Posted on 01/25/2011 1:42:00 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Let me preface the following with the qualification that I don’t like federal mandates for these things. However, I adopted these things (CFL’s) back when they were $5 a pop, without the subsidy. The reason? The payback threshold for these bulbs is pretty low. A 100W traditional bulb-equivalent CFL uses 26W of energy. That’s 74W of savings. If they last 1 year, a mere 2 hours a day of usage results in the full recovery of the bulb’s cost, assuming power costs $0.10 per kWH (74 x 2 x 365 / 1000W x .10) = $5.475.
They don't last anything close to 6 years. When they first came on the market several years ago I bought into the hype and installed them in my house. They're garbage. They start dimming within a few months and after a year or so (if they last that long) give off about half the sickly yellow light they did when new. They fail within 2 years on average if you can stand them that long. I replaced them all with regular incandescent bulbs as fast as I could.
I went back to Edison bulbs and saved the money.
Mine stash is in my will.
They seem to either burn out in a few months or last several years. I’ve had one burning 24/7/365 for 6 years in my dark basement.
I do have a nice hoard of incandescents though.
In places that get snow and freezing rain (probably freezing water
from burst water mains, too), the LED traffic lights don't put out
enough heat to keep themselves clear. I think they had to add
some sort of heater.
If you were in California, the higher tier rates for most are more than $0.30 per kwhhr.
Oh. my.
What a joke. I could have told them that. Do not ever purchase a CFL spotlight. All it is, is a regular CFL bulb placed inside of a spotlight envelope. So, heat builds up inside the envelope, and the CFL bulb burns out prematurely. I had this experience with CFL spotlights purchased at Costco in a three-pack. Purchased two of them before I figured out what was going on.
Another fraud is the LEDs used to replace the bulbs used in traffic signals. They cost many times more but here in CA, LEDs are being used because they supposedly last far longer. Well, now that they have gotten widespread usage and been in for a while, one frequently sees a traffic signal with several burnt out LEDs. What a joke.
Better go out and purchase lots of incandescent 3 way bulbs as they will be off the market by next year.
Incandescent bulb: 100 W - no ice
LED Bulb 10 Watts - ice buildup.
Solution - add 100 Watt heaters.
>> >> Cutting expected life prediction by 1/3 raises the cost by 1/3.
>> That means that...
The cost increase is 50%, not 33%. Factor in inflation, and the cost further increases.
You need 1.5 6-year bulbs to last 9 years.
[The shorter-than-expected lifetime was due largely to people turning CFL lights on and off]
Damn those inconsiderate people, damn them for upsetting the Green applecart by turning lights on and off!
I could have told them.
Quote of the day.
The black market will compensate.. I reckun by now some folks have closet and basements full of old fashioned incandescent bulbs .. I’m not up to a cabinetful .. yet.. I hear the 100 watters are the first destined to hit the OFF switch here in Caliphonia
Not quite true though that was the impression given by the media. Merchants can still legally sell all they have warehoused but can't reorder them. Soon we'll be smuggling 100W bulbs from neighboring states or Mexico. I'm sure a thriving Black Market will quickly emerge.
That was the other guys numbers. I didn’t double-check him.
So, exactly how else would you use a light bulb?
and the fact that CFL bulbs were often put in disadvantageous locations like bathrooms or recessed lighting
And what are you supposed to do in Bathrooms, or with recessed lighting that's already a part of the house?
Not the Bureaucrat's problem, apparently. Pols are idiots.
They could have saved a lot of time and money if they had read my posting here a few years ago. I and several others said that the danmed bulbs burn out fast, with a pop and a spark, and can start a fire. They don’t fit in all fixtures. They are no good outside where they are subject to extremes of cold.
Besides, the light is cold and harsh. Like the nanny state.
OK. With all your corrections, the cost goes up to say $5.
Factor in inflation of electricity prices and your savings goes to over $300!!!!!!!!! Still a deal!
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