How Many Environmentalists...

...does it take to change a light bulb? (Answer: more than we have!) Ever since the first cavemen huddle around a fire at night, the human race has sought inventions to light the darkness. And they have come. Torches and lamps and lanterns and candles and flares and arc lamps... and light bulbs. Invented in 1879, the incandescent light bulb has become a staple of modern life and a symbolic icon. Yet, they're being phased out now because there are much more energy-efficient alternatives.

A few days ago, I blogged about my attempts to use some early inexpensive LED bulbs, and the challenges you face using that technology. That same day, I ordered some new, more expensive LED bulbs to see how they would perform, and I think it's time to record my initial results.

I ordered a couple of different types of bulbs for my most current experiment, one costing about $25 (which produces 100+ lumens of light) and a more expensive $68 540-lumen bulb). The former consumes about 3 watts of electricity, the latter more like 9.

As I expected, I haven't had any reliability problems with these more-expensive bulbs (yet), but they are not without issues. The less expensive model still doesn't put out quite enough light to really light up room or hallway. I put it in my hallway, and it's a definite improvement over the cheaper bulb I had there previously, but as advertised, seems more like a 25 watt incandescent bulb.

The more expensive LED bulbs I tried are much closer to the light produced by standard 60-watt bulb, but have an odd problem. This model has a HUGE metal "heat sink" attached to the base of the bulb, which made it impossible for me to use it in most fixtures I attempted. And, even if it lasts a long time, it still costs $68!

So what to do? Go back to Mercury-laiden compact flourescent bulbs? Here's the experience of my friend and guest columnist, Zhon:

After buying my Toyota Camry Hybrid, I figured I would be ridiculed if I didn't try these new fangled planet saving light bulbs. I put three long lasting, landfill poising GE Helical 26 W light bulbs into my kitchen. Sadly, less then a month later one of the three burned out. Now I am sending this mercury laden thing off to poison my planet. Hmm... do I try again or go back to polluting the air?

There is a clear opportunity here for someone to make a gazillion dollars. The technology is here, but not yet perfected to satisfy our primal need to light the darkness with a minimum of energy and fuss. Maybe we just need more people to change the light bulb.