Letter to the Editor
Change light bulbs
Published Saturday, March 29, 2008
Digg
delicious
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
Stumble It!March 21, 2008
To the editor:
I recently toyed with some calculations on a concept that has been used successfully in a few forward thinking states. Do you realize that if Alaskans were to replace 1 million incandescent bulbs (less than two per person statewide) with equivalent light output compact fluorescents, they would save about $40 million in electricity over the guaranteed life of the bulbs, and reduce the need for new generating capacity by more than 10 megawatts (a few thousand homes worth).
That’s on the grid. In the diesel-electric villages the savings are more like $300 to $400 million in electricity, and $10 million in new power plants. This is for a few million dollars worth of guaranteed (with a return program) high quality U.S. Energy Star rated bulbs, distributed by local power co-operatives, village councils, etc.
If this is correct, the state of Alaska should be giving them away as fast as possible, perhaps in an exchange program for new or used incandescents. In this simple way, Alaska can use a small bit of recent windfall profits to help Alaskans save millions in energy bills while reducing unnecessary fossil fuel consumption. It’s what they call a “no brainer.”
When I e-mailed this opinion to a number of our local politicians and the governor, the only response I ever received (which was in total agreement) was from Rep. Scott Kawasaki. A politician with work ethic and a brain is worth supporting. I hope he can continue to serve us.
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
Why should the state give them away? We don't live in the USSR. It isn't the government's responsibility to give free things to people. It is a person responsibility as a productive member of society to provide things for him/her self. Other than that, I agree with you whole-heartedly. Anything people can reasonably do to be less wasteful, they should. This includes replacing wasteful incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient flourescent bulbs.
One problem: Flourescent bulbs don't light up when it's cold, especially when it's below zero.
They're fine indoors, where they're warm all the time. Outdoors, in the winter, they're worthless. (In the summer, they're unnecessary.)
Griff: I put a fluorescent bulb in my driveway light, just to see if it would work. It does, even at 45 below. It takes a few seconds to get going, and it isn't very bright, but it's more than adequate to start my car, feed my dogs, etc. The snow reflects a lot light, so even a dim bulb is surprisingly effective.
If you need a lot of light outside, then yes, they're worthless. If you just need to find the dog bowls without stepping into a hole or something, then they're okay.
Isn't there a potential problem with disposal of florescent light bulbs? Just asking (not being argumentative). I've heard that they contain mercury, and thought that I'd wait for the LED lights to be affordible.
OK pogking you threw the first stone..."Why should the state give them away? We don't live in the USSR. It isn't the government's responsibility to give free things to people."
Thanks for trolling up a great discussion...you dont accept the PFD right?
Thanks Roger, for taking the time to point this out and open a discussion on the topic. I believe looking for ways to save money should rest on the individual, local state and federal govn.
Lets hope that recycling will enter the picture for disposal of the old bulbs.
Glacieries: Yes there was a spot on one of the major news networks just this week that stated that a broken compact flourescent light bulb causes a hazardous. I found the following link. Funny nobody touted the dangers of these energy saving light bulbs. I use them but I am now extremely careful that I don't drop them.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...
haha King, seeing as how you won't be accepting it, I'll take that 600 dollars (plus any you get for wife/kids) you'll be getting in May also.
Thanks for the heads-up, glacierless. I knew large fluorescent bulbs had mercury, it just never occurred to me that compact fluorescents would, as well.
Big Dan, thanks for the link. I read the article, and think there's a lot of merit to the idea of getting retailers of compact fluorescents to take old ones back for proper disposal or recycling. I wouldn't mind paying an extra nickel, dime or quarter per bulb to help offset the cost incurred by the retailers to have some kind of hazmat program in place for these bulbs.
I've been using compact fluorescents for a couple of years now, and have yet to replace a bulb, or dispose of one for that matter. I'm glad the mercury issue came up now, so I'll be extra careful when I eventually do have to dispose of them.
I'd be willing to vote with my purse, and only buy compact fluorescents from retailers who had a disposal/recycling program in place.
Are any managers at Fred Meyer, Walmart, Safeway, etc., reading this?
Speaking of lights, try to remember to turn them off for one hour tonight starting at 8 p.m. That goes for other non-essential electric appliances, as well.
This would be in support of "Earth Hour." A number of cities around the world are participating in this, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions stemming from power plants. I don't think Fairbanks is officially involved with this effort, but I like the idea and intend to show my support at my house.
this winter i replaced all those funny bulbs with "regular" bulbs because they were too dark, making the place look drab and depressing. A simple 60 watt "normal" bulb cheered the place right up! So if those other bulbs will save me money, fine, but let me use up the big box of "regular" bulbs I have first. Im not going to throw them away!
I tried the flourescent bulbs & I didn't like how much darker my home seemed. I know a lot of people that have smaller homes than I do and electric bills twice as high as mine. I really don't know what I am doing differently, but my house is 3,000 sf and my electric bill runs $118 on the worst month. Of course, my hot water runs off my boiler....but, I am not using an unusally high amount of fuel either.
One thing I do notice is when it is windy my motion sensor light likes to stay on all night. Maybe some of you shuld check those things. Make sure your heat tape runs on a timer rather than 100% of the time.
I replaced all the bulbs in my house with fluorescent bulbs only to find out the balasts in them aren't "compatible" with my three-way swtiches. I also did not replace the two bulbs I have on dimmers. With daylight hours increasing as they are, we seldom use the lights in our house anyways (great sun all day) and we run LED nightlights in my kids room. Point is, I'm willing to pay for whatever electricity I use, just like gasoline; If I want more, I pay more, if you want more, you pay more, end of story.
As for the tax rebate and PFD comments.....
The PFD is given to people because it is the people's oil. the State has no legitimate claim to the oil all to itself simply because it is on state land. That state land is held in trust by the state for the benefit of all Alaskans...that's the purpose of state land. Therefore, profits made from that state land are not the State's to simply take....those profits belong to the people.
As for the tax rebate.....it is not a government give-away. It's YOUR MONEY!! If you only paid $150 in taxes, you can only get up to $150 back (unless of course, you're one of the low-income exceptions to the rule, in which case it is a government give-away, which i also disagree with). As for most people who will be geting the tax rebate, it is simply a piece of your income tax coming back to you to spur the economy. It is not getting something for nothing. A lightbulb giveaway is.
With regard to the main point of the letter....i have never had a problem with my flourescents. I don't run any incanscents in the house. Flourscents are dim when first turned on, but they're fully bright once they're warm. Outside during the winter, it takes a little longer, but they do work.
pogking..."The PFD is given to people because it is the people's oil. the State has no legitimate claim to the oil all to itself simply because it is on state land. That state land is held in trust by the state for the benefit of all Alaskans...that's the purpose of state land. Therefore, profits made from that state land are not the State's to simply take....those profits belong to the people."
Careful there...you take that line of thinking and the rest of the US is going to say that it should be their oil too!! If the profits are the peoples then should'nt the rest of the US have a PFD?
Im not saying that it should but I am just trying to follow your line of thinking?
If you think this is a rebate...well then good for you. I dont want a rebate from the Government. I want them to spend my money wisely.
I think cost saving is the way to go and I think the writer brought up a good idea and now it needs to be thought about by the people of Alaska. Good or bad new ideas need to be looked at.
I don't see how the rest of the US has a claim to oil on state land, owned by Alaska. If they struck gold in a state park in Colorado, i wouldn't expect a colorado pfd check.
But, you're right. The writer brought up a great idea. We, as individual citizens, ought to be responsible and considerate enough to each be doing our part.
BigDan---
Thanks for the info. I'm looking ahead at the day that these long lasting flourescents start wearing out. Hundreds of millions of them in the land fill. Sounds like another SuperFund to clean up the toxic, birth defect causing mercury just waiting to happen.
No thanks for me. If there is a recycling program in place, then fine, count me in. I'll replace every bulb in my home immediately. But I dont like betting on the come. As with much of what the government authorizes or the greenies encourage, which they have been with these bulbs, well "...the road to hell is paved with good intentions". And unintended consequences.
The future of LED lights sound practical, efficient, and safe. But they're cost prohibitive now.
I don't want the government to spend my money wisely. I want the government to let ME have as much of my money as possible so that I can spend it as wisely, or as stupidly, as I want.
thanks for the heads up ladynyc. i'll be turning on extra electrical appliances at 8pm tonight in protest of dubious science that has now turned into a religion of sorts.
There you are Dana.
:)
I can and already have replace most of the light bulbs in my house with the compact flourescents. I usually pick the ones that have slightly higher voltage (and therefore more produce more light) but the tradeoff is still about one third of the voltage use of the regular incandescent light bulbs.
For the poster who indicated that they made his/her home appear dark, it does take a few minutes for flourescents to reach their full intensity but they also come in different light spectrums (white which is kind of "harsh" or full spectrum which gives the light more of a 'daylight' cast).
The only place I have to use the regular bulbs is where there are flood lights or halogen (and I try to use them as little as possible). I intend to replace the outside light this summer with a light fixture that has a motion-sensor device on it so that I can leave it on and it will only come on when someone (or something) enters the zone of the sensor.
I do have a question though; I have also heard recently the news about the compact flourescent bulbs having mercury. Does anyone know if a recycling program is "on the boards" for this purpose. DNM Staff? Anyone else?
Now, now, polarmark. Why stop your protest there? Turn your thermostat way up, keep the hot water running for the full hour, and run every diesel and gas powered engine you own.
Go ahead, cut your nose to spite your face. Even if you don't "believe" in climate change, earth hour can be a win-win situation. Less carbon emissions for us tree huggers, a slightly lower electric bill for everyone, and a convenient excuse for a candle light dinner for anyone.
Way to go, polarmark, way to turn a positive into a negative. Nice job.
I replaced all of my light bulbs with the compact florescent daylight bulbs to avoid the Alaska winter blues. If I move I'll take them with me.
I won't be doing the one hour dark thing as I like technology and as it is just a stunt for some people like LadyNYC to feel superior without actually doing anything productive. The use of candles instead of a compact florescent actually uses more energy as candle production and shipping also creates greenhouse gases.
Oh and let's not forget all the house fires that will undoubtedly burn to the ground because of all those candles being lit up, and the extra gas and diesel - i.e. carbon emissions - that could have been saved had all the fire trucks and paramedics not needed to show up. You can go on and on. Undoubtedly, some of you will.
Feeling superior? Jeez. How about feeling like something so simple to do for such a short amount of time can have a real impact if enough people do it? How about using that one hour to learning how to do without for a short time? And then maybe learning how to expand that one hour into two, or three, or four? No, maybe not productive, but very constructive lessons nonetheless.
How constructive is name-calling, finger-pointing negativity? To some of the people who post here . . . open your minds. Learn. Grow. Or maybe just try growing up.
A few minutes early but I'm shutting down the computer, turning off the lights and t.v. and taking the dogs out for a nice long walk. They'll enjoy earth hour even more than I will.
Later 'gators!
"How about using that one hour to learning how to do without for a short time? And then maybe learning how to expand that one hour into two, or three, or four?" LadyNYC
I am an elisted U.S. Marine infantry veteran. I have done without for way more than a short time, which is why I love technology. I still know how to wipe my butt with only one square of toilet paper. Will you do that as well in order to feel superior? Oh wait, I am sure that while actually being more environmentally sound, it won't make you feel superior as it is icky, so you will not do it.
What is this superior stuff. There is a very good discussion going here about saving YOU money? YOU? Man very funny, I am laughing out loud right now!!! That is LOL for those of you that are in the know. I dont want anyone to feel IN-FERIOR here. Ok, lets get back to some real discussion!! YouMustBConfused
"How about feeling like something so simple to do for such a short amount of time can have a real impact if enough people do it?" LadyNYC
"Feeling like" is the problem. Conservatives fear the physical sciences; liberals fear the social sciences. Less faith and feelings; more rational thought!