Australia outlaws the light bulb

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2007-02-20 07:46pm

Light bulbs get the flick

THE initial cost of replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs will be offset by longer-term savings, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull this morning announced standard incandescent light bulbs would be phased out within three years in a bid to reduce energy consumption.

"We are introducing new energy efficiency standards and these old lights simply won't comply, they will be phased out and basically over a period of time they will no longer be for sale," Mr Turnbull said.

Compact fluorescent or low-wattage bulbs cost about $5 more, but are more energy-efficient and save an average of $30 per year.

"They'll be a bit dearer to start off with but over time they'll be less expensive and they'll last four to 10 times longer," said Mr Howard.

"We need to take practical measures in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

The standard incandescent light bulb, developed for the mass market more than 125 years ago, consists of a metal filament glowing white-hot in a vacuum which wastes up to 95 per cent of the energy it uses.

Compact fluorescent lights use about a fifth of the electricity to produce the same illumination. Each bulb also lasts between four and 10 times longer.

The move to sell the electorate a simpler environment policy contrasts with Labor's plan to introduce emissions trading, increase mandatory renewable energy targets and sign the international Kyoto climate agreement.

Details of the plan, including costs, have not been made available, but a source said it was expected the purchase cost of the new technology lights would come down as the volume of sales dramatically increased.

Federal Government figures suggest energy used for household lighting in Australia contributes up to 12 per cent of coal-energy greenhouse gas emissions and around 25 per cent of emissions from commercial and public lighting.

It is felt the change to fluorescent lighting could cut greenhouse gas emissions by the order of 800,000 tonnes a year by 2012.

Founder of environment group Planet Ark, Jon Dee, said he had been working with Mr Turnbull's predecessor, Ian Campbell, and lighting company Phillips on the idea since late last year.

Mr Dee said Planet Ark and Phillips were to announce a Ban the Bulb campaign next week, but that had now been gazumped by Mr Turnbull's announcement.

Although he was disappointed by Mr Turnbull's timing, he was glad the Government had made the decision.

"The fact is we have to do more real world things to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce climate change," he said.

"The fact that the Government is committing to this idea is absolutely fantastic."

In all seriousness, this is probably a good idea.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2007-02-20 07:48pm

Good on them.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2007-02-20 07:50pm

Yeah, I use flourescents in my flat anyway.

Though in every house I've ever lived in I've always found that one of the light fixtures just can't cope with the extra weight of them, and that one needs an incandescent. (It's also useful to have those for lights that aren't going to be on so often, but where you need light immediately. Hall lights, for example, as flourescents take a minute or so to reach full brightness.)

Ypoknons · Post by **Ypoknons** » 2007-02-20 08:04pm

Greater availability would be awesome. Like, fluorescents in every deli.

Adrian Laguna · Post by **Adrian Laguna** » 2007-02-20 08:26pm

Vendetta wrote:Yeah, I use fluorescents in my flat anyway.

Though in every house I've ever lived in I've always found that one of the light fixtures just can't cope with the extra weight of them, and that one needs an incandescent. (It's also useful to have those for lights that aren't going to be on so often, but where you need light immediately. Hall lights, for example, as fluorescents take a minute or so to reach full brightness.)

The fluorescents in my room reach full brightness immediately. And when my mother changed the lights over our dining table she put in only 3 fluorescents to substitute the five old incandescents. Even with 2 less bulbs the table is noticeably brighter. In fact, the only lights that take a while to reach full brightness are the kitchen ones, not sure if they are old fluorescents or incandescent.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2007-02-20 08:34pm

Mine have a noticable ramp up. I think there is a difference between different models. The higher power ones (usually around 22W) are brighter and get brighter quicker. (The ones in my flat are all 18W).

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2007-02-20 08:53pm

Good move fluorescents are so much better that filament bulbs both in reducing energy consumption and waste, we moved into our house over a year and a half ago and replaced all our filament bulbs with energy saving ones, since then we've only had to replace one. In contrast my parents still use filaments & they fail & have to be chucked out so often they find it necessary to keep a big box of spares.

General Brock · Post by **General Brock** » 2007-02-20 09:47pm

Excellent move; I wonder if that would be possible in NA.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » 2007-02-20 11:11pm

I use CF lights cause of the notable cost savings on my electric bill. I think i have a couple incandecents left because i haven't found 3way CF and the lights over my stove take odd halogen.

I do know you can get dimmible CF lights though they cost significantly more then the regular ones.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-02-20 11:19pm

I thought ramp-up was a function of the switch, not the bulb? You can buy special switches to ramp up brightness instead of going from pitch-black to super-bright (which is neat) but none of the fluro bulbs I've ever used or seen used does it by itself. Regular fluros can have such an effect if the starter thing is busted, though.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2007-02-20 11:53pm

Vendetta wrote:Mine have a noticable ramp up. I think there is a difference between different models. The higher power ones (usually around 22W) are brighter and get brighter quicker. (The ones in my flat are all 18W).

It's due to the starter/ballast used in the fluorescent lamp. There are some using integrated electronics. Those have no perceptible ramp-up time whatsoever. Many, though, use discrete capacitors and resistors. These ones do have a ramp-up time to full brightness.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-02-21 12:40am

Vendetta wrote:Mine have a noticable ramp up. I think there is a difference between different models. The higher power ones (usually around 22W) are brighter and get brighter quicker. (The ones in my flat are all 18W).

I find that the covered fluorescent lights always start out dim and get brighter over time, presumably because they employ some kind of coating on the bulb which smooths out the natural 60Hz flicker of the fluorescent bulb but at the cost of the warm-up time.

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2007-02-21 01:38am

I use CF lights in my place and the apartment complex where I live has them over every apartment's front door. They take a few minutes to get to full brightness, but throw out quite a bit of light. They last a long time too. Each of the lights are on a timer and come on automatically, staying lit for about 8 hours a day. I've been here 5 years and the CF light over our front door has only been replaced once (the apartment complex itself opened in 2000).

Zor · Post by **Zor** » 2007-02-21 01:53am

Good for the Commonwealth of Australia.

Zor

Post by **weemadando** » 2007-02-21 02:14am

I think I'll switch straight from incandescant to LED arrays, so I can still turn the lights down low to get freaky.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2007-02-21 04:38am

I'll keep using normal bulbs until LEDs come around

loomer · Post by **loomer** » 2007-02-21 06:16am

Until we get LED arrays, we're stocking up. We'll use fluros for the kitchen, bathroom, dining room, that sort of thing. But for our bedrooms, where we want soft, relaxing light that also works with a dimmer without costing a fuckton more? We'll use incandescents.

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2007-02-21 07:33am

From what I just saw on the lunchtime new, The UK may follow Australia's lead on this

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2007-02-22 08:25pm

loomer wrote:Until we get LED arrays, we're stocking up. We'll use fluros for the kitchen, bathroom, dining room, that sort of thing. But for our bedrooms, where we want soft, relaxing light that also works with a dimmer without costing a fuckton more? We'll use incandescents.

Fluorescent lights cost more up front, but given that they last years longer than incandescent, you may be saving money in the long run, not to mention the money saved through lower energy usage. I think fluorescent lights than produce the warmer, "soft" light you mention are getting easier to find too. The dimmer issue can be a problem, but they do exist.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2007-02-22 08:56pm

Darth Wong wrote: I find that the covered fluorescent lights always start out dim and get brighter over time, presumably because they employ some kind of coating on the bulb which smooths out the natural 60Hz flicker of the fluorescent bulb but at the cost of the warm-up time.

It's always noticable, if you know what you're looking for. It may simply be that the brighter bulbs reach the threshold level I think of as "dim" earlier than the particular bulbs I use, and so they appear to ramp to full quicker.

Fluorescent lights cost more up front, but given that they last years longer than incandescent,

I've never had to replace a flourescent bulb. The average is that they last eight times longer. Paying many times over for their increased cost.