[mythtv-users] [Slightly OT] solar power for all our gadgets

[jedi]

On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 04:17:50PM -0400, John Drescher wrote:
> > The other issue people casually forget, is that CFLs really are not a direct
> > replacement for incandescent bulbs in many situations. They are really slow
> > to start, and then need to warm up before they give a usable amount of light
> > - though that varies with make. Sometimes I can walk into a room, do
> > whatever it was I needed the light for, and leave - before the CFL lights
> > have got around to doing something useful.
> >
> I hate that. I have these in the main hallway (indoor 75W spot light
> replacements) and it takes them minutes before they emit useful light
> and by that time I am already up the stairs and through the walkway
> and to my room and I usually turn them off before they come on fully.

    ...doesn't sound like a problem really.

> I installed them for the heat savings but I may end up replacing them
> with incandescents because of this feature. The second thing I hate

    ...assuming you need a lot of light quick and are likely to move
on just as quickly, that makes a lot of sense. Most times, it't an
issue.

> about these CFLs is the 13W to 20W that they are is in no way as much
> light as the incandescent they replace so I end up sometimes having to

     Fortunately, CFLs come in bigger sizes. Also, you don't necessarily
need to use CFLs, you can use the real thing.

> use more bulbs or some other solutions to get more light (since it is
> sometimes difficult to find larger bulbs in the style I need).

     Well, butt ugliness is an entirely different problem...

     OTOH, nothing quite puts the whole heat vs. slowness debate into
perspective as much as living in the desert where it gets to 120 in the
summer and your air conditioner strains all day just to keep it down to
85 in the house. Indcandenscent bulbs waste most of the energy they 
consume. Making up for that wasted heat output in a large well lit space
is it's own can of worms.

     Heating is easy. Cooling is hard.