bulb

A BRIGHT IDEA?

Nov 2010 So-called 'Energy-saving bulbs'.

Following the EU ban of normal 100W light bulbs and the future stop of manufacture and import of all standard 'non-energy saving' light bulbs (in 2012), everyone in their right mind has temporarily boosted the light bulb industry by filling up their loft with old-fashioned light bulbs.

Are the new bulbs actually doing anything for the environment?

There are claims that the new light bulbs only save around 20% on your lighting bill (not your overall electricity bill!). Consider the lack of heat the new bulbs give out compared to the old ones, and add that to your heating bill. What is left of the saving?

Someone on the radio said 'well, people will just have to use more candles'. The strain on the environment caused by the production of candles obviously didn't come into the equasion. (I have seen a light-bulb shaped candle in a catalogue though ...)

A German light bulb importer started a new company called www.heatball.de: he teamed up with an engineer and developed a mini-heater which happens to be in the exact shape of an ordinary light bulb, but it gives off more heat. The company says 'our product has the involuntary side effect of giving off light and we cannot prevent users from using our heater as a source of light, although this is not the intended use.' The company sold 75,000 in 3 days and started importing more from China (nb strain on the environment?). Unfortunately the German government is keeping the import waiting in Customs until the legal battle is settled: the government claims that these are 100W light bulbs and therefore import is banned. The importing company claims it is a mini heater. It has to be added that the literal translation of the German light bulb (Gluehbirne) is 'glow pear', so contains no reference to light in the term.

Why were inset halogen ceiling lights not banned? At 25W each and on average 10 in a ceiling instead of one main lamp fitting, they use more than double the amount of energy.

Why are there no grants to buy the more expensive dimmers that actually save energy?

It can be assumed that the whole light bulb story is just an easy way for the government to show that they are doing 'their bit' for the environment, so they don't have to tackle the real issues. In truth it is just a way of boosting the economy.

What's the problem with energy-saving light bulbs then?

OK, they are more expensive, but last longer.

Throwing them away is bad for the environment, as they contain a substance that is hard to get rid of in recycling. Yes, the argument is that we throw less of them away because they last longer.

The light is different, gloomy and cold at the same time. Many claim they get more SAD than they used to. Some people are allergic to the new kind of light that is given out by the new bulbs. The constant flickering of the light upsets some. The pharmaceutical industries are rubbing their hands with glee.

Musicians and proof-readers are panicking as they will be unable to see the detail on an intricate page by the 'light' of an energy-saving light bulb. Opticians are rubbing their hands with glee.

Normal energy-saving light bulbs cannot be dimmed. Well, they don't have to be dimmed, because they are so crap anyway. But it would be much better if we could actually work and read with a good light source, thereby not damaging our eyesight, and dim it when we don't need to read. If we were encouraged (financially) to buy dimmers that actually save energy, as normal dimmers don't, we would be saving some, wouldn't we?

So, to sum it up: energy-saving light bulbs are not that good for the environment, nor people's health. Should we not have been encouraged to do other things instead like installing energy-saving dimmers, insulating our houses and put solar panels on our roofs? Ah, but these things cannot be enforced and might require government grants so that people can actually afford them. How about new-builds then? New rules can be enforced there and in fact the snazzy inset ceiling lights could then be left out as well. There are grants for solar panels, but reading up about it it is only recommended if your house is at least 2 cars wide. And you would have to stay in your house for more than 10 years. In the US you can get a loan for solar panels which is then 'sold' on to the next owner. Also, the calculation of how long it takes to make your money back is presumably based on the current price difference between what you buy in for and what you sell into the grid for. If prices go up, do you also get more for selling into the grid?

I have seen a 'Time Capsule' in a Gift catalogue: a 100W light bulb in a tin.

I read about a hotel that harvests energy from the hotel gym to power other things, perhaps at least the light bulb in the minibar?

PS (July 2011):
Loft insulation schemes: I was contacted about insulating my loft, with the help of a grant. After an inspection I was told that the required thickness of insulation material is nowadays more than the height of the ceiling joists in the loft. This means you can insulate your loft, but you can't have any boards down and use your loft for storage. Unless you put more timbers in your loft to raise the floor level. Bit of a daft scheme.