I know, I know. Tech writers spent all this time hyping CFLs, and now it’s possible that incandescent bulbs might be acceptable again thanks to a new technology that seals the filament in a special, heat-reflecting inner-capsule? The nerve!
The NY Times’ Green Inc. blog says the inner capsule of these new bulbs, developed by California-based Deposition Sciences, is coated with a material that is able to reflect the heat back onto the filament, part of which is converted back into light. This technology, currently featured in Philips Halogena Energy Savers line, has resulted in the bulb using 30% less power and lasting 3x longer than normal incandescents.
And what about CFLs you ask? Yes they’re still about 2.5x more efficient than these new incandescent bulbs. But these new bulbs will get more efficient with time, don’t take forever to warm up to full brightness, don’t make your home feel like a lab or mental institution and don’t contain mercury (famed destroyer of Jeremy Piven and all-around, pain-in-the-ass substance to dispose of). But they also cost $US5 a bulb. [Green Inc. via Slashdot]
Kif
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 5:15 PMHaving just changed a few bulbs over last weekend, this is good news. Hardware stores have chosen to no longer stock incandescent bulbs, so we were forced to switch to CFLs. Well, thankfully they’ve solved the dimming problem, but not really. Because of the wattage differences, when you turn a dimmer to full power, it seems to overload a CFL and you end up with a strobing effect. Also, they don’t dim as low as incandescent bulbs, so even on low, they’re quite bright. And lastly, they’re overall larger (as in longer, AND wider) and wouldn’t fit in most of the light housings. I had to take incandescent bulbs from all over the rest of the house to make things work. When they blow, I’ll have to replace all fittings just for a bulb.
Also, $US5 a bulb? Around $AU7. Bargain! The dimmable CFLs left you with less change than you can buy anything for, out of $AU20.
Kevin Russell
Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 6:25 PMThese are available now? CFL are a good idea but their light is so ugly I can’t stand them.