ecology and light bulbs?

Question

Why is it wasteful to light your home with incandescent bulbs when the loss of efficiency is due to the heat given off. This surely reduces the load on the heating system even if the effect is small. For the summer I can understand the argument but then who needs lighting in the summer. Is it a con?

Some interesting answers there. The idea that you can leave the heating on when you go to bed (and switch the lights off) is not economical at all. The idea of leaving lights on when you're not in the room is the same. What I'm suggesting is there is no WASTE energy here. If you're heating your home heat is heat. People give off more heat when alive than when dead. That is why parties are hotter with live people :-)

Answer 1

I agree. In the winter i did use electric space heaters, then figured out heat was heat as far as the heating elements were concerned. At that point I turned off a heater and just turned on the big tv and lights and stereo and computer. I got almost the same watts but enjoyed it more. you may have to run the ceiling fan backwards to bring down the heat though. Electric heat sucks for cost. Whole idea is kinda stupid. Burn something somewhere else to make electricity to heat someplace else. Strangest thing i did was to use a type of hairdryer with a hose on it. talk about space heating. under a blanket/comforter could get hot enough to sweat. for less than 400 watts. amounts to the power of 4 ordinary light bulbs. Eskimos wish they had it so toasty. Powering down now. Bye.

Answer 2

The only time that (heat from incandescent bulbs) would have an effect is during particularly cold spells-and only if the bulbs are on. Since the most common peak load for heating is late at night in winter, bulbs mostly aren't on. Thus, any counter trend would be minimal. Also--by your logic, the heat from bulbs would reduce the efficiency of air conditioning.

I will admit, this is one of the more inventive ad hoc arguements trying to pretend the fats are oter than what they are. But the facts are this: using the energy-efficient bulbs not only reduces power use, they save consumers money--including me.

And I, for one, would rather keep putting those savings in MY pocket, and have no intention of spending money I can use elsewhere just to satisfy the ignorance of some people who don't want to admit they are wrong about global warming and the need for change.

Answer 3

In terms of heat producing devices, the light bulb is a poor one. As you said, in the summer, not only are you paying for heat you don't want, you have to pay for your air conditioner to off-set it. In the winter is acts like a straight resistant electric heater. This is about 30% as efficient as a heat pump, and (probably) more expensive that a gas, oil or propane source of heat.

Answer 4

There is other problems that can cause harmonic distortion. The incandescent furnish a good resistive load which works well with generators & transformers. The fluresent light conducte about 40 deg out of each half cycle which will cause harmonics in the neutral. This may not bother most but if u have a lot of computer load u could have trouble.

Answer 5

If you have resistive electric heating, you might have a point. But most people don't because gas or oil or electric heat pump heating is more efficient. Basically, there is less gas or oil burnt in the country if everyone heats with gas or oil or heat pump and uses the most energy efficient lights.

Answer 6

They don't give off enough heat to make a difference.

Compact flourescents are the way to go.

Answer 7

OK! To some degree you are right. Unfortunately, lamps are poor heaters and w/ no air movement around them, it stays hot in one place and that is not good.

Answer 8

I changed all of my bulbs to the ugly swirly types. I must admit that it accomplished one thing for me. It saved me money.