How many JumbleTown Admins does it take to change a lightbulb?

[Chris P]

Answer: None. Sure, everyone knows we burn the midnight oil.

But seriously...

Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, is thinking of introducing a levy on traditional light bulbs (like the one that currently exists on plastic bags). This levy is aimed at encouraging people to switch to energy-saving/long-life bulbs, or to give them their proper name, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).

"We all know that the traditional light bulb is very inefficient," says Minister Roche. Modern CFL bulbs save 80% of the energy and last 15 times longer, so they help the environment and our pockets at the same time. Using long life lightbulbs, or Compact Fluorescent Lamps, for one year would save Ireland more than €32 million and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by several hundred thousand tonnes.

"The German Presidency of the EU has suggested an outright ban. However, this is likely to take some time. Because of the Single Market, Ireland cannot ban inefficient bulbs unilaterally but we could consider an environmental levy to change behavior, in advance of a ban, the same way we did with the plastic bag levy. I propose to include this proposal in the Government's new Climate Change Strategy which I will be launching shortly.

"Old-fashioned bulbs may be cheap to buy, but they work out more expensive in the long run because of their short life and inefficient energy use. Any incentive to get people to buy energy saving bulbs, even a levy, will save people money in the long run."

Source: Department of the Environment Press Release (13-3-07)
http://www.environ.ie/DOEI/DOEIPub.n...2?OpenDocument

[Chris P]

See here for a BBC vox pop on the pros and cons of the traditional lightbulb and the new energy-saving bulb:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4837728.stm

[Little Chip]

Where I can use them I do but (as some people have commented on in the links provided) what about light fittings that do not accommodate these bulbs...?

Looks like other countries have energy saving bulbs of all shapes and sizes…I have only seen one type here (please correct me if I am wrong)…I think this issue needs to be addressed first; otherwise some light fittings will become obsolete. What will we do with them? Send them to land fill?

[jumblequeen]

I agree, they need to have more choices, shapes. Also, why dont they reduce the price of the energy saving light bulbs, and make them more affordable? Its always the same with the government, they put the price up on the bad stuff (for our own benefit), but dont reduce the price on the good stuff.
I use them where I can, but because of light fittings in the house, there are a few normal bulbs that I cant replace.

[acket]

I agree in principle with the use of energy saving bulbs but an outright ban on conventional tungsten bulbs would be a bit misguided and jumping the gun. I have replaced almost all the bulbs in my house with CFLs but they are not practical for everywhere. Any lights that are turned on and off regularly or require dimming should not be replaced with CFL. While they may in principle last longer they dont if they are switched too often.
Another advantage not often mentioned is CFLs run much cooler than tungsten, so less skin burns and fewer fires from charred fittings or accidentally covered lampshades should also result.
As I often forget to turn off lights, I feel less guilty as you are recommended to leave them on.
We are very poorly served in this country with variety and quality of CFL. I have searched high and low to find a compact daylight variety to replace one for a reading lamp that died on me and what I found 3 yrs ago is just not available here.
CFLs are not the only answer, LED technology has leaped and bounded in the last very few years and I am sure these will eventually fill some of the gaps not served by CFL. But they are still way over priced here. High power LED torches can already replace conventional, I bought 3 in Asia for less than 2 euro each, the equivalent here is 40, yet they all come from China, so markup is the problem, not base manufacturing price.
So whatever the recommended replacement, make it affordable and people will follow.

[Chris P]

I notice that An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, announced today that all Government Departments and Public Service offices will have switched to CFLs by 2008 (or thereabouts) and that this would knock 5% off their annual energy bill.

[jumblequeen]

Why not now? Why in 2008 or thereabouts. If they got off their ar@es, it could be done quicker, or maybe its an election issue, if theyre voted in , then they will change the light bulbs...if they feel like it!!

[mondubics]

Its probably wise not to just rip out working bulbs and replace them. Let them run their time and replace as and when required with the new ones. That way, they won't be throwing out working product, which would be wasteful.

[ThroughCycle]

Today is the best day to remove those old light bulbs that should really be called heat bulbs.

Replacing all your bulbs in one go is the cheapest way to invest in lower electricty bills and longer living bulbs.

Just to give you an idea of the range of CFL bulbs out there then I suggest some inspiriation at:

http://www.bltdirect.com/products.ph...ng+Light+Bulbs

Philips are very good but Solus are Irish made and are also very good value.

Regards, Simon

[bluecurlygirl]

Chris you said in a previous post that the government were going to change their bulbs to energy saving bulbs by 2008. I work in a govt dept and we still have the huge ugly flourescent bulbs and recently there was renovation work done and a big electric fan was installed in a small room that didn't really need it (plenty of windows)!! Just another promise not delivered on. You wouldn't think I was a civil servant the way I give off about the buggers would you?

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by bluecurlygirl

I work in a govt dept...

Did you write this press release, bluecurlygirl? :)

Government Press Release - Today -10/10/08
Minister Gormley Launches Consultation Paper on Light Bulbs

John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, today (10 October 2008) launched a consultation paper on a proposed energy efficiency and performance standard for light bulbs.

The consultation paper outlines details of the proposed standard that will be introduced on a phased basis over a number of years.

The Minister said "An important step in achieving this objective is to remove the most energy inefficient light bulbs from the Irish market as early as possible. With more energy efficient alternatives now widely available, the proposed standard is a sensible and timely measure in terms of reducing both the carbon intensity and cost of general lighting".

More details here:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment...y,18646,en.htm

[bluecurlygirl]

Too much of a chicken to leave the last post on. Don't wanna lose my job. But I don't think they'd let me have any input into a press release. I don't write bull - although I do talk it sometimes. But if they want to make a change I think they should open a thread on here and ask for suggestions. I'm sure we'd help them out wouldn't we - if they'd listen.

[HappyHunter]

Fair play to you bluecurlygirl, if politicians can spout off without losing their jobs then why can't you? Whose going to know who you are anyway?

I think all government buildings and offices should be fitted with these energy saving bulbs, also hospital's, clinics, libraries, council offices, fas offices, dole offices, the list goes on, after all it is we the tax payer who is paying these bills.

I use energy saving bulbs all around my home and notice a huge saving in the cost of my electricity and the bulbs definitely last a lot longer.

Has anyone thought of sending our politicians a link to this site?

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by HappyHunter

Has anyone thought of sending our politicians a link to this site?

Hi HappyHunter,

JumbleTown personnel have been in touch with the Dept of the Environment on several occasions over the past two years. Our annual 3-week long promotional campaign on local radio and in local papers is funded by the Local Authorities who support us and by the Department itself under the Local 21 scheme.

Labour Councillor Oisin Quinn (Rathmines, Dublin) was kind enough to put our case forward in Dublin City Council.

Green TDs like Ciaran Cuffe in Dun Laoghaire have links to us, as do a few Green Councillors in Clare and Fingal. (There may be more but I'm not too sure.)

So, some politicians know about us and actively support us, but we've a lot more to do in order to make JumbleTown a household name. The promotional efforts of Members at local level remain key to our success.

Regards
Chris P
Admin

[bluecurlygirl]

I just went onto www.environ.ie and posted a link - don't know if it'll help though. Any chance rte would do a feature and invite the minister on too!! That'd be fun!