The Bulb Hoarders.

News Type: Other — Seeded on Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:41 AM EDT

Article Source: BBC News

technology, energy, power, electricity, bulbs, stockpile, hoard

The government wants your old-fashioned energy-hungry incandescent tungsten light bulb gone, and gone soon. But some people are willing to go to great lengths to hang onto the lights they love.

Incandescent bulbs - that's the traditional kind to you or me - waste 95% of the energy they use, according to Greenpeace. They calculate that phasing them out in the UK will save more than five million tonnes in CO2 emissions a year.

And yet some households are so attached to them that they not only keep buying them - they're stockpiling them ahead of the day when they're no longer available.

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Sandie Seward's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Newsvine Fogey's Association, UK Viners
Regions: London

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2.9

{"commentId":2085155,"authorDomain":"seward"}

Sandie Seward

Are you a light bulb hoarder? Do you prefer the older type lightbulbs, or the Low Energy kind?

{"commentId":2085155,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"seward"}

2 votes

#1 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:42 AM EDT

{"commentId":2085463,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

FDBryant3

Personally I prefer the CFL's but I've heard some interesting things about the brain being able to perceive the flicker of fluorescent lights - even if you don't notice it consiously. I don't know if applies to the compacts though.

Overall I think it is wrong to ban them. The market will take care them.

{"commentId":2085463,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

3 votes

#1.1 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:16 AM EDT

{"commentId":2085581,"authorDomain":"seward"}

Sandie Seward

I have those Low Energy bulbs i my bathroom, hallway, kitchen, and bedroom. I do not want them in my Sitting-Room, besides, they won't fit my mini-chandeliers!

{"commentId":2085581,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"seward"}

3 votes

#1.2 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:29 AM EDT

{"commentId":2087378,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}

Behind My Screen

they have minis for those too :-)

{"commentId":2087378,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}

3 votes

#1.3 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":2089375,"authorDomain":"seward"}

Sandie Seward

Yes, I know, but I don't like the light they produce, another good reason for staying with ordinary bulbs for as long as possible!

{"commentId":2089375,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"seward"}

1 vote

#1.4 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:37 PM EDT

{"commentId":2087001,"authorDomain":"Keter"}

Keter

When the incandescents are no longer available, I am going to either organic luminescent paint or candles/lamps. Fluorescents of any type give me debilitating headaches. LEDs do, too, and cast no ambient light to speak of. I work on a computer 12+ hours a day, and when I can't have incandescent light to smooth out the screen flicker, I will not be able to work those hours. I'm already planning ahead in case I have to change careers because of this.

Lower CO2 by causing people to resort to burning oil and wax? Yeah, right. Real saving there...

BTW, the black market will probably fill the gap.

{"commentId":2087001,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"Keter"}

1 vote

#2 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":2087407,"authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}

Behind My Screen

LEDs? Seriously? They have no flicker at all and LED lamps are set up with refractors to cast the light to create ambiant lighting. I think, if anyting, it is the wave lengths, perhaps a difuser would help you.

And if screen flicker is a problem, I suggest breaking down and buying a nice LCD screen, there is no redraw flicker.

{"commentId":2087407,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"behindmyscreen"}

3 votes

#2.1 - Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":2091830,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

backroads

Sandie, I have half a dozen 60-watt bulbs. One lasts a year at least. I'm thrifty.

{"commentId":2091830,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}

1 vote

#3 - Tue Jul 1, 2008 2:07 AM EDT

{"commentId":2092337,"authorDomain":"seward"}

Sandie Seward

I have been buying up those little long-life bulbs from Tesco's. I have at least six in my kitchen cupboard at present. They are 100watts, and last a long while, though not as long as the Low Energy ones.

{"commentId":2092337,"threadId":"302536","contentId":"1625364","authorDomain":"seward"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Tue Jul 1, 2008 6:33 AM EDT

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SANDIE SEWARD

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The Bulb Hoarders.

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