Comments on: Turn Out The Lights – Or Not? http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/ Healthy Living For People and Planet Earth Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:42:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Will http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-14474 Will Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:04:05 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-14474 Hey Coach G - Thanks for the comment. Did you see that you also commented on this post, (#32), above? I don't know about the surge, but I do know that bulbs seem to burn out only when they are just turned on. I have never seen one go while it was glowing. Also there are several posts on this site, some with quite long comment threads, that discuss the environmental problems of disposing of cfl's. It is a big problem that as you say is ignored by many. Not me though! ;-) Anyway thanks again, it is late and time for me to go off to my real "dream world". Hey Coach G – Thanks for the comment. Did you see that you also commented on this post, (#32), above? I don’t know about the surge, but I do know that bulbs seem to burn out only when they are just turned on. I have never seen one go while it was glowing.

Also there are several posts on this site, some with quite long comment threads, that discuss the environmental problems of disposing of cfl’s. It is a big problem that as you say is ignored by many. Not me though! ;-)

Anyway thanks again, it is late and time for me to go off to my real “dream world”.

]]> By: Coach G http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-14472 Coach G Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:33:12 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-14472 I notice that no one ever mentions the extra challenge to the environment when disposing of compact florescent bulbs. Also, I still don't get how you can have it both ways with the power surge at the point of turning on a bulb. Either there is a power surge, or there isn't. If there is a power surge, then it costs extra. If there isn't a power surge then everyone who thinks that turning bulbs on and off more often wears them out faster, is just off their rocker. It doesn't work to say there is a power surge that wears out the bulb faster, but the surge takes no extra electricity. A surge by definition is extra electricity. Somebody is living in a dream world. .-= Coach G´s last blog ..<a href="http://garnerhealth.blogspot.com/2009/08/whole-grain-foods-corn.html">Whole Grain Foods : Corn ???</a> =-. I notice that no one ever mentions the extra challenge to the environment when disposing of compact florescent bulbs.

Also, I still don’t get how you can have it both ways with the power surge at the point of turning on a bulb. Either there is a power surge, or there isn’t. If there is a power surge, then it costs extra. If there isn’t a power surge then everyone who thinks that turning bulbs on and off more often wears them out faster, is just off their rocker.

It doesn’t work to say there is a power surge that wears out the bulb faster, but the surge takes no extra electricity. A surge by definition is extra electricity.

Somebody is living in a dream world.
Coach G´s last blog ..Whole Grain Foods : Corn ??? My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: batteries http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-14466 batteries Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:44:53 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-14466 I like the way you explain the it. I want to take it to a larger spectrum by not just thinking about bulbs and the cost of it. It is not just money.By turn out light we are not saving just energy we are saving our environment too,isn't it true? Think about it and reply on it. I like the way you explain the it. I want to take it to a larger spectrum by not just thinking about bulbs and the cost of it. It is not just money.By turn out light we are not saving just energy we are saving our environment too,isn’t it true? Think about it and reply on it.

]]> By: Tuesday (whoops) Search of the Week | Healthy Living http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-13135 Tuesday (whoops) Search of the Week | Healthy Living Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:20:08 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-13135 [...] Anyway, I took a look at my search stats for the first time in over a week and this one was at the top today with 4 views.  I wonder if it was the same person 4 times or if 4 people world-wide just did the same search and Google just very nicely, (thank you), served them up this post? [...] [...] Anyway, I took a look at my search stats for the first time in over a week and this one was at the top today with 4 views.  I wonder if it was the same person 4 times or if 4 people world-wide just did the same search and Google just very nicely, (thank you), served them up this post? [...]

]]> By: Steve http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-12083 Steve Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:06:55 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-12083 Hi Will, I was checking in and saw this post on the "recent comments" link. It's a great write up, and as usually, you cover both sides. I remember in school (way back) the rule of thumb was don't turn the classroom lights out (long fluorescent type) if it was for 15 minutes or less because of the extra power used when they were turned on. I don't know if there's anything to that (I doubt it). I also remember my dad always telling us to TURN OFF THAT LIGHT, which is what I do with my kids now. I changed to CFLs about three years ago throughout the house, and it cut our electric bill at least in half (we were in the second tier which costs more per KW but that's another story). I love the CFLs, except the ones in the bathroom last less than a year! If you turn them on and off all the time, you don't get anywhere near 10,000 hours! I'm convinced they have a limited number of power ons, so as you point out, you've got to look at the cost of the bulb and the power and resources used to produce it. You may save a few pennies on electricity, but need to buy a new CFL bulb much sooner. It really depends on how long you're turning it off for (only 4 or 5 minutes?) Seems the devil is always in the details. Maybe I'll work up the cost numbers. Wow, brain dump... ~ Steve (aka "trade show booths") PS. I can't wait for the LED bulbs to become more affordable. Hi Will, I was checking in and saw this post on the “recent comments” link. It’s a great write up, and as usually, you cover both sides. I remember in school (way back) the rule of thumb was don’t turn the classroom lights out (long fluorescent type) if it was for 15 minutes or less because of the extra power used when they were turned on. I don’t know if there’s anything to that (I doubt it). I also remember my dad always telling us to TURN OFF THAT LIGHT, which is what I do with my kids now. I changed to CFLs about three years ago throughout the house, and it cut our electric bill at least in half (we were in the second tier which costs more per KW but that’s another story). I love the CFLs, except the ones in the bathroom last less than a year! If you turn them on and off all the time, you don’t get anywhere near 10,000 hours! I’m convinced they have a limited number of power ons, so as you point out, you’ve got to look at the cost of the bulb and the power and resources used to produce it. You may save a few pennies on electricity, but need to buy a new CFL bulb much sooner. It really depends on how long you’re turning it off for (only 4 or 5 minutes?) Seems the devil is always in the details. Maybe I’ll work up the cost numbers. Wow, brain dump…
~ Steve (aka “trade show booths”)
PS. I can’t wait for the LED bulbs to become more affordable.

]]> By: Greg http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-12082 Greg Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:37:33 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-12082 This was a fascinating article, you always hear people say that the lightbulb burns more energy turning on and off so people reason that's it better to leave it alone, but your article really helped to educate me that you are far better off turning that light off even if your leaving the room for a miniute or two, I guess every miliwatt saved is better for the enviroment, thanks This was a fascinating article, you always hear people say that the lightbulb burns more energy turning on and off so people reason that’s it better to leave it alone, but your article really helped to educate me that you are far better off turning that light off even if your leaving the room for a miniute or two, I guess every miliwatt saved is better for the enviroment, thanks

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-11964 Will Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:13:15 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-11964 Thanks for that explanation, Kevin! Thanks for that explanation, Kevin!

]]> By: Kevin (Sauna-Talk.com) http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-11949 Kevin (Sauna-Talk.com) Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:32:54 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-11949 To answer question 41 - these "power reducers" as you call them are a combination transformer/rectifier. It reduces the AC current down to say 9V and then the rectifier (a diode/capacitor combination) turns the AC current into DC. All transformers have leakage current, so anytime the primary is energized it will draw a little power. To answer question 41 – these “power reducers” as you call them are a combination transformer/rectifier. It reduces the AC current down to say 9V and then the rectifier (a diode/capacitor combination) turns the AC current into DC. All transformers have leakage current, so anytime the primary is energized it will draw a little power.

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-10484 Will Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:04:34 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-10484 I'll have to look at those. I had not heard of them, although years ago a little button thing was made to reduce power to light bulbs. It made them a bit dimmer, but increased their life span. I would think reducing the power to chargers and such would hinder how they work. I’ll have to look at those. I had not heard of them, although years ago a little button thing was made to reduce power to light bulbs. It made them a bit dimmer, but increased their life span. I would think reducing the power to chargers and such would hinder how they work.

]]> By: Easy Ways to Go Green http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-10480 Easy Ways to Go Green Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:37:52 +0000 http://willtaft.com/energy-use/turn-out-the-lights-or-not/#comment-10480 I also have questions about the efficiency / productivity of the little devices they sell that serve as a power reducer, and plug into the wall outlets. You are supposed to plug devices into these adapters, which then cut the power being channeled into things (even when they are not in use). Any word on these? Even an opinion? I also have questions about the efficiency / productivity of the little devices they sell that serve as a power reducer, and plug into the wall outlets. You are supposed to plug devices into these adapters, which then cut the power being channeled into things (even when they are not in use). Any word on these? Even an opinion?

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