"Energy Efficient" Nonsense !

[fightingquaker13]

Billt, our local utility company shows a usage chart for the prior 12-15 months or so on every bill, so definitely ask them if yours does not to give you a breakdown of your usage. You may have "saved" and not realized it. Remember, tho, the "public" utilities are for-profit corporations, so as you and your neighbors cut usage, they have to raise rates to maintain or improve their revenue/profit streams.

That may be true in North Dakota Path, but its not in Arizona and Florida. People flock here every day, and to keep up with the ever increasing demand, power companies have to build new plants (which is a regulatory nightmare) and buy power from over the grid. Both are costly. Here, they actually save money when folks use less. In your neck of the woods, with a stable or shrinking population, I'd expect them to be flogging 1,000 watt floodlights for your yard and encouraging you to set your thermostats at 80 degrees in winter and 70 degrees in the summer to bring in more cash.
FQ13

[JC5123]

That may be true in North Dakota Path, but its not in Arizona and Florida. People flock here every day, and to keep up with the ever increasing demand, power companies have to build new plants (which is a regulatory nightmare) and buy power from over the grid. Both are costly. Here, they actually save money when folks use less. In your neck of the woods, with a stable or shrinking population, I'd expect them to be flogging 1,000 watt floodlights for your yard and encouraging you to set your thermostats at 80 degrees in winter and 70 degrees in the summer to bring in more cash.
FQ13

Not exactly.....Where do you think FL and AZ not to mention CA are buy power FROM? They force us to ration so they have more to sell to you...and then charge us at a higher rate because we are considered "low use" customers, and how dare they not make just as much off of us. 

We have HUGE wind farms (which I won't delve into) and pretty much all of the power produced by these P.O.S.s goes out of state. And here is the real kicker, and it works the same way with our oil too. We produce it, and refine it, and send it out of state. Then if we want to use it, we have to buy it back at an inflated rate. WTF is up with that? We can't even use the resources that we produce? We have to sell it, and then buy it back WITH mark up? This all goes back to commerce clause B.S.
So hope you like our wind power, and gasoline, it'd be nice to keep some for ourselves. We have long drives between towns.  

[Badgersmilk]

I don't particularly like the type of light they make.  And having them on a circuit causes "dirty electricity" for everything else on it in that the CFLs mess up the cycle rate (can even be unhealthy to be around).  But, I've got a "Kilowatt" meter that you plug into the wall, then plug your stuff into, and it'll tell you what the exact amperage draw is for that device.  The CFL's DO live up to their power saving claim. 

We're an "I want it now!", live for the moment society.  So piss on the fact that they become toxic waste when you throw one away!   

[fightingquaker13]

We're an "I want it now!", live for the moment society.  So piss on the fact that they become toxic waste when you throw one away!   

Just think about that every time your kid pisses you off. It'll make you smile.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Even here in NH we have 5 "wind farms" and they want to put in another.
Even with heating, our peak usage is in the summer. But here's the thing, you've got these "Ecof*ckers" bitching about everything.
The 2 oil fired plants in Newington pollute to much, (they meet EPA rules ) the oil fired plant in Bow pollutes to much, (again totally EPA compliant ) the nuke plant in Seabrook is, well, a nuke plant, you'd think they wanted to set off a bomb the way these A holes carry on about that. All the hydro plants are bad for the fish, the wind farms are "unsightly".
So PSNH said "f*ck it, we'll buy power from Hydro Quebec". Now the A holes with a cord or charger for every damned thing they own are protesting where they want to run the power lines.
You just can not satisfy these idiots so to hell with them. Get over it or buy a f*cking candle.
(oops, I forgot, sulfur in the matches )

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

It could be as Tom mentioned. Electric rates have gone up, but I haven't seen any increase on my bill, so perhaps there is something there. As far as the CFL's. I've had a few go bad, maybe 3 or 4. I have had a couple that delay. You turn on the switch, and it takes about a second or two before they come on. I agree that you must leave them on for long periods to realize any savings. Fluorescents, CFL or otherwise, don't do well if they're turned on and off a lot.

As far as all of the "danger" with them, I haven't paid any attention. I haven't broken one, but I toss them like any other bulb. There is very little Mercury in them.   Bill T.

Some CFL bulbs are built with the delay, some have it designed out.  Check the package, it should say which it is.

[JC5123]

Just a side note, as this is something that hits home for me. While still not fully proven, they have linked mercury to Autism. And with the guidelines required for cleaning up a CFL, it doesn't seem worth it. I say that this hits home because I have a younger brother who is Autistic. Plus, I really don't like the idea of having the risk of mercury in my home. I don't care how trace the amount.

(I know you guys are going to give me crap because of all my reloading supplies and every other toxic substance that we all have, but if there is a safer, AND CHEAPER alternative that has been proven over time, why would I switch?)

[fightingquaker13]

Just a side note, as this is something that hits home for me. While still not fully proven, they have linked mercury to Autism. And with the guidelines required for cleaning up a CFL, it doesn't seem worth it. I say that this hits home because I have a younger brother who is Autistic. Plus, I really don't like the idea of having the risk of mercury in my home. I don't care how trace the amount.

(I know you guys are going to give me crap because of all my reloading supplies and every other toxic substance that we all have, but if there is a safer, AND CHEAPER alternative that has been proven over time, why would I switch?)

Why indeed? Tungsten bulbs haven't failed me yet. Hell, I liked the $15 torchiere halogen lights you could buy at Home Depot and am pissed that they are no longer available. Fire hazard, yes, just be careful! Its called being a responsible adult.
FQ13

[JC5123]

Why indeed? Tungsten bulbs haven't failed me yet. Hell, I liked the $15 torchiere halogen lights you could buy at Home Depot and am pissed that they are no longer available. Fire hazard, yes, just be careful! Its called being a responsible adult.
FQ13

Personally I'm all about LED. Burns cool, provides cleaner, brighter light, and uses a fraction of the energy. Downside? Cost of course. But with more people buying them, the cost IS coming down. Very slowly, but it is happening.

[fightingquaker13]

Personally I'm all about LED. Burns cool, provides cleaner, brighter light, and uses a fraction of the energy. Downside? Cost of course. But with more people buying them, the cost IS coming down. Very slowly, but it is happening.

JC (and others) if you have money to invest in the market, buy shares in companies making LEDs. There is the future (plastics! ).
FQ13
PS Hazardous waste disposal companies don't suck either.