Almost 20 percent of all the energy produced in the world is used to power lights. Energy-saving bulbs could help -- though so far the ones on the market aren't quite up to par. The potential is enormous. If all the traditional light bulbs in the world were replaced with energy-saving ones, lighting energy use could be cut by 40 percent. By 2030, 16 billion tons of CO2 would have been prevented from escaping into the atmosphere. That's according to a new study released by the renowned Worldwatch Institute. Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Traditional bulbs only turn five percent of the electricity they use into light The use of energy saving bulbs is on the rise worldwide. Since the beginning of the century, use has tripled to over four billion, and some countries are calling for more. Australia has even gone so far as to say that after October 2009 the sale of traditional light bulbs will be outlawed. Manufacturers say energy-saving bulbs have an efficiency factor of 25 percent -- five times that of a traditional light bulb. Energy saving bulbs also last longer, and experts predict that those who use them save up to 100 euros ($125) per lamp over a 10-year period.
The potential is enormous. If all the traditional light bulbs in the world were replaced with energy-saving ones, lighting energy use could be cut by 40 percent. By 2030, 16 billion tons of CO2 would have been prevented from escaping into the atmosphere. That's according to a new study released by the renowned Worldwatch Institute.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Traditional bulbs only turn five percent of the electricity they use into light
The use of energy saving bulbs is on the rise worldwide. Since the beginning of the century, use has tripled to over four billion, and some countries are calling for more. Australia has even gone so far as to say that after October 2009 the sale of traditional light bulbs will be outlawed.
Manufacturers say energy-saving bulbs have an efficiency factor of 25 percent -- five times that of a traditional light bulb. Energy saving bulbs also last longer, and experts predict that those who use them save up to 100 euros ($125) per lamp over a 10-year period.
But not everyone is singing the praises of the little bulbs that could. The German ecological product review "Oekotest" put 16 models through a rigorous set of tests and came to a sobering conclusion: Most energy saving light bulbs aren't as bright as they should be. According to the magazine, the light quality was poor, sometimes flickered and didn't last as long as manufacturers claimed. The lamps were also found to contain poisonous mercury. In the end, "Oekotest" said energy-saving lamps were hardly recommendable.
But not everyone is singing the praises of the little bulbs that could. The German ecological product review "Oekotest" put 16 models through a rigorous set of tests and came to a sobering conclusion: Most energy saving light bulbs aren't as bright as they should be.
According to the magazine, the light quality was poor, sometimes flickered and didn't last as long as manufacturers claimed. The lamps were also found to contain poisonous mercury. In the end, "Oekotest" said energy-saving lamps were hardly recommendable.
The bulbs do have mercury in them, which is a significant concern if you break them. Don't break them. Do recycle them.
The entrance and bathroom (as in bath room, American readers) ones seem instantaneous.
In the living room there are two. One looks pretty much instantaneous. Strangely, the other one seems to vary, it sometimes take a while, but the immediate light is quite enough to be useful.
Now, none of those was sold as having no significant heating up time. You can get some of those, but they don't have quite the same energy saving so I didn't. On the other hand, I'm not sure about the power conversions. The manufacturer will claim it's as bright as a so many watts incandescent bulb, and sometimes I'm not too sure it's quite true.
I've never had to change one.
LEDs are brightest of all, by some distance, and last forever. Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi
