Posted on 05/18/2011 5:44:26 AM PDT by Red in Blue PA
NEW YORK – Two leading makers of lighting products are showcasing LED bulbs that are bright enough to replace energy-guzzling 100-watt light bulbs set to disappear from stores in January.
Their demonstrations at the LightFair trade show in Philadelphia this week mean that brighter LED bulbs will likely go on sale next year, but after a government ban takes effect.
The new bulbs will also be expensive — about $50 each — so the development may not prevent consumers from hoarding traditional bulbs.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
If people want to buy CFLs, they should be able to buy them.
But, I think that it's foolish for the government to mandate that people spend 10-20 times as much for the same (debate aside) result, when a perfectly serviceable, cheaper, option is available.
Face it, if I'm laid off from work, and it comes down to an extra 5 bucks for groceries, or replacing a burned out lightbulb .... I can shuffle bulbs in fixtures around. Use flashlights. Candles. Other options.
Personally, I've got a 3-4 year stash of real light bulbs, and I'm adding to it. I don't even *use* 100W bulbs, and I picked up an 8-pack of them.
Who knows, I *might* want to use one someday (I'm thinking as a easy, portable heat source, frankly). Meantime, they won't go bad.
“They will cost $50 initially. But like every new technology mass production will make them progressively cheaper over time”
Perhaps, but they’ll never be as cheap as the old fashioned ones. Manufacturing LEDs is more expensive and more difficult. There are chemicals involved which need to be handled carefully.
There are also differences in the quality of light. Sure LEDs are great for flashlights and other uses. I strongly dislike the federal govt telling us which light bulb we have to buy.
It’s being presented as either you spend $50 a piece on LED replacements or you hoard 100W incands.
I have used both.
1.) The CFLs have not lasted longer than incandescent bulbs; they' have actually lasted less. Now we learn that if the CFLs are stored on their sides, they lose their life and do not last as long as incandescent bulbs.
2.) The CFLs contain mercury and are supposed to be disposed of as a hazardous material. I'm sure 99% of the population is not going to go to a recycling center to throw away bulbs that don't last longer than incandescent bulbs. There are even reports that the bulbs are giving of carcinogens because of the mercury; and that the bulbs can explode and shower the area with flaming gas and mercury debris.
3.) They don't make 3-way bulbs in CFL.
4.) Unlike the inflated claims of CFLs, LEDs really do last longer on top of using less energy. $50 is not so much for a bulb that will likely last many years. The price will come down as they become the bulb of choice.
“I truly do not understand all the fuss about incandescence bulbs”
The fuss is about the govt telling people they are not allowed to buy a product simply because that product is perceived to be wasteful of energy.
Sure LED flashlights are nice, they also cost 10 times more than those with incandescent bulbs.
“I do believe that the Federal Government should not be helping me shop for light bulbs.”
I think it’ll become much more invasive. Soon, they’ll have to produce fixtures that will only accept the CFL “bulbs” (coils, actually). Then, you won’t be able to sell a house until/unless all fixtures meet the new code.
****Many people will just do without.
We are a third world country.****
Well, burning whale oil ain’t out of style! Oh wait...
Hadn't heard that one. Is it because they're a bit dim, or because they don't work as well as they should? LOL!
If you'll indulge me for a sec...I recently bought a house. The former owners were in love with the $#@%@%$#@!! things.
Not too long ago, one of the Democrat Bulbs (lol) burned out. No biggie, I took it out to figure out what I needed to get to replace it.
The base of the bulb was all scorched. I said (well, never mind exactly what I said) ..... I said "Oh darn. Might have a bad light fixture." Sure enough, *all* of the bulbs in the fixture had the same scorching.
Now, being an engineer, and an inquistive one at that, I checked the bulbs in the rest of the house.
Yup. You guessed it. *ALL* of them were scorched. Now, I don't know the brand (couldn't read it, the bulbs were too badly damaged). I'd guess that they were different wattages, because they had different brightnesses. But I've no idea if they were the cheap ones, or what.
No matter. I'm not putting my house and family at risk to save a couple of bucks in electricity. We're now a CFL-free house, and all of the new bulbs are working just fine. Eventually, I'll move to LED's, once the price comes down. Meanwhile, I'm stockpiling real bulbs.
***Why should I have to buy a $3 CFL when I can get a 6 pack of incandescents for the same price.****
And at that “evil” Walmart yesterday I bought 12 100W incadescents for that same three dollars.
Now I can heat my water piping in winter, my well house, and keep the baby chicks warm! Oh yes, I can also read by their light when I use them in the house.
I tried CFLs but they don’t last near as long as promised, One only lasted 30 days before it blew out.
So, just how many light bulbs does it take to change a government???
(sound of other shoe dropping...) Duh.......thanks.
well, because the incands are banned. I’d prefer that incands not be banned.
I’m just saying that people don’t have to panic, if they don’t want to stock up, they won’t have to pay $50, but $3.
But incands shouldn’t be banned. All this talk about it makes me want to stock up. The argument can be made that - during 8 months of the year, the heat from the incands is a good thing.
You could keep the theromstat turned down in the winter, perhaps, if the warm light bulb in your own space provides adequate heat.
So, instead of saving energy 8 months of the year, you’re wasting it. Good plan Government!
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