, I would love to get the solar tubes.... those skylight type things that let you light up your house with the sun.... I would love to not have to use light bulbs during the day!!!
I'm still using regular lightbulbs, but will have to try led lights. Yep, skylights are nice, my shed has one. Wish it was in the kitchen...
I bought 4 of the old fashioned 60watt light bulbs at Kroger last Thursday - 4 for $1.00 sale.....Everyday Living
brand...probably a Kroger brand.
The small lamp I use to read by on my bed uses a lamp shade that hooks on or over the bulb it self.
Kroger still has a huge supply of GE, Sylvania, etc. old fashioned bulbs in 40, 60, and 100 watts for sale.
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