A shot in the dark

[dlh <dlh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Last week the New York Times ran a rather lengthy (for them) article
on light bulbs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/magazine/bulb-in-bulb-out.html?_r=3D1&scp=
=3D2&sq=3Dlight%20bulb%20prize&st=3DSearch

The author came much closer than most to the actual state of affairs,
writing that lighting was about 10% of total energy use. Actually,
according to the Department of Energy, household electricity (of which
lighting is a small part) accounts for about 9%. But, since the media
usually merely quotes the fantasy figures bandied about by those who
claim we can save the world by changing a light bulb (usually that
lighting represents 20-25% of our energy use), I'm impressed that this
author came as close as he did.

<quote>
...that lighting accounts for less than 10 percent of total U.S.
energy consumption.
</quote>

One other point was news to me. It turns out it was the lighting
companies themselves who pushed for the new energy efficiency
standards that effectively banned most incandescent lights. Now why
would these companies want to sell us $2 CFLs that are supposed to
last for years and years and years? I wonder what they know that we
don't.

<quote>
So some years ago, Philips formed a coalition with environmental
groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council to push for
higher standards. =93We felt that we needed to make a call, and show
that the best-known lighting technology, the incandescent light bulb,
is at the end of its lifetime,=94 says Harry Verhaar, the company=92s head
of strategic sustainability initiatives. Philips told its
environmental allies it was well positioned to capitalize on the
transition to new technologies and wanted to get ahead of an
efficiency movement that was gaining momentum abroad and in states
like California. Other manufacturers were more wary, but they also
understood the downside to selling a ubiquitous commodity: the profit
margin on a bulb that sells for a quarter is negligible. After much
negotiation, the industry and environmental groups agreed to endorse
tightening efficiency by 25 to 30 percent.
</quote>