geoffrey iwata phy h190 2/22/2012
What are the Light Bulb Wars Artwork by bloggerknight2009
What are the Light Bulb Wars Energy Independence And Security Act of 2007 Requires roughly 25 percent greater efficiency for light bulbs, phased in from 2012 through h 2014 Effectively bans the manufacturing and importing of most current incandescent light bulbs Rationale: 22% of US electricity consumption due to lighting (2010) That s 13% of our total energy Wikipedia.org
What are the Light Bulb Wars Should incandescent bulbs be banned from production??
Why are they controversial? "We are taking away a choice that continues to let people p waste their own money Secretary Chu
How did this battle arise?
Where does the energy go? US Energy Report 2001
How many lumens do we need?
What s the matter with incandescent?
Why is incandescent under attack?
What s the matter with incandescent? Let s look at how they work Low pressure inert gas (argon, nitrogen, krypton, xenon) Tungston Filament ~ 3000K Mostly infrared spectrum Get Hot!
What s the matter with incandescent? Let s look at how they work Low pressure inert gas (argon, nitrogen, krypton, xenon) Tungston Filament ~ 3000K Mostly infrared spectrum Get Hot!
What s the matter with incandescent? Associated Press
What s the matter with incandescent? How are they made: Cheaply Recipe since 1879 filament, gas, bulb, wires
Why are CFLs smarter?
Why are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Better? How do they work? Electric current through mercury vapor excites ionized Hg atoms Hg atoms emit UV light 253.7 and 185 nm Phosphor coating on glass fluoresces in visible range Current regulated by ballast Howstuffworks.com
Why are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Better? Power converted to visible light: CFL: ~22% (50 70 lumens/watt) Incandescent ~2% (10 17 lumens/watt) Heat production: Hot bulbs increase building s air conditioning costs (in warm climates)
Why are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Better? Power converted to visible light: CFL: ~22% (50 70 lumens/watt) Incandescent ~2% (10 17 lumens/watt) Heat production: Hot bulbs increase building s air conditioning costs (in warm climates) Last Longer CFL: 6000 15000 hours Incandescent: 750 1000 hours Energystar CFL report 2007
Why are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Better? CFL Incandescent
Why are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Better? CFL Incandescent
How can we compare CFLs to incandescent? 1991
How can we compare CFLs to incandescent?
Why are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Better? CFL Incandescent Low production impact Easy bake oven Power >light More efficient Last longer Cheap No mercury in the bulb
How can we compare CFLs to incandescent? Consider 8000 hours of use: CFL 13Watt 104 kwh Incandescent 60 Watt 480 kwh Maryland Energy Administration Energy Star.gov
How can we compare CFLs to incandescent? But how about the mercury used? National Average Mercury emissions 0.012 mg/kwh 12 1.2 mg from 044 0.44 mg electricity from use landfilling 5.76 mg from electricity use 0 mg from landfilling 16 1.6 mg 576 5.76 mg CFL (uses 104 kwh) Incandescent (uses 480 kwh) Maryland Energy Administration Energy Star.gov
How can we compare CFLs to incandescent? Energy Star.gov
Why are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Better? CFL Incandescent
How much money do we really save? Incandescent: 32c / bulb CFL: $4.47 / bulb The Home Depot
How much money do we really save? Incandescent: 32c / bulb CFL: $4.47 / bulb At best lifetime ratio: 15,000/750 = 20, saves ~$2/bulb
How much money do we really save? Incandescent: 32c / bulb CFL: $4.47 / bulb At best lifetime ratio: 15,000/750 = 20, saves ~$2/bulb At worst lifetime ratio: 6000/1000 = 6, loses ~$2.5/bulb
But how about electricity costs? Incandescent: 32c / bulb CFL: $4.47 / bulb Reasonable estimate of electricity cost 20c /kwh For 8000 hours:!!! CFL: $20.80 Incandescent: $ 96.00
Why are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Better? CFL Incandescent
Why all the fuss? "It was never my goal for Washington to decide what type of light bulbs Americans should use Fred Upton (R., Mich.) WSJ.com
Why all the fuss? "It was never my goal for Washington to decide what type of light bulbs Americans should use Fred Upton (R., Mich.) In 2011, new bill introduced to disallow government spending to enforce new standards. WSJ.com
Why all the fuss? "It was never my goal for Washington to decide what type of light bulbs Americans should use Fred Upton (R., Mich.) In 2011, new bill introduced to disallow government spending to enforce new standards. Light bulb manufacturers have already replaced fabrication lines: A delay in enforcement undermines those investments and creates regulatory uncertainty. tit Joseph Higbee (National Electrical l Manufacturers Association) WSJ.com, poltico.com
Why all the fuss? "The American people want less government intrusion into their lives, not more, and that includes staying out of their personal light bulb choices." Michele Bachmann (R., Minn.) (The bill) was passed at the height of the global warming fad scare when all proper thinkers were supposed to sacrifice to the anticarbon gods. WSJ editorial WSJ.com, physicstoday.org
Why all the fuss? "I will concede over the life of the bulb...that you probably do save some money, but it takes a long time to save it. Rep. Joe Barton (R., Texas) WSJ.com
Why all the fuss? "I will concede over the life of the bulb...that you probably do save some money, but it takes a long time to save it. Rep. Joe Barton (R., Texas) Life of CFL bulb 15000 hours at most is about 2 years. WSJ.com
Conclusion CFLs do make sense over incandescent bulbs. Lots of the rhetoric seems to be about reelection. This remains a patch to a greater issue.