More green help on the way to slice that electric bill
July 8, 2009 by Tom GuayPosted in: Cost Cutting, Special Report, Technology
The basic light bulb may not seem like the hottest new product around, but it does hold the key to shoring up the bottom line for businesses and consumers alike.
Thanks to tougher new energy efficiency standards just announced by the Department of Energy (DOE), businesses and consumers will save up to $4 billion as the new standards take effect between 2012 and 2042.
These savings will be enjoyed by everyone as the more efficient fluorescent and incandescent lamp systems hit the stores. And looking to the next generation of lighting sytems, DOE’s funding R&D on “solid-state lighting,” which is supposed to create a fundamentally new lighting system in the future.
Why the big push for lighting standards? Because in announcing the program, President Obama noted that lighting consumes 7% of all the energy used in the U.S. Cut back on power needed for lighting and you get related reductions of greenhouse gas emissions as well as other air pollutants released from coal-fired power plants.
But there are more opportunities ahead for business in the package of energy efficiency investments announced by Obama and DOE Secretary Steven Chu. The feds will release $346 million in stimulus funds to boost energy efficiency in existing and new commercial buildings. All the details will be announced this month when the DOE regulations are published in the Federal Register.
This stimulus funding to promote green buildings will create opportunities for building owners and those that supply appliances, technology, equipment and energy management systems.
Reason: There’s an even larger savings to be gained by improving energy efficiency in buildings because nearly 40% of U.S. energy consumption goes to heating, lighting and cooling buildings. To generate these savings, DOE will use its stimulus funding to invest:
- $100 million on integrated systems to control and manage energy use so buildings can become zero-net energy buildings
- $70 million to train workers how to retrofit existing homes with energy saving devices
- $72.5 million to spur development of energy-efficient products that qualify for Energy Star ratings and to educate industry on how to achieve a 30% increase in a building’s energy efficiency
- $53.5 million to partner with building owners to demonstrate what it takes to achieve “exemplary energy performance,” and
- $50 million on R&D to develop solid-state lighting.
It’s of note that while Obama did reference the environmental benefits of improving energy efficiencies, he’s also starting to highlight the main point of his energy policy: reducing dependence on imported oil.
The DOE announcement is here.
The White House transcript of Obama and Chu is here.
Tags: energy efficiency, fluorescent lighting, green buildings, greenhouse gas emissions, solid-state lighting
GreenandMore.com
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July 9th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
What shallow reasoning – read what the $$ are being spent on and who is paying for it ( Mr. Taxpayer) , those new bulbs 1) contain mercury – beware if you break one, you may have to call in a HazMat crew to clean up the mess, 2) cost several times more the current incandescent bulbs, 3) must “warm up” to reach full brightness. Want to save money and help environment – replace existing high wattage bulbs in your hallways and closets with lower wattage ones, same for those lighting up you r porch or on either side of your garage doors. And save at least $100 million of studies mentioned in the article.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
You get more mercury eating tuna fish than if you were to break a compact fluorescent bulb. They contain a minimal amount of mercury and you don’t have to have a Hazmat team clean up a broken one. How absurd!
July 9th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Let’s see: $4 Billion in savings over thirty years divided by (conservatively) 330 million people comes down to about $0.40 CENTS PER YEAR PER PERSON!. Another Nobama boondoggle designed to make the liberals “feel good” about the environment yet does nothing to help. But they’ll get us on the Crap & Tax scheme they’re trying to shove down our throats.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Difference in perspective…Leu’s formula indicates to me if we all chip in just a little it will add up to big savings. It does not have to hurt to feel good.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Better yet LEU. Let’s send our kids off to get killed and give them substandard equipment because nobody minds being at war, but everybody minds paying taxes to support the war. Wars in the past were supported by different types of war taxes, etc. Or let’s repeal every good environmental law that actually protects people. Or let’s loosen debt-capital requirements because our biggest investment banks asked the SEC – oh wait – GW’s appointed SEC chairman already did that – one of the major reasons behind the recession. Every time one of your heroes leaves office they set up the country for a massive economic collapse – remember Reagan – everyone thought they had it good until the housing mkt collapsed and didn’t recover for 6 years – thanks to Clinton.
Quit embarrassing yourself and learn something about finance.
You probably don’t even know what liberal means. Then again, you’d probably rather live the rest of your conservative life with a giant pole lodged up your ess!
Too many morons like you that think they know what they are talking about but haven’t a clue.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
A number of those 330 million people live together in the same home, and therefore share the light that’s on. Now we have to re-calculate. Anyway, CFL’s use only about a fourth of the energy used by incadescents, and LED’s use on about a tenth. If you want to make a simple contribution to the environment, and save a few bucks in the process, do what I did. I purchased a small solar power kit and use it to charge a small battery bank out near the barn. At night, instead of using the 175 watt AC bulb on the mercury/vapor light I run a few 12 volt, 120 LED bulbs that don’t do a bad job of lighting up the barn lot and parking area. And it saves me the electricity I would have used from the power company. These kits are available on my store, SEMOsolarstore.com, and are actually cheaper than I have seen on E-bay. So just jump right in and learn about solar systems with a kit, and save a few bucks in the process. Experiement a little and have fun.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
If Common Sens had any, he wouldn’t have drunk the Nobama or democRAT KoolAid. But he (or she or it) is too eaten up with Bush Derangement Syndrome to know anything about history, economics or finance. But they are sure keen on destroying free enterprise and personal freedoms in the US. Socialism here we come – and all those who voted for Nobama are happy for it.
Change we can believe in indeed.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Mike wasn’t that far off about the hazmat crew. If you break one you have to leave the room for at least 15 minutes and turn off the AC or heat to avoid blowing the contaminates around. After 15 minutes has passed you may pick up the glass wearing gloves, put the pieces in a glass jar. Blot up what mess you can and put the towel in a sealed plastic bag. Anything cloth that may have gotten dust from the bulb on it must be thrown away in a sealed plastic bag this means clothes, rugs bedspreads couches etc. You’re not allowed to just wash it because it could contaminate the water supply. Then you must vacuum and then put the bag from the vacuum in a sealed plastic bag. Then you can’t put these sealed plastic bags in the trash. You must take them to an EPA approved site so they don’t go into a landfill and contaminate the earth.
There are also no bulbs of this kind that work for oven lights, fridge lites, they won’t work in your porch light or yard light because of the temp changes. They also won’t work in a lot of enclosed fixtures because of the heat build up and they haven’t found a way to make a bulb for our 3 way lamps. We’re also going to have to replace our pretty candle like design bulbs in our ceiling fans and chandaliers with those goofy looking dairy queen curly Q bulbs.
Don’t believe me? Check with the EPA. These are their guidelines.
Obama said this would save energy and create jobs. Where? I looked at the package on the one brand of these bulbs they had at a big box store. Guess what? Made in China.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
It would be nice if fewer people complained and more people came up with suggestions for positive improvements. Thank you to BC and Gary who gave suggestions for positive improvements. Those are things I can do instead of just feel depressed by all the complaints.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I thought we were talking light bulbs and instead it becomes an attack on George Bush and the war. Typical liberal defense Mr Commonsense. Did you forget to mention that the second worst market collaspe since the great depression happened just as Mr. Clinton was leaving office, the dot com bust. Remember too that it was the Democratic congress that wanted every person, regardless of income levels, to own a home and they relaxed the debt-capital requirements and forced the banks to comply and give 100% loans. Oh yes and then there is the name calling, that is a good way to impress your buddies, I’m not sure you really have a clue but you can repeat some really strong words. I wonder how long you have had that pole stuck?
By the way, there is nothing wrong with the wise use of electric energy and CFL’s or LED’s do make some sense. I guess we just dont always like things to be pushed on us.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Why do comments always have to end up as a polical spitting contest? Democrats, Republicans, space aliens – IT IS NOT THE POINT !! You can either comment on the issue in a business sense or at least COMMON sense, otherwise keep your comments to yourself and let others ‘chat’ in a reasonable manner. Thank you!
July 9th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
LEU – now you proved you don’t know finance and can’t write. Both of your posts had no facts and just bantering about stuff you know nothing about. You’re probably typing in your mom’s basement. I just happen to be one of the youngest CFO’s, and I work for a successful company that hasn’t been hurt by the economy. Maybe your heroes should have took finance lessons from me. You couldn’t even refute anything I said.
It’s obvious you know nothing because all you can say is stuff like liberal and nobama.
I mean seriously – how old are you? Free enterprise doesn’t work as well when nepotism pervades and politicians do favors for their friends – see George Herbert Walker, Brownie, what I mentioned earlier which you had no idea about.
Reagan taxation and Bush Taxation didn’t work. Even Reagan’s own Treasury Secretary said he had a lack of attention on economics. It’s all cause and effect and we saw Reagan’s effect on our economy in the late 80′s and early 90′s and now we’re seeing the Bush effect.
But to you 2+2 must equal something other than 4.
Take a class, read something besides Fox News websites, listen to something other than Rush Limbaugh, and then, only maybe, can you begin to use your brain. Or you can just be an ignorant follower the rest of your life.
Sayonara d-bag!
July 10th, 2009 at 9:34 am
WOW! I always wonder why there are so many personal attacks on here for people stating facts and/or opinions. Namecalling is really immature and this isn’t kindergarten…or is it? perhaps we all have some stress but to bash others you don’t know is very uncool. Allow others to have their opinions and if you don’t agree its ok but at least keep responses professional and cordial. For example, Im the first to admit I know ZERO about financial economic numbers crunching but Government, Polictics, and History are my areas of expertise and also what I have my degree in. I will not go on about any polictical crap on here because I have more sound real political blogs I can deal with as opposed to doing it on here on a blog regarding light bulbs. All I know is using blanket statements and not supporting those statements is far worse than disagreeing with someone because their views are different.
It seems we have a Fox news vs MSNBC and I don’t understand why Common sens is getting so angry and resorting to name calling. (Common Sense this next statement is NOT a slam on you…just so you know I am just speaking in general) Many liberals resort to name calling or blaming others for their inept ability to think clearly or clearly communicate their thoughts because they are so upset that others don’t agree with them. People are more receptive to arguements/opinions and it is much more effective when you hold yourself to a higher standard….once the name calling starts people turn you off as you have turned them off. These aren’t even fun to read anymore because of the way people treat others. In one blog someone said something ignorant to me because I said something wasnt funny and it had nothing to do with him at all……another fine human persecuting another for an opinion. Just remember….Don’t burn bridges because you might need this person someday…networking is a good way and every person is only three away from the next. Be Careful what you say and who you say it to. Hope I don’t sound to Preachy! Although I am so glad my employees don’t act like this with eachother!
July 10th, 2009 at 9:38 am
AMEN to JRudy and Lineman…..you said it in a much shorter version than me
July 10th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Any chance we could back to the part about the light bulbs??? I would like to keep my old fashioned light bulbs until they come up with something that works for every application and isn’t going to poison me or harm the environment. Please see the EPA clean up rules that I wrote above. I don’t think that if the Democrats and Republicans read those facts that this would be a political discussion at all. I truly believe that once everybody knows the facts we could (for once) ALL agree that this is a REALLY bad idea!!!
July 10th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Getting back to the point of the story….compact fluorescent bulbs have come a long way in recent years. Those who tried them 20 years ago with bad results need to look again. The now come in varieties that can be used outside in extremely low temperatures; ones that work with dimmer switches; decorative ones for your chandeliers; and even funky party lights. Check out the possibilities – here is one place where you can find lots of different bulbs, in the color and brightness you want, that will fit your fixtures for a very reasonable price.
As for clean up concerns, to put it in perspective, old school CFL have about 4 milligrams of mercury. If you haven’t replaced your furnace thermostat recently, it probably has a mercury switch with about 125 times the mercury ~ 500 milligrams of mercury. Newer CFL bulbs have even less mercury, with some available with mercury levels in the 1.4 – 2.5 milligram range. No, it’s not a good idea to spread mercury around; however, it is very easy to find a local recycler for the CFL bulbs (try earth911.com for local sources) and unless you enjoy throwing them against the wall, you are unlikely to have any problems with them.
July 15th, 2009 at 8:16 am
In respect to the original topic, the suggestion of reducing wattage in lesser used areas is one of the best energy savers. The adaptation of cfl is also a good energy saver. I would offer another suggestion and that is to install motion detector switches in closets, file rooms, and restrooms to prevent lights burning when unoccupied. Regardless of whether you buy into the GHG scare or not, energy conservation makes dollars and sense.