What are your thoughts on the energy saving light bulbs EU edict.......?

Question

Today we are told on the news that we are all going to have to buy energy saving light bulbs, as dictated by the EU in Brussels.

OK, so they do save money by lasting longer, but the ones I have in my house are a lot less bright than the normal bulbs, also they take quite a while to actually come on.

Now my big gripe is, why is it that all of us in our homes be economising with electricity when shops have their spotlights on in their windows all night, advertising signs are on 24/7 and offices and government buildings are all lit up when no one's working in them, shops have doors wide open in the winter letting all the heat out,and air con in summer with doors open.

Yes I understand that the fuels from Mother Earth will not last forever, and we have to do something about the situation of finding alternative methods of generating electricity in order that generations to come will be able to benefit.Shouldn't people in position show the way by setting a good example to us all?

Answer 1

You will have to because they can make it a law which will force you to do whatever they think is good for you. The EU knows what is good for you better than you do. They are your nannies.

Since the bulbs are not as bright, you need more of them, which defeats the purpose. I use them only in multi-bulb fixtures or for lights that I want to leave on for a long time. Regular incandescent bulbs are best for reading. The energy efficient bulbs give off a high volume of low intensity light, regular bulbs give off a lower volume of higher intensity light.

Some lights have to be left on for safety and crime prevention, adverts get business. When ways are found to produce power that costs no more than present methods or is cheaper, then those ways will be used. Any attempts to legislate alternatives will likely result in more costly energy, which lowers the standard of living, causes unemployment and hurts people.

One way is to grow biofuels, using genetically engineered plants, but the nuts say no to genetic engineering. Tidal power is subject to storm damage and changes the environment. Wind power farms are ugly. Solar power arrays are ugly and change the environment. Hydroelectric dams change the environment. Fossil fuels damage the environment. Nuclear waste endangers the environment. The environmental nuts are opposed to all alternative power on a scale large enough to support our civilisation.

Their answer is to have fewer people, fewer things and for all to live in harmony with nature in a pastoral world. My answer is to continue to do what is needed, economise whereever feasible and keep trying to provide energy in better and cheaper ways so our civilization will continue to advance.

Answer 2

I use them, sure they do take a little while to get going, but the light is nice and white and better for reading, but don't skimp with them if you need a 75-100w for its brightness then use it . I'm sure, like everything else, if a lot more people start buying them the technology will improve. You are right about the shops and offices though, but i think the issue of global warming has to come from each individual, and weather you wish to do something yourself to help, then at least if Domesday comes, you can say "it wasn't my fault, i did my bit" :)

Answer 3

At our house we got some of them. They cannot be used in the dining room where we have a dimmer switch. The ones in the bedrooms and my home office didn't last half as long as the incandescent ones. I really didn't notice that much difference on my power bill. We still use them in some applications but not all.

Above all I don't want to be forced to use them. Encouraged, asked nicely but not forced. Let me decide how much contribution to the power situation and global warming I want to make not someone else.

Answer 4

I own a 14 unit motel and we tried to use them for a while and still do in some places. They do save us some money, but the light they cast does not bring out the best colors in skin tone or decor so we had to limit them to hallways and secondary room lights because our guests did not like them.

I made the switch willingly to try to save some money, which I did, but our overall satisfaction went down when we used them exclusively so I don't want to be forced to use them. I conserve where I can because its best for business.

Answer 5

I would like to see the factory needed to produce those bulbs, and how much extra energy is wasted on a product that apparently doesn't work as good as the original thing.

Answer 6

Definitely. Definitely. But the quickest and easiest change lies with the individual. It doesn't pull corporations and governments off the hook and isn't meant to be an excuse in any way, but logistically, it's just more difficult and slower to get those institutions to flip the switch, so to speak. So there's value in gaining momentum by having those who can flip the switch quicker and easier do so. Otherwise, if we waited to follwo government and corporation leads nothing would ever happen.

Answer 7

I thought energy saving light bulbs were ones that you didn't have to get up off the sofa to turn them on.

Answer 8

I believe that the factory with the patent for the type of bulb that they are recommending is based in Belgium,Britain being shafted again?

Answer 9

I've gone back to using oil lamps filled with whale blubber. Everyone should go off the grid, so to speak.

Answer 10

Well whatever the case i use them, and they have saved me a fortune in electricity this winter.