I'm curious. "Low energy" bulbs are very much in the news - but how much extra energy is expended in their manufacture compared to a standard incandescent? I assume it's more - so is there a real net /overall/ saving over the bulb life? If so, how much?
Not in the least - I've started replacing them as they go, including the
6x60W R60 spots in the kitchen: the 15W non-spot replacements seem to light the place just as well. Shame about the dimmers in other rooms though: are there dimmable low-power lights around?
I really did want to know about the energy economics, as these are being pushed as "CO2-friendly". It's obviously not a direct relation to running power. Someone, somewhere, surely has done the sums. Or not??
Even if he is, it's a very valid question - and one that seems to be ignored by the government when thrusting these token green measures on us. Just as your average suburban domestic windmill will take more energy to manufacture it than it will ever generate in its lifetime.
I've not yet found a low energy light bulb which comes anywhere near the claimed tungsten equivalent for light output.
Ditto. I've been disappointed with low energy bulbs. They don't seem to last any longer than ordinary filament bulbs and the equivalent light output claimed is just plain wrong. So where a good light level is wanted such as the main living room and bathroom I've switched back to ordinary bulbs. It's nice to be able to see again!!! Perhaps its time to start stocking up on 100 watt filament bulbs.
You could always recognise the fact that the equivalent light outputs are always an overestimate, and choose a more sensible replacement based on that - eg 27W rather than 22W.
We often have to put the electric heater on here in addition to the wood burning stove. So the extra heat output of a 100 watt bulb is sometimes welcome! :-)
It's hard to say because their introduction has been heavily politicised, and personally I suspect corruption at high level in the EU and for all i know the UK.
CFL's from China have been subject to an import levy for some years, whilst GE has been subsidising their sale.
Philips who's "GloeilampenFabrieken" were losing money shut their GLS factory down and have been lobbying the EU with some success to get GLS lamps banned in the EU so that all their competitors will also have to shut and they will be able to sell Chinese CFL's without competition from any GLS lamps.
So much for free trade USW, USW, USW ...
As for how much energy goes into making a Chinese CFL. It's probably easiest to say it's hasn't been published.
Energy in China produced from burning soft brown coal in power stations built and staffed by people on slave labour pay will always be much cheaper than ours, so price is not any indication either.
What one can say is that without doubt soft brown coal is one of *the worst* fuels to burn from the point of view of the environmnent.
Well you could try asking someone who's got one. The trouble is there is nowhere near enough wind in most urban/suburban settings. It's a bit old hat - even the most credulous innumerate greenies now accept they don't work where there are trees and buildings.
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?hl=en&q=wind+turbine+payback+carbon&btnG=Search&meta=If you are by the coast, or on top of a hill, it may be a different.
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