The Australian federal government announced recently that they were going to ban the sale of incandescent light globes from next year, so that everyone switches to the new, energy efficient compact fluorescent ones. Supposedly they are much cheaper to run and their higher initial cost is less than the equivalent number of incandescent globes that would burn out during their lifetime. This sounds like a win-win with the emission of greenhouse gases being reduced while the consumer actually saves money in the long run.
I'll use the new fluorescents as much as possible (I already have half a dozen scattered through our house), but I think I'll also put in a stockpile of incandescent globes in the garage before they're no longer on sale. Why?
- unused, an incandescent globe should have an almost unlimited shelf life, and it's cheaper to have some of these sitting around as spares than the more expensive fluorescent globes.
- I have a mix of screw thread and bayonet light fittings in the house. I've only seen compact fluorescent globes with the modern bayonet fitting, and it may be difficult or impossible to get them with screw fittings. I'd rather not have to replace light fittings just to be able change light globes.
- I can cobble together a generator from some wire and an old bike - so in a disaster I could always get lighting setup using incandescent globes. Doing the same with compact fluorescents would be much harder as they don't work with DC and need 240V (as far as I know).
Stocking up on Light Bulbs
April 16th, 2007 at 02:47 pm
April 16th, 2007 at 04:26 pm 1176740761
I wonder if the ban will cause people to try smuggling light bulbs in? When they made low-flow toilets mandatory here to save water, I heard people started sneaking the old-fashioned kind in from Canada!
April 16th, 2007 at 07:25 pm 1176751505
For Christmas I was given some superb bulbs for use in the decorative living room ceiling light. I like a very bright house with overhead lighting and sunlightlight color. My son tracked down the proper wavelength and lumens bulbs on the internet and I am pleased as punch with them. The internet ordered ones are more to my preference than any I have bought in retail stores.
I have yet to find out where I can dispose of fluorescent bulbs, as they are hazardous waste. A few sit "eternally" at the bottom of my recycling bin until I find what to do with them.
April 17th, 2007 at 01:35 pm 1176816935