Should Government BAN Incandescent Light Bulbs?
No questions lately so a semi-rant:
I have been recommending that my clients select 100% fluorescent lighting for their kitchens for the last twelve years or so. Ever since I attended a seminar by Randall Whitehead, a renowned San Francisco lighting designer, back in the 90's. Randall convinced me that fluorescent was the sensible choice for kitchen lighting back then, when we HAD a choice. Fluorescents consume far less energy, burn cooler and last way longer than their incandescent forbears. Compact fluorescent lights have even recently come down in price and become available in various shapes like spots and floods. Hooray!
Before the 90's I was already recommending fluorescent general lighting in kitchens in conformance with California's Title 24 Energy Code. I started small, with fluorescent general lighting (preferably indirect) and incandescent recessed cans for task lighting; mixing the few available colors of fluorescent with the warmer incandescent light to get a satisfactory overall result. Then, as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) came into being and became available in better colors of light produced, I began to recommend using fluorescent recessed can lights as well. All this while my peers, and the general public, were avoiding fluorescent like the plague and dallying with super-hot halogens (You know, those lights in torchieres that set so many dorm rooms on fire before the colleges banned them).
In the intervening years fluorescents have been made available in a much wider range of colors that can be utilized with the full range of colors we find in today's kitchens. So, while incandescents are only available in a warm golden color of light that does horrible things to some colors, fluorescents are being continually improved.
Nowadays I am even more strident in my recommendations, with California's energy crisis behind us and global warming staring us in the face.
Recently I have noticed a number of nations (Australia, for example, with an outright ban) and States, including California, are discussing a total ban on incandescent bulbs, with some exceptions, such as appliance bulbs. Is It Time to Ban the Bulb?
Radical that I am: I think it IS time to ban the energy hogging incandescent, until such time as technology has improved its performance to match that of fluorescent. Such a move would go a long way toward cutting our dependence on scarce resources and stretching the energy we produce farther. Fluorescent is the 21st Century way of lighting our environments; especially the kitchen.
Peggy
Posts
Who knew there was so much to switching on a light? I hope that California does not ban the incandescent outright. What's to come of all the beautiful light fixtures that require incandescents? Can you put a CFL in a Crystal Chandelier?
ReplyDeleteI read that GE plans on introducing the high efficacy incandescent. This is a step in the right direction for energy conservation. If these high efficacy bulbs can be used in place of the less efficient bulbs, that would be great.
As for me, I am educating my clients that by using the color corrected CFL's in the kitchen, with a color rendering index of 70 and above, a warm, flattering color of light is achievable.
Thanks for your comments Laurie.
ReplyDeleteNo you can't put a CFL in a crystal chandelier...YET. But as fast as things have been moving since last October's Title 24 update here in California, I have no doubt that we would have something to use in that chandelier by the time a ban went into effect. Industry can move like lightening when sales are threatened.
Good for you in educating your clients on fluorescents and their benefits! Our poor warming environemnt needs every bit of help it can get.
Peggy
So now that I have to be creative with lighting sources, I found Nancy Mc Coy's light box for designers. A very cool resource for introducing flourescent lighting to clients. http://www.so-sonoma.com/about.html
ReplyDeleteStyled like a briefcase, take it from design studio to client's home and prove that your material colors stay vibrant and true in the chosen light.
When you compare your materials under the Light Kit's four different fluorescents and one incandescent bulb, you avoid costly surprises. And you reassure clients that fluorescent light is not a curse, but an attractive, energy-saving solution you know how to use.
There are a lot of stylish light fixtures for modern design. Still waiting for lighting companies to introduce more Tuscan and Old World style fixture for kitchens.
Laurie
I bought a Light Kit from Nancy last year. It is very useful...I just wish it were in a lighter-weight case. It is rather heavy if you have to carry it far. A better approach would be to add one of those wheeled luggage carriers attachments if I can find one.
ReplyDeleteFluorescent light is horrible and the tubes contain mercury.
ReplyDeleteThere are better ways to conserve than forcing fluorescents on everyone.
There needs to be some "quality of life".
Maybe we should go back to paper and turn off all these computers?
C'mon "Anonymous", haven't you heard Al Gore?
ReplyDelete1. Fluorescents save energy compared to your precious incandescents. A LOT of energy.
2. They last a lot longer too.
3. You can spend a few more bucks and buy high CRI fluorescents and look good too!
4. Mercury can be mitigated if the spent lamps are properly disposed of.
5. Get with the program. We all are in this together.
Peggy
Peggy, tell you what… if you want to push legislation, put a limit/tax on kWh used and let people use the kW any way they choose.
ReplyDeleteHow much power does it take to support this website?
If the government tells me I can’t choose incandescent lights maybe they should tell you to stop posting & blogging.
And by the way, the majority of people will NOT dispose of CFLs properly, they will just chuck‘em in the trash. Forward thinkers know this, and they know the real consequence of mercury contamination. The proposed ban in USA will be reversed…. wait and see. J