Comments on: 10 Reasons Why Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs) Will Change the World http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/ Independent Tech Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:26:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Craig http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-3/#comment-1418217 Craig Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:34:18 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1418217 oops, that should be subdued, not subdies! oops, that should be subdued, not subdies!

]]> By: Craig http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-3/#comment-1418187 Craig Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:45:29 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1418187 I started using CFLs around 2004 in most (but not all) fixtures, and gradually went back to incandescents by around 2007. I've found the CFL lifetime claims are vastly exagerated. I wrote the date on the base of all the bulbs I installed, as initially, I was excited, and curious to see how long they'd last. I used various brands, GE/Philips/Sylvania/Globe - some lasted a little longer than others, but none lasted over 18months, and most failed in the 9 - 12 month timeframe. my incandescents last around two years, sometimes longer in the less used areas. Trying to claim under the warranty, takes time, and gasoline, and incurrs shipping costs. hardly the $$ savings advertised on the package. The light quality is terrible, a ghoulish blue/gray kind of light. now I dont mind it for workshop/hall/closet/garage etc, but not for our dining, living, or bedrooms, where a more subdies pleasant ambient light is desired, and dimmer switches are installed (themselves an energy saving device) incandescents are being withdrawn from sale in 2012 here in Ontario - I've stockpiled approx 400 of them over the last two years when I've seen them on sale, already I've noticed some stores aren't stocking them anymore. Hopefully Halogens will continue to be available, but, hopefully, I should be covered for my remaining years. I started using CFLs around 2004 in most (but not all) fixtures, and gradually went back to incandescents by around 2007.

I’ve found the CFL lifetime claims are vastly exagerated. I wrote the date on the base of all the bulbs I installed, as initially, I was excited, and curious to see how long they’d last. I used various brands, GE/Philips/Sylvania/Globe – some lasted a little longer than others, but none lasted over 18months, and most failed in the 9 – 12 month timeframe. my incandescents last around two years, sometimes longer in the less used areas.

Trying to claim under the warranty, takes time, and gasoline, and incurrs shipping costs. hardly the $$ savings advertised on the package.

The light quality is terrible, a ghoulish blue/gray kind of light. now I dont mind it for workshop/hall/closet/garage etc, but not for our dining, living, or bedrooms, where a more subdies pleasant ambient light is desired, and dimmer switches are installed (themselves an energy saving device)

incandescents are being withdrawn from sale in 2012 here in Ontario – I’ve stockpiled approx 400 of them over the last two years when I’ve seen them on sale, already I’ve noticed some stores aren’t stocking them anymore. Hopefully Halogens will continue to be available, but, hopefully, I should be covered for my remaining years.

]]> By: Frodo http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-3/#comment-1417019 Frodo Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:18:09 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1417019 Lifespan of a fluorescent bulb depends largely on how many times it’s ignited, as each ignition damages the cathode. Most bulb ratings are derived by a test cycle of three hours on, twenty minutes off. GE says its ratings are based on six ignitions a day, and adds that a CF bulb’s lifespan will be *significantly* shortened if not left on for at least 20 minutes. They claim that some of the damage caused by the ignition process is partially repaired during the first 20 minutes of use. When CFLs are turned on for only short periods of time, the damage quickly accumulates, the bulb begins to dim, and fails prematurely. Note: Cold cathode fluorescents, such as those used in scanners and LCD backlights (e.g. TVs and computers), do not have this problem. Lifespan of a fluorescent bulb depends largely on how many times it’s ignited, as each ignition damages the cathode. Most bulb ratings are derived by a test cycle of three hours on, twenty minutes off. GE says its ratings are based on six ignitions a day, and adds that a CF bulb’s lifespan will be *significantly* shortened if not left on for at least 20 minutes. They claim that some of the damage caused by the ignition process is partially repaired during the first 20 minutes of use. When CFLs are turned on for only short periods of time, the damage quickly accumulates, the bulb begins to dim, and fails prematurely.

Note: Cold cathode fluorescents, such as those used in scanners and LCD backlights (e.g. TVs and computers), do not have this problem.

]]> By: notfacts http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-3/#comment-1405916 notfacts Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:48:43 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1405916 Those aren’t facts. #1: Power a city of 1.5M people for how long? A week? #2: They lose over 30% of emitting capacity over lifetime! #4: My experience, they last about 4 years and then burn out by filling room with acrid smoke. Then you throw these Mercury filled things into a landfill. #5: Most other sites say greatest greenhouse gas in U.S. comes from raising livestock for non-vegans. Some say it’s cars. I haven’t seen any that say its power plants, but yeah, whatever: go nuclear. #6: You’re conflated two different measures here so that’s illogical. #7: What’s you’re point? That dollar amount would be way higher if they bought fluorescents! #8: I’m sure they’d love to sell us one of everything they offer, why not a thousand? #9: This same wizardry will be clogging landfills. Also CFLs cause migraines and skin-condition flairs in many people, a not-so-small and growing portion actually. #10: Same as #2-they aren’t as bright for very long. Pay more to get less. The migraines are a bonus. With all that said, I STILL like them and buy them…but let’s just be honest and not spread propaganda for ANY movement (or Walmart). Those aren’t facts.

#1: Power a city of 1.5M people for how long? A week?
#2: They lose over 30% of emitting capacity over lifetime!
#4: My experience, they last about 4 years and then burn out by filling room with acrid smoke. Then you throw these Mercury filled things into a landfill.
#5: Most other sites say greatest greenhouse gas in U.S. comes from raising livestock for non-vegans. Some say it’s cars. I haven’t seen any that say its power plants, but yeah, whatever: go nuclear.
#6: You’re conflated two different measures here so that’s illogical.
#7: What’s you’re point? That dollar amount would be way higher if they bought fluorescents!
#8: I’m sure they’d love to sell us one of everything they offer, why not a thousand?
#9: This same wizardry will be clogging landfills. Also CFLs cause migraines and skin-condition flairs in many people, a not-so-small and growing portion actually.
#10: Same as #2-they aren’t as bright for very long. Pay more to get less. The migraines are a bonus.

With all that said, I STILL like them and buy them…but let’s just be honest and not spread propaganda for ANY movement (or Walmart).

]]> By: NOTPINK http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-3/#comment-1404407 NOTPINK Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:05:37 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1404407 GOOD(AWESOME) FACTS GOOD(AWESOME) FACTS

]]> By: jhon http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-3/#comment-1404297 jhon Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:15:02 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1404297 THAT IS SOOOOO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS SOOOOO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Jon Mark Antonucci http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-3/#comment-1402897 Jon Mark Antonucci Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:24:49 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1402897 When one looks at the total lifecycle cost of a CFL they actually cause far more usage of electricity than they save. At the factory level the energy required to produce one CFL is equivalent to producing 7 incandescents (just for starters(no pun intended) look at all of the plastic, a petroleum based derivative, and the various electronics in the ballast) Like the lowflow showerheads and water saving toilets that actually increase the amount of water required to "get the job done" so the "energy saving" effects of CFLs are illusory. One must also consider that in the typical american household lighting accounts for only 2 - 5% of annual electrical usage. So while the end users are enjoying relatively miniscule savings in terms of kilowatt hours and dollars the factories are consuming significantly more energy to make the bulbs, so much more energy that the dollar "savings" are wiped out and the impact on the environment is greatly increased. A total lifecycle energy cost analysis of the CFL renders the energy and environmental claims being made about CFLs totally absurd, akin to using gasoline to put out a forest fire. When one looks at the total lifecycle cost of a CFL they actually cause far more usage of electricity than they save. At the factory level the energy required to produce one CFL is equivalent to producing 7 incandescents (just for starters(no pun intended) look at all of the plastic, a petroleum based derivative, and the various electronics in the ballast) Like the lowflow showerheads and water saving toilets that actually increase the amount of water required to “get the job done” so the “energy saving” effects of CFLs are illusory. One must also consider that in the typical american household lighting accounts for only 2 – 5% of annual electrical usage. So while the end users are enjoying relatively miniscule savings in terms of kilowatt hours and dollars the factories are consuming significantly more energy to make the bulbs, so much more energy that the dollar “savings” are wiped out and the impact on the environment is greatly increased. A total lifecycle energy cost analysis of the CFL renders the energy and environmental claims being made about CFLs totally absurd, akin to using gasoline to put out a forest fire.

]]> By: You're All Sheep! http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-3/#comment-1397145 You're All Sheep! Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:28:07 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1397145 CFLs blow chunks!!!! They give out crappy light, don't turn on right away, and if you break one "you are supposed to leave the room for 30 minutes"... yeah right, like I really got time to do that for a fuckin' light bulb!!!! CFLs blow chunks!!!!

They give out crappy light, don’t turn on right away, and if you break one “you are supposed to leave the room for 30 minutes”… yeah right, like I really got time to do that for a fuckin’ light bulb!!!!

]]> By: Mike Graham http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-2/#comment-1396453 Mike Graham Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:48:31 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1396453 I find that the CFL's last a fraction of the time they claim. I put all new CFL's in my house when I built it in 2005. It is now 4 years later, and have replaced almost every bulb in the house. I have a box full of these stinking things. They were Commercial Electrica bulbs sold by Home Depot, but now they don't sell them anymore. They are supposed to last 5 years, and aren't even close. Now I only buy Rona Bulbs, with the Rona name on them, mark the date I install them, and if they don't last the 5 years, then I take them back to the store, and exchange them for new. The Rona bulbs have only been around about 3 years, and I have already replaced at least a dozen of them. I am quite frankly disgusted with the 10,000 hour life expectancy, not even close!!! I find that the CFL’s last a fraction of the time they claim. I put all new CFL’s in my house when I built it in 2005. It is now 4 years later, and have replaced almost every bulb in the house. I have a box full of these stinking things. They were Commercial Electrica bulbs sold by Home Depot, but now they don’t sell them anymore. They are supposed to last 5 years, and aren’t even close. Now I only buy Rona Bulbs, with the Rona name on them, mark the date I install them, and if they don’t last the 5 years, then I take them back to the store, and exchange them for new. The Rona bulbs have only been around about 3 years, and I have already replaced at least a dozen of them. I am quite frankly disgusted with the 10,000 hour life expectancy, not even close!!!

]]> By: best rate source http://www.realtechnews.com/2006/08/30/3433/comment-page-2/#comment-1396092 best rate source Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:03:40 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3433#comment-1396092 Got rid of all of the fluorescent lights when we purchased our home, no noticable difference in the electric usage...not sure this is a savings for homeowners yet. Got rid of all of the fluorescent lights when we purchased our home, no noticable difference in the electric usage…not sure this is a savings for homeowners yet.

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