Eco bulbs:

[Kerry Parker and Andy Price]

I agree with Bob: we should be able to put an energy figure on the production of comoditites such as filament and compact flourescent light bulbs.  I used to have a video which put a value in Joule on cars, houses and all sorts of everyday items: it was very dated, so I no longer use it, but I always wondered where the values came from.  I once met some very high-powered energy-policy people in Britain on a train: their view was that we do have a value, measured in dollars (because the price reflects the energy cost).  I disagree with that assessment because I think that relatively cheap energy in the form of fossil fuels give us a bias.  

Has anyone seen any energy and enivironmental assessment system that would assess the relative 'good' of the two types of bulbs?  It is bound to be flawed, but then at least we can have a meaningful discussion.  Unless we try to quantify the risks we can't make any progress.  

Following the discussion about mercury (good on Paul's wife!!) I was interested to read about Fallon, Nevada which is an acute lymphocytic leukemia cluster .   The presence of tunsten  in biological and drinking water samples in Fallon, Nevada, has "alarmed public health, environmental and regulatory agencies. "  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TGF-4HTCW5T-S&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=08e168eb617f5239d29002060c45fecd

regards
Kerry

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob Evans 
  To: phys-teach-talk at nzip.org.nz 
  Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 4:05 PM
  Subject: RE: Eco bulbs:


  At 11:04 a.m. 17/08/2008 +1200, Paul King wrote:


    With respect to the economics of moving to Eco-bulbs. The small capital cost
    involved with such a switch is repaid with interest within 6 months of
    installation, and over the lifetime of an eco bulb (20 W) savings amount to
    about $75 at least. This is electricity not generated, gas not ignited. It
    is a genuine, major cost saving as well a huge energy efficiency boost. Now
    to apply the same effort to getting insulation retrofitted.

  I have wondered how much energy is required to manufacture eco-bulbs compared to filament bulbs.  This needs to be taken into account when comparing the two types.


    And in the early 60's my wife's unattended science class snitched some
    mercury. Apparently the whole class put drops in their mouths where the
    slithering cool in the groves of the  tongue produced weirdly sensual
    sensations! There was no outbreak of mercury poisoning and she remains
    extraordinarily clever.

  Even earlier our school dental nurse allowed us to play with mercury using our fingers and I don't think I've been affected adversely (others may disagree, however!).   Seriously though, I agree mercury is dangerous but we've had fluorescent lights for decades now.

  Bob




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