Looking for a more energy-efficient light bulb? Make it dimmer.
According to lighting experts, there are several ways to make a light bulb more efficient. More often than not, manufacturers resort to dimming the light bulb itself.
How did it all start? Regulators in California decided to mandate a 5 percent reduction in bulb wattage for incandescent bulbs, in order to help energy efficiency in the state. This happened a few years back, and since new bulbs hit the market ever since, the bulbs save energy by being dimmer. The new bulbs are each 5-watts less than the old, and keep your home a little darker at night.
A more efficient bulb does not have to be a darker one. Experts report that bulbs can be filled with different types of gases and advanced filament designs can also be used. In California, the bulbs seem only to be dimmer. A study by Ecos, a consulting firm and energy-efficiency program developer working for utilities and government agencies shows almost all of the new bulbs in California are on the low end of allowable brightness for each class of light-wattage. Many of the lights are even much dimmer... 10 percent more so than the models they replaced.
Does cutting back on bulb brightness set a bad example? According to this article, some analysts think so. Chris Calwel, a senior research fellow with Ecos, says "In general, efficiency advocates want to see no loss in the service delivered, so even a 5 percent reduction in lumens is unfortunate. It would be nice if a manufacturer would offer an improved incandescent product that legitimately matched the light output of today's incandescents and achieves all of its energy savings from higher efficiency."
For now, not that many people have been rushing out to buy brighter and high-wattaged bulbs since they've hit the market in 2008, according to manufacturers. However, they have in the past. GE has misled consumers in the early 90s, and settled the dispute with the F.T.C. The F.T.C. found that the packaging misled consumers, by not adequately disclosing the bulbs were dimmer than the bulbs they were to replace.
Looking for a more energy-efficient light bulb? Make it dimmer.
According to lighting experts, there are several ways to make a light bulb more efficient. More often than not, manufacturers resort to dimming the light bulb itself.
How did it all start? Regulators in California decided to mandate a 5 percent reduction in bulb wattage for incandescent bulbs, in order to help energy efficiency in the state. This happened a few years back, and since new bulbs hit the market ever since, the bulbs save energy by being dimmer. The new bulbs are each 5-watts less than the old, and keep your home a little darker at night.
A more efficient bulb does not have to be a darker one. Experts report that bulbs can be filled with different types of gases and advanced filament designs can also be used. In California, the bulbs seem only to be dimmer. A study by Ecos, a consulting firm and energy-efficiency program developer working for utilities and government agencies shows almost all of the new bulbs in California are on the low end of allowable brightness for each class of light-wattage. Many of the lights are even much dimmer... 10 percent more so than the models they replaced.
Does cutting back on bulb brightness set a bad example? According to a New York Times article, some analysts think so. Chris Calwel, a senior research fellow with Ecos, says "In general, efficiency advocates want to see no loss in the service delivered, so even a 5 percent reduction in lumens is unfortunate. It would be nice if a manufacturer would offer an improved incandescent product that legitimately matched the light output of today's incandescents and achieves all of its energy savings from higher efficiency."
For now, not that many people have been rushing out to buy brighter and higher-wattaged bulbs since they've hit the market in 2008, according to manufacturers. However, they have in the past. GE has misled consumers in the early 90s, and settled the dispute with the F.T.C. The F.T.C. found that the packaging misled consumers, by not adequately disclosing the bulbs were dimmer than the bulbs they were to replace. Sound familiar?
Planning to buy a larger-than-life flat-screen TV? If you live on the Left Coast, you may have to change your plans. California energy regulators a trying to ban the sale of electricity-sucking televisions and adopt efficiency requirements for flat-screen TVs.
If the California Energy Commission continues with the proposal, retailers would have to sell TVs with strict energy requirements spearheaded by the federal Energy Star program beginning in 2011. This program is destined to save a lot of energy that would have been thrown away.
But, how much energy are we talking?
According to a Los Angeles Times article, the regulations are designed to shave $8.1 billion off Californians' electricity bills over a 10-year-period. That's about $30 per set per year, commission officials contend. Karen Douglas, commission Chairwoman says, "Increased efficiency is the most cost-effective way of meeting our renewable-energy goals."
Californians must be used to the energy regulations by now. The residents have regulations on dishwashers, washing machines, and other household appliances. However, many argue that the new regulations will stall technological innovations that have improved TV set quality. The regulations will also limit consumer choice.
"Independent studies show millions in tax revenue and thousands of jobs are at stake," says Doug Johnson, senior director of technology policy at the Consumer Electronics Association. Many jobs could be lost. Television prices will increase, and home theaters wholesalers and installers will be out of work. Consumers would therefore have to buy un-regulated TVs though out-of-state online vendors... this would deprive CA of its much needed corporate income and sales tax revenue.
Why television sets? The article reports that many of the 40-inch-and-larger sets, which use liquid crystal or plasma technology consume vast amounts of electricity. The average plasma screen uses more than three times as much energy as a bulky, old-fashioned cathode-ray-tube TV. This calls for a change in CA, especially since California's energy needs are so vast. At this point, CA imports 30% of its electricity from out of state.
Many flat-screen TV makers already meet the new regulations, and say they'll have no problem hitting the new energy efficiency threshold. Buyers of the TVs wouldn't see a price increase. When talking about huge flat-screen television sets, an Associated Press article highlights Noah Horowitz, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. She says, "These are the SUVs of the industry, they use more energy than the smaller ones. They are used in bars, hotels, and can easily be on for 12 hours a day."
To learn more about the TV energy-regulation proposal, click here.
Looking for a more energy-efficient light bulb? Make it dimmer.
