The light bulb deal (las week's news)

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Keith R

Well, then maybe I didn't present the argument well after all, despite your kind words in the early part of your post.

I am not advocating to refrain from replacing incandescents with CFLs, or any other other energy saving or energy efficiency measures! Not at all! Actually, if you read earlier posts on the blog about energy, such as the one about green cooling or greening the wash day in the DR, quite the opposite!

What I was trying to say was that, with energy inefficiencies and energy losses so high, and the government doing all too little to encourage lasting changes in energy consumption habits, any savings gained by the switch to CFLs will quickly be wiped out, negated. In other words, it's not enough just to change light bulbs. You have to complement, supplement, and build on such actions.

Hopefully that is as clear as mud!

And I hope my answer was not understood as me suggesting you were against the use of CFL's. I quoted you because I thought you suggesting that this discussion may pass by the bigger image had merit.
My comments then, were about the article.

Thanks! ... J-D.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

There.

Thanks!

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

My comments then, were about the article.

I wrote the Green Team article, and that's what I was refering to. I was trying to clarify what I intended to convey in the blog article.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Keith R

I wrote the Green Team article, and that's what I was refering to. I was trying to clarify what I intended to convey in the blog article.

I didn't realize that, Keith. I hope I did not step on your foot then.
You know I appreciate your concern and objectiveness (except for the comment I can't quite agree with).

One thing I can not find much info about yet, is the energy cost that goes into making one CFL versus 12 or 13 incandescent bulbs(?).

... J-D.

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

I didn't realize that, Keith. I hope I did not step on your foot then.

Nah, don't worry. I'm not as thin skinned as some think!

You know I appreciate your concern and objectiveness (except for the comment I can't quite agree with).

I don't mind honest disagreements and constructive criticism. Actually, I invite you to either post your disagreement directly to the blog article as a comment (see comment link at bottom of article), or perhaps do a guest post on the Green Team blog arguing your counterpoint, or even both. We've had alot of guest posters on the blog and would always welcome more.

One thing I can not find much info about yet, is the energy cost that goes into making one CFL versus 12 or 13 incandescent bulbs(?).

I'm truly not trying to be difficult by pointing out that such calculations will very much depend on where the bulbs in question were originally manufactured, who manufactured them (and how efficient their production processes were) and what power source was used for the production, among other factors. Most figures I've seen in the past use average US production figures, but I seriously doubt that the CFLs that the government bought were US-made. Much more probable is China.

[sollie]

"I'm truly not trying to be difficult by pointing out that such calculations will very much depend on where the bulbs in question were originally manufactured, who manufactured them (and how efficient their production processes were) and what power source was used for the production, among other factors. Most figures I've seen in the past use average US production figures, but I seriously doubt that the CFLs that the government bought were US-made. Much more probable is China.[/QUOTE]"

Pichardo can clear this up. I hope.

Sollie

[Chirimoya]

One news report I read (on the DR1 news, probably) said they were Cuban-made.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

One news report I read (on the DR1 news, probably) said they were Cuban-made.

Many CFL's sold in the States and here too are from China.
I however applaud the idea of favoring our neighboring island's efforts, they do need the business and should be commended for their productivity, if that is the case (as Picardo hinted).
However it also raises the question, why "we" can't have them made here... maybe 18Millions could have helped starting up a little industry here instead?

Obviously, Chinese, Cuban and eventually local productions may not be the most environment friendly... but it could develop, like US productions did or should have.

... J-D.

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

... And if they get shipped from our neighboring "La Isla"... cargo by ship, a container or two at USD 2000.oo (over prized) won't add much more than USD. 0.ooo4 per bulb... can you spell NADA in English . Hey let me ten-fold that, just to be on the save side: USD 0.oo4! Still, not yet one CENT of a Dollar! Would you like me to 100-fold that shipping for you so it'd be 4 cents a bulb, so somebody can spread USD 396'000.oo into Miami's booming Bayside developments... discreetly? ...

I must almost apologize to Picardo and any other readers... then I misjudged the size of shipping 10 Million bulbs quite grossly:
10 Million bulbs, individually boxed can amount to about 8'330 cubic meters!
To imagine this, if they were stacked up on a base of 1.6 x 1.6 meters on the Malecon, the would reach up 3100 meters and top Pico Duarte.
A standard Ocean going 40" container has an interior volume just above 67 cubic meters. Thus to ship 8330 cubic meters of packaged CFL's 125 containers are needed (I erroneously guessed only 2, shame on me ). At this volume USD 2000.oo per container would seem most most generously paid from Cuba to the DR, which amounts to USD 250'000.oo shipping costs or about USD 0.o2 per bulb... still quite close to nada, at least not enough to affect the price of these bulbs very much.

... J-D.

[pyratt]

Has anyone brought up the fact that these bulbs contain mercury and should one break you must use extreme care in the clean up and disposal. Personally, I hate the color of the light they produce.

I have one in my house....