Energy saving light bulbs? What's the hold up U.S.A.?

Question

Honestly, I have only used those curly spiral incondescant light bulbs for about 6 years now. My electric bills without electric heat and without sdummer tempertature air conditioning have saved me easily $350 to over $1200 per year in energy costs. Why can't everyone switch to these light bulbs? And. I also unplug my computer, all extension chords, all power-using tvs and other electricity comsuming things I own when I am not using them. I have saved literally $350 to over $1200 per year on my electric consumption. Why not then, can NOT all U.S.A. homes apartments and businesses do the same switch and us only these types of light bulbs. My oldest bulb is about 6 years old. Not any of these bulbs have EVER burned out. Please USA people and especially business, convert to the incondescent or curly cue light bulbs. Why are we not adhering to this and why is this not the law?(I know, law matters, and enforcement of such laws would be difficult to enforce.

Answer 1

Um...OK...A few things.

1.  Those light bulbs suck.  I have one in my garage and one in my laundry room.  If it's cold, they barely light up.  I had some in my dining room but the lighting was horrid.  

2.  I am all about saving money...and a previous poster was correct...if you are saving $100 a month in energy, it's from unplugging, not the light bulbs.  My bill is rarely even that much ($100) and I have a 12 room house, with electric/gas furnace.

3.  The day the government is going to tell me what kind of freaking lightbulb I am forced to use is the day I go to CostCo and stock up on all the regular ones.  I may just start doing it now.

4.  Why are you so concerned?  If you actually researched "global warming", you would come to learn it's a freaking joke.  Research it.  Start with "what is global warming".  Continue on the research with  what are "greenhouse gases".  Once you see that greenhouse gases consist of water vapor, find out what percentage it is...(about 95% water vapor)...and see that only about 5% are "other" gases...you might get a bit mad when you see the charts omitting water vapor and leading people to believe that it is 76% (ish) carbon dioxide...when really, it is only 76% (ish) of the FIVE PERCENT.  

Then, while you are at it, find out how much CO2 humans exhale in a year compared to vehicle emmisions.  (Vehicles emit 12 times more CO2 in a year than humans).  Hmmm...I wonder how much CO2 animals exhale?  

I just wish that people would pull their heads out and THINK for themselves and try to find objective truth...but no...instead I get a sheep saying how there should be a law mandating the use of crappy lightbulbs.

You really want to help?  Go plant some trees and get a few houseplants.  They love CO2 and magically turn it in to oxygen.

Answer 2

thats a big span....you have saved 350 TO 1200 a year.....

well which is it?

Because if you saved that much - I'm thinking you were using a bit too much in the first place...

Thats 29 to 100 dollars a month.

My electricity bill (without those bulbs by the way) is about 12.....

So why dont you just plain try using less before you get on a soapbox

Answer 3

Actually, you were probably saving more with all the unplugging than you were with the lightbulbs.

Is China going to require its citizens to use the fluorescents? What about Brazil?

What about the increased costs of manufacturing?... the mercury? What about the company that will have to stop operations because Joey swung the ladder and knocked the lamp over?

And if they are so great then why does it take the power of the state to make people use them? Is it perhaps more of a case of the top manufacturers need the government to create the demand?

Answer 4

they have money to waist  on  electricity

i see some house in Chicago with 3 light on the  outside of the house and the house is next to a street light  

what i waist of electricity

Answer 5

i dont know about others but all of the room in my apartment are switched over to CFL bulbs and are great!

i also unplug unused appliances except for refrigerator and i also notice savings from my electric bill from there.

Answer 6

I use floresent bulbs in some rooms.   But, honestly, I hate the harsh color that they give.  Also, they aren't compatible with dimmer switches.  So, I have them in my kitchen and bathroom, but in my living room, I use incandesant.  It really makes very little difference to my power bill, since I live alone and use very little electricy on lighting.

Now...my natural gas bill...THAT'S another story...it's SKY HIGH!

Answer 7

People don't use them because they are free to chose not to.  Simple as that.

Answer 8

I notice the EPA warns of their mercury hazard.  Break one and you are supposed to skedaddle.  There are lots of other side effects to using them: