| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Madpaddy
Expert
Joined: Jun 25, 2004
Posts: 2127
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:57 am Post subject: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
  |
|
From Reuters:
| Quote: | Ireland will ban traditional light bulbs in favor of energy-saving alternatives from 2009 and penalize high-emission vehicles from July 2008, Environment Minister John Gormley said on Thursday.
Presenting Ireland's first "carbon budget" a day after Finance Minister Brian Cowen outlined spending and tax plans for next year, Gormley said new energy efficiency standards would mean an effective ban on the sale of most traditional light bulbs.
"The aim of such a move will be to end the use of incandescent light bulbs in Ireland," Gormley, who is leader of the Irish Green Party, told fellow lawmakers. "These bulbs use technology invented during the age of the steam engine."
The move would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 700,000 tonnes a year and shave 185 million euros ($269.3 million) a year off householders' electricity bills, he added. |
About bloody time.
_________________
www.askaboutenergy.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
frankthetank
Fusion
Joined: Sep 16, 2004
Posts: 4856
Location: Southwest WI
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:27 am Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
I hate 'normal' florescent lights. However, i've lately updated to the 'daylight' type and love them. They give kind of a blue light, way better then the yellow given off by the others. Highly recommended.
_________________
Clothing should be optional. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pixie
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 344
Location: Oregon
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
Skip over flourescent lights! Go straight on to LED light bulbs, if you can.
Benefits:
+ 1/9 the energy use of a comparable incandescent, less than 1/2 the energy use of a comparable compact flourescent
+ No mercury!
+ They never burn out. They just get dimmer over time. By the time a compact flourescent would burn out, an LED has not noticeably dimmed.
Disadvantages:
- Mostly manufactured as directional lights, right now, aka reading lights or work lights, not a lot of room lighting.
_________________
Just another tofu-munching bike-riding Rambo(/Rambette) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gn0s1s
Coal
Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 17
Location: Hiding in plain sight
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:54 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
[quote]Disadvantages:
- Mostly manufactured as directional lights, right now, aka reading lights or work lights, not a lot of room lighting.
Another disadvantage is the cost. They are frickin expensive right now.[/quote]
But, I must agree, LEDs are great. When I was at Philips years ago we were working on great LED tech and the general word on the street was they LEDs were another "disruptive technology", much like the transistor, the invention of the wheel, etc..
That means they are something so groundbreaking, but with so many pluses that they can nearly change the world with their use. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pixie
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 344
Location: Oregon
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
| gn0s1s wrote: | [
Another disadvantage is the cost. They are frickin expensive right now...many pluses that they can nearly change the world with their use. |
Go to Don's Store dot com. I found some there for $12 each.
Also go to productdose.com. They have a spreadsheet there which will help figure out if the additional upfront cost will pay for itself, given your local utility rates. At $12 each and 3 watts, they pay for themselves within a year, even in my neck of the woods, where hydropower is dirt cheap.
On the other hand, I have also foung them listed for $50 each, which would be enough to turn anyone off, even if they would save money in the long run. SHOP AROUND. Try a couple and see how you can fit them into your house. If they work for you, get more.
_________________
Just another tofu-munching bike-riding Rambo(/Rambette) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gnm
Expert
Joined: Jul 08, 2004
Posts: 2716
Location: plundering eco-villages
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
Pixie, while the LED's do last a lot longer, LED's produce fewer lumens per watt and as such are LESS efficient than CFL's.
It is also not accurate to say they NEVER burn out. They do have a rated lifespan and they DO burn out eventually.
-G
_________________
I Have and will continue to vote against ANY politician who supports the various bailouts. Curse you for selling out our future for status quo now! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pixie
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 344
Location: Oregon
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
| gnm wrote: | Pixie, while the LED's do last a lot longer, LED's produce fewer lumens per watt and as such are LESS efficient than CFL's.
-G |
That is not true according to the articles I have read. They are more than twice as efficient, watt for watt, as CFLs. Here's one article:
http://starrynightlights.com/blog/2007/12/03/super-energy-efficient-led-light-bulbs/
_________________
Just another tofu-munching bike-riding Rambo(/Rambette) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pixie
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 344
Location: Oregon
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gnm
Expert
Joined: Jul 08, 2004
Posts: 2716
Location: plundering eco-villages
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
Are they selling lab prototypes? CFL's easily exceed what they are saying on that article. I don't know of any reasonably priced and readily available LED lights which will exceed the lumens/watt of common CFL's.
wiki - luminous efficency
-G
_________________
I Have and will continue to vote against ANY politician who supports the various bailouts. Curse you for selling out our future for status quo now! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gnm
Expert
Joined: Jul 08, 2004
Posts: 2716
Location: plundering eco-villages
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:46 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
Again... prototypes. And still they have the narrow band issues. I love LED's but they are just not there yet for general household lighting. But they make great flashlights.
-G
_________________
I Have and will continue to vote against ANY politician who supports the various bailouts. Curse you for selling out our future for status quo now! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pixie
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 344
Location: Oregon
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
| gnm wrote: | Are they selling lab prototypes? CFL's easily exceed what they are saying on that article. I don't know of any reasonably priced and readily available LED lights which will exceed the lumens/watt of common CFL's.
wiki - luminous efficency
-G |
Hey this is fun! You have thrown down the gauntlet and challenged me to find a commercially marketed white LED light bulb brighter than the 60 lumens of a typical CFL.
Hmmm...
So far, the best I have found is 53 lumens per watt. I am disappointed, and must concede temporary defeat. I shall keep looking.
_________________
Just another tofu-munching bike-riding Rambo(/Rambette) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pixie
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 344
Location: Oregon
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
http://www.physorg.com/news93198212.html
75 lumens per watt, available next summer. hmm....
_________________
Just another tofu-munching bike-riding Rambo(/Rambette) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gnm
Expert
Joined: Jul 08, 2004
Posts: 2716
Location: plundering eco-villages
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
Well if you can find one with those kind of specs and a decent color "temp" I'll go buy some. The bang for the buck might not be so great though. I think at least for a few more years the CFL's will get you a lot more light for your dollar. LED's sure are durable though. And great for car/motorcycle tail/signal lights also.
<picks up gauntlet>
-G
_________________
I Have and will continue to vote against ANY politician who supports the various bailouts. Curse you for selling out our future for status quo now! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Pixie
Heavy Crude
Joined: Sep 05, 2006
Posts: 344
Location: Oregon
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
| gnm wrote: | Well if you can find one with those kind of specs and a decent color "temp" I'll go buy some. The bang for the buck might not be so great though. I think at least for a few more years the CFL's will get you a lot more light for your dollar. LED's sure are durable though. And great for car/motorcycle tail/signal lights also.
<picks up gauntlet>
-G |
Once those current prototypes hit the market, they should meet their hype. One thing I think is cool is that they don't ever actually burn out. They just get dimmer over time. So even if TS really HTF, and all manufacturing stops, those who have LED light bulbs and solar could still expect them to be putting out some light 100 years later. Talk about sustainable! HA!
_________________
Just another tofu-munching bike-riding Rambo(/Rambette) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
steam_cannon
Expert
Joined: Dec 28, 2006
Posts: 2554
Location: MA
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Penny finally dropping in Ireland |
|
|
| Pixie wrote: | Skip over fluorescent lights! Go straight on to LED light bulbs, if you can.
Benefits:
+ 1/9 the energy use of a comparable incandescent, less than 1/2 the energy use of a comparable compact fluorescent
+ No mercury! |
Yeah, mercury is a big issue. Industry loves to push mercury whenever they can... It's amusing, we all grew up with mercury lights in our schools, but I think in the future fluorescent lamps will be going the way of asbestos, which was also common in schools... For a child's room, I wouldn't install fluorescent lamps, even if I had to use incandescents. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
