Aesthetics: Compact Flourescent Bulbs
8 February 2007 3 Comments
While helping remodel a house in Siloam Springs about two years ago, the job foreman mentioned a conspiracy in the light bulb industry. He claimed the industry possessed the technology to create light bulbs that lasted for years. Of course, they don’t use this technology because their profits would plummet. The skeptic in me easily believes this, although I have nothing to substantiate the accusation.
The average house has between 50 and 100 light sockets according to Wal-Mart’s vice president of sustainability, Andy Ruben. Fifty light sockets? My house is smaller than the average, but I count 30 in our 1,500 square foot bungalow.
Compact flourescent light bulbs (CFLs) have been around for a while now. I love the idea of not having to change a bulb every four months. I love the idea of using less energy — of paying less for my electricity. But I have only ever purchased two CFLs. The two I bought illuminate my studio. They do a decent job, although like other flourescent bulbs they don’t do well in cold rooms (which my studio is before I start up the little wall heater).
Wal-Mart wants to sell 100 million CFL bulbs this year. Brian Huyser wants to change one billion bulbs, and he created a website to encourage and track this movement.
The one reason I have not tried these bulbs in other parts of the house is because of their light quality. The light is harsh and industrial. Electrical companies are devising new bulbs in order to abate this unpleasant light quality, and I understand some of my aversion may be tied to what I am used too. But I personally cannot sacrifice aesthetics for energy. Besides, I’d much rather install solar shingles or a backyard wind turbine and generate my own sustainable energy than keep paying for energy off of the grid.
Paul, I agree. That’s the same reason I haven’t switched to CFL bulbs too. I hope the quality improves, but I’m not confident it will. I’m hoping maybe LED technology continues to improve and maybe we’ll all light our house with those someday.
I will just add two other thoughts. One being that many people who are sensitive to stray voltage claim that flourescents are quite toxic to their systems. Of course people who love the energy savings tend to pooh pooh such claims but I wonder if these sensitive people are the “canarys” in our society, showing symptoms of toxicity that actually poisons us all to some extent…
Additionally, in my community flourescent bulbs are considered toxic waste and are not allowed into landfills but must be thrown away at special centers. I think that might be about their mercury content.
Story on NPR about the toxicity of CFLs: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198