Ford employees see the light, asked to change light bulbs at home
It's not news of a new clean-burning diesel-hybrid truck, but Ford did have a green announcement of sorts yesterday. To support the EPA/Energy Star program's "Change a Light" campaign, Ford is asking its employees to change a light bulb at home. Ford's announcement asks workers to exchange inefficient light bulbs with bulbs decorated with the Energy Star rating, saying that lighting accounts for 20 percent of most people's electric bill. I get the same feeling from this as Mitsubishi's recent Pajero Forest announcement. Ford asks employees to spent money and time, and the company takes the credit. Still, a good suggestion is a good suggestion and Ford's doing the right thing here. A $20 "light bulb bonus" in worker's paychecks would be a Bold Move here. Also, while installing new Energy Star bulbs is a good idea, I hope no one goes and throws out a working bulb. I understand that it'll use more energy in the socket than a cleaner bulb, but since all the energy and materials used to make the bulb have already been spent, it makes sense to use it until it burns out, right?
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
fadetoblack51 1:24PM (10/05/2006)
no and I'll tell you why; by that logic we should keep driving our 60's era cars until they quit running. Even if they continue to spew emissions. Many working cars have been crushed because the net result was better than keeping them on the road. btw I have replaced all the lamps in my house with cfl's. Going from a 60w bulb to a 13w makes a huge difference in my energy needs.
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loikll 1:38PM (10/05/2006)
*** but since all the energy and materials used to make the bulb have already been spent, it makes sense to use it until it burns out, right? ***
Nope, here is the principle that applies: sunk costs are sunk.
--IF-- the new flourescent bulb will save enough electricity to pay for itself in some reasonable time-frame, then change it right now, it doesn't matter to the consumer that he had previously bought or inherited an incandescent bulb that still works. The sooner you replace it the sooner you begin saving money (the cost of the new bulb is essentially an interest-bearing investment).
Of course, if you have something more productive to do with that $5 of cash, do that instead. And buying the bulb on a high-interest rate credit card really undermines the whole deal. Well you get the picture.
As for the environment, the cost of new bulb versus the cost of additional electricity used in NOT buying new bulb - that's *probably* the best summary we have of total resource utiliization and environmental impact, all things being equal.
So same principle applies, sunk costs are sunk. We're better off tossing the old bulb and making the new flouresent one, because it will conserve resources to make the bulb today without delay, versus generating that additional electricity every day in the coming few years.
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Charles S 2:33PM (10/05/2006)
"We're better off tossing the old bulb and making the new fluorescent one..."
I understand your logic, but "tossing" is still a bit wasteful.
CFL has been around for a while, however, the fact that CFL is still "news" shows that some in public still are not willing to switch, even if it makes sense. Businesses, like management of apartment complex, still will not buy any CFL for tenants, even if they would choose to use CFL for hallways lights.
The point is, buy CFLs NOW, but do not throw away your bulbs. If you live in an apartment, then just store them, and put them back when you move. For your home, donate them to people who are not willing to buy any CFLs, and that way, it’d keep them from buying more incandescent bulbs. CFL is the best balance between cost and acceptance for now. I look forward to new lighting technology that will continue to improve energy consumption and thermo properties. LED lights can be an option, but I would like to see more hybrids lights, that “pipes” in sunlight and supplement the fluctuations with artificial lights.
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Tom 11:28AM (10/06/2006)
CFL's aren't the same as incandescents. they may save a lot of energy, however they have disadvantages:
1. It take a few minutes to warm up and produce their maximum lumens.
2. It takes a few seconds for them to turn on once you flip the switch.
3. The color temperature isn't exactly the same as incandescents we're used to using.
4. They're bigger than their incandescent cousins and will not fit in all fixtures.
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