Shedding light on call to ban bulb (BBC) {update of earlier opinion}

[eppur_se_muova]

In February, Dr Matt Prescott used the Green Room to call for the traditional {incandescent} light bulb to be banned. This week, he responds to some of the comments and questions raised by readers.

One of the reasons I proposed the eventual banning of incandescent light bulbs was that the phased ban of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) worked extremely well when it was used to tackle the hole in the atmosphere's ozone layer.

Today, nobody misses CFC-based aerosol technology or even notices that other technologies have taken their place.
***
Energy-saving light bulbs have been available for 30 years, and although they are quick and simple to use, require five times less electricity to do much the same job, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60-70% and save users approximately £7 per bulb each year, they have not caught on.
***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4922496.stm

The link to the original opinion is also on that page. Also check out http://banthebulb.org/

EDIT to add note, link

[skids]

1. Catchy. I like it.

"Ban The Bulb" is just the sort of slogan that might work. Of course an outright ban isn't in order (there are a few niches where incandescent lighting is truly needed) but that's part of the charm of it: let people think you want an all-out ban, then those who need incandescents will get all riled up about it, and those people who are just contrarian asses will pile on. Mission accomplished.

Because we all know the best way to be totally ignored these days is to say something emminently reasonable.

But if it were the source of an ongoing low-key flamewar, bystanders might actually bother to learn about CF bulbs (and the future promise of LED-nanocrystal bulbs sans mercury and about as fragile as a dog toy, once the efficiency comes up another 20 lumens/watt)

[NNadir]

2. This is a good plan.

[skids]

3. Ooh hey this looks interesting... 100Lumen/Watt LED.

(03/13/2006 1:28 PM EST)

TOKYO — Nichia Corp. has developed a white LED chip with 100-lumens/watt efficiency, with volume production expected this year. The move comes amid an intensifying race to boost the efficiency of white LEDs so the parts can compete against conventional lighting devices.

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=181503227

That's better than CF. (Though I have seen some vendors claim about that figure for some ultra-efficient CF lights.) So it may really end up being the case that the CF bulb you put in today will be replaced by an LED bulb when it finally blows out.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Thanks for that post & link. IMO, the best situation would be TWO ...

alternatives to the original incandescent, competing with each other for best performance. It seems we have that. Now each will be advertising their own virtues even more heavily, and it will just draw more attention.

I really would like to know how you can make a CF without mercury. I don't doubt it can be done, and I thought someone had posted before that they were available. Anyone know details, particularly where to buy, or brand names?