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More Americans say they are aware of the impending federal requirement for energy efficient lighting, but they continue to be hazy on details about the phaseout of traditional light bulbs and some express worry about the transition, according to Osram Sylvania's latest Socket Survey.
The company released findings yesterday of its third annual survey on consumer attitudes and action regarding lighting. The results showed that 36 percent of those surveyed said they were aware that Congress passed legislation in 2007 that will phase out most traditional bulbs by 2014. That's an increase from 26 percent in 2009 and 21 percent in 2008.
However, just 19 percent said they know that traditional 100-watt bulbs will no longer be sold in the U.S after January 1, 2012 -- the figure was barely an improvement over the 18 percent who said the same in 2009.
Nevertheless, the increase in general awareness is a good sign, considering earlier studies by Osram Sylvania and GE showed that Americans were largely clueless about the phaseout.
Despite their sketchy knowledge of lighting policy, a majority of Socket Survey respondents have said each year that they use CFLs. The figure is 72 percent this year, edging up from 71 percent in 2009 and 68 percent in 2008. It must be noted, however, that respondents indicated they use a variety of light bulbs in their home and that use of incandescent bulbs has increased since 2008 after dipping in 2009. This year 82 percent said they use traditional bulbs, compared to 78 percent in 2009 and 81 percent in 2008.
Reported use of LEDs decreased in the past year, although the percentage remains greater than the 2008 figure. This year 27 percent said they use LEDs, compared to 29 percent in 2009 and 21 percent in 2008. Use of halogens has dropped steadily since the study began. This year 39 percent said they use halogens; it was 40 percent in 2009 and 42 percent in 2008.
Twenty-eight percent of respondents said they are worried about the phaseout because they prefer traditional light bulbs -- a sentiment that may be reflected in what survey participants said they plan to do when traditional 100-watt bulbs are no longer available:
- 60 percent said they would "switch to a new technology light bulbs, such as CFLs, LEDs or halogen light bulbs," compared to 66 percent last year.
- 23 percent said they would "keep using traditional light bulbs but switch to lower wattage bulbs, like 75-watt," compared to 16 percent last year.
- 13 percent, the same percentages as in 2009, said they would "buy a lot of 100-watt light bulbs while they are still produced and continue using them."
- 4 percent said they weren't sure what they would do; 6 percent said the same in 2009.
I like the LED idea, but will
I like the LED idea, but will miss traditional bulbs. I like the yellow warmer light, rather then the cold white light.
For every 1000 CFL light
For every 1000 CFL light bulbs sold, eventually THREE LITERS OF LIQUID MERCURY will be add to our landfills. Yes, I know they are supposed to be disposed of as hazardous waste, but do you really believe this will happen?
This has to be the stupidest "environmental" idea ever!
Ill stock up for applicatons
Ill stock up for applicatons such as porch lights. In the cold weather CFLs take a long time to reach brightness. Ive not tried led as of yet, if they dont suffer this problem fine n dandy.
I live in Minnesota and under
I live in Minnesota and under cold conditions like 0 degrees F CFL bulbs don't work at all. In theory there are CFL bulbs for these conditions but I have never been able to find any place to buy them. I don't know if halogen bulbs are the answer or if they are also banned. In the EC the Solution was to still sell light bulbs but call them heat globes.
It's my impression that CFLs
It's my impression that CFLs and LEDs, and their marketing, are making progress. There are more 2700K CFLs available. Home Depot sells low to high color temperature CFLs in packages colored yellow, green, red, blue. There's a combo CFL-LED bulb that, if switched off then back on within 3 seconds, changes from 13 Watt CFL mode to 2-Watt LED mode -- good for hallways.
No question about saving money on one's power bill: Relamping my heavily used fixtures with carefully selected CFLs, LEDs -- and keeping a few incandescents where color temp matters most -- and taking several other significant (unrelated-to-lighting) measures -- has brought my home's average energy consumption down from 48 KH-W/day to 21 KW-H/day over the last 4 months.
Something else that helps: Opening the window shades when it's daytime!
LEDs components are
LEDs components are dirt-cheap individually yet the bulbs are insanely expensive. Fluorescent/CFLs have that annoying delay before they reach full brightness. Anybody who says they do not contain mercury are blowing sunshine up your alley. And they're not warm lighting at all. They're cold and harsh, the light looks look like shirt. You can't inexpensively dim a F/CFL.
I do not like F/CFLs period. We've got so many ways to save energy yet congress (opposite of progress) picks the one that has a low financial return yet impacts our way of life greatly.
I won't switch to LED/F/CFL until I have to, and I will use my incandescents until my supply is exhausted, and I can't buy them on the black market. I have several cases of incandescent bulbs stocked up which should last me a lifetime.
I'm paying for the energy I use, and once I do, you can't tell me how to use it.
The 60% of people that said
The 60% of people that said they would switch are probably the same 60% that have not used an LED light. If they did, that would say otherwise.
Yet another black market forming....
New study reveals 110% of
New study reveals 110% of Americans are incapable of understanding statistics.
Great! Now we'll buy the
Great! Now we'll buy the light bulbs that we LIKE from Mexico. I already know exactly where to order them from and will have no problem in doing so.
We HATE the light from LEDS, CFLS and the others... traditional is what we'll stick with and if you like them too, just order from another manufacturer outside of the States.. why not.. we buy everything else from other countries.
"27 percent said they use
"27 percent said they use LEDs." As flashlights? Bike lights? Not light bulbs, surely. I would love to replace my CFLs w/ really nice LEDs, but until Philips drops its price point below $20, it's not going to happen. I can't begin to imagine a quarter of Americans using $50 LED bulbs for home lighting.
It's good to see that there
It's good to see that there has been at least some improvement in the overall awareness of this issue among consumers, but we obviously still have a long way to go. This will also be a major issue for businesses, particularly small businesses that don't have staff dedicated to energy issues and who may not be as aware of these changes as their larger counterparts. Another major lighting phase out will be the end of the T12 fluorescent tube light in 2012. Congress has opted to eliminate these lights as well, as they are very widespread in many business settings, although they consume far more energy than T8s or T5s. We have already passed the July 31 deadline which made it illegal to continue manufacturing the magnetic ballasts that bring these lights on line. I would be curious to see how many businesses that use these lights currently are aware of this change and how many have or would consider a retrofit accordingly.
- Tim Kovach
Product Coordinator, Energy Programs at COSE
www.cose.org/blog
www.twitter.com/COSEenergy