I have been using CFL’s since they became available, simply to save money. In some uses, they don’t last nearly long enough to justify their cost;
From wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp#Lifespan
“The life of a CFL lamp is significantly shorter if it is only turned on for a few minutes at a time: In the case of a 5-minute on/off cycle the lifespan of a CFL can be up to 85% shorter, reducing its lifespan to the level of an incandescent lamp.”
So use them, but beware.
As far as saving energy, preventing global warming, etc… well, if it makes you feel good, do it. But China is building 2 coal power plants per day, so you aren’t going to do anything other than feel good and maybe lower your cost of lighting a bit/
Having a “you can do something to help” campaign so much smells like typical American liberal solutions… feel good, feel morally superior, get a chance to “do” something, don’t trust the market and peoples’ inherent good sense, and ultimately achieve little.
What ever happened to the free market? People aren’t dumb – they’ll move to CFL’s (and very soon, LEDs which are even better) because it saves them money. Duh.
I am surprised that PJ isn’t advocating the obvious: nuclear power. Politically correct, environmentally correct bright green France gets something like 90% of its power from nukes. We haven’t built one since 3 Mile Island showed that even a core meltdown accident didn’t hurt anyone (so of course, we quit building plants… duh).
A campaign for nukes might actually help, because the free market is defeated by environmental extremists – i.e. political action is appropriate.
