Future of incandescent bulb dims as energy-efficient options gain power

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- If U.S. lawmakers have their way the lights may soon go out on Thomas Edison's greatest invention -- the incandescent light bulb. The 19th century inventor brought illumination to the world's fingertips but according to Congress his invention isn't efficient enough for an age anxious about energy supplies.

Edison figured out how to create light by feeding electricity to a slender piece of metal inside a bulb until it was hot enough to glow. But little of the energy consumed during this process is used to produce light."

Only 10% of the power used by today's incandescent bulbs is emitted as light, while the other 90% is released as heat," Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., said when she introduced her legislation to ban standard light bulbs. To eliminate this waste, Harman has proposed legislation that would effectively eliminate incandescent light bulbs from store shelves nationwide as early by 2012.

Her proposal was incorporated as part of an energy bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month. A Senate energy bill passed in June does not contain a similar provision but does express support for raising the efficiency standard of light bulbs over the next 10 years. The two chambers will try to reach a compromise on energy legislation in the fall.

Though the incandescent light bulb has logged more than 125 years as the reigning light technology with little competition, lawmakers supporting the legislation see the 4 billion light-bulb sockets in American homes as an obvious way to curtail energy consumption and reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses.

Democratic lawmakers think compact florescent lights and other lighting technology under development can fulfill the nation's lighting needs more efficiently.

"By simply replacing the light bulbs in their homes, our constituents will be saving money in addition to energy," Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., said during the House floor debate this month.

If every U.S. home replaced one light bulb with a compact florescent light, the country would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs, according to the government, which has a Web site with information on compact florescent bulbs. Visit the site.

Not everyone is willing to shatter Edison's legacy. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, has criticized the provision, saying it turns the government into the "light bulb police business."

Other legislators think compact florescent technology hasn't come far enough and that it fails to provide the same quality of light as incandescent bulbs. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., has compact florescent bulbs in his home but says they are not the equivalent of incandescent bulbs.

"They are not very bright. They are not good for reading," Peterson said on the House floor. "They buzz sometimes, they just buzz like a transformer."

Still, a concerted marketing effort by lighting manufacturers such as Royal Philips Electronics which hope to sell these alternative lights, has emboldened lawmakers to push for a total parting with the incandescent bulb.

The legislation would mean a change in consumer buying habits for an overwhelming majority of U.S. homes.

"This will mean a complete transformation of the [lighting] market," Jim Presswood, energy advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council said.

Second time around

The House energy bill would mandate an increase of more than 30% in the lumens produced by standard 60 watt to 100 watt bulbs, between 2012 and 2014. Lumens are a measure of the total amount of light generated. A standard 100-watt bulb produces about 1,600 lumens.

"What we know as today's incandescent light bulbs would not be able to meet this standard," Jeff Harris, vice president of programs at the Alliance to Save Energy, said in an interview.

Current compact florescent lighting technology would be able to meet this requirement, according to Presswood. These compact florescent lights use less electricity to produce ultraviolet light that is transformed into visible light.

Compact florescent lights may seem like an unlikely savior to those who remember their debut in 1979. They were a consumer flop and made little headway in the U.S. in the 1980s and '90s amid complaints of bulb burnout, poor light quality, buzzing noise and high prices. Since then they have seen a quirky redesign and now resemble the shape of a cork screw.

Certain enhanced halogen lights -- known as halogen incandescent lights -- which are also sold today would meet the standards set in 2012 and 2014, said Harris.

These lights are 30% more efficient than today's incandescent bulbs. "It is incandescent technology but an improved incandescent," Harris said.

In 2020, the standard would step up dramatically and lights would need to emit at least 300% of the brightness emitted by the 100 watt incandescent bulbs available today. Incandescent bulbs will be unable to meet this standard but compact florescent light technology should be able to, experts say.

Anticipated advances in so-called LED lighting -- light comprised of semiconductor light-emitting diodes -- could bring another option to the market.

Long-term savings, higher cost up front

Supporters see the provision as a way to pare rising consumer energy costs. "Since indoor and outdoor lighting accounts for up to 15% of energy use in the average residence, inefficient light bulbs can consume large amounts of excess energy," Inslee said during the House floor debate.

The savings that come from switching bulbs can add up, Harris said, though consumers will have to lay out a bit more cash up front when buying them. Compact florescent lights and halogen incandescent lights cost in the $2 to $3 dollar range but both last longer than incandescent bulbs, Harris said.

The 2012 to 2014 standards would bring a savings of about 30% to the lighting part of homeowners' electricity bills, Harris said. The 2020 standard would lift the savings to around 75%.

A manufacturer of florescent bulbs, has a calculator on its Web site that lets users determine the savings that comes with replacing bulbs. Replacing 10 of the standard 60 watt bulbs and five 100 watt bulbs with equivalent compact florescent lights would save a homeowner $120 a year or $656 over the life of the bulbs, according to the site. Check out the calculator.

The environment will also benefit if the standard light bulb heads into retirement, according to supporters of the legislation. Using less energy means less demand for electricity, which in the U.S. is predominantly generated by power plants that run off of large amounts of coal and natural gas.

One energy-efficient bulb can prevent the release of over 450 pounds of greenhouse gases, according to Harman. The 2020 standard in the House energy bill would slow the growth of U.S. emissions by roughly 104 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, or 1.4% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2005.

Corporate market the key?

Not everyone thinks the government needs to intervene to make compact florescent lights take off and the corporate rather than the residential market may be the key to making a serious cut in energy consumption.

"New CFL bulbs are becoming more mainstream without the need for government intervention," according to a July 31 analysts' note from Thomas Weisel Partners LLC.

"We see a gradual increase in replacement rates with new low power usage bulbs over time. We see a big market for residential replacement but believe the corporate market is where to make the biggest dent," the report continued…

A Perfect Storm Gathering on the U.S. Horizon

A perfect storm is gathering on the U.S. horizon, and it begs the question, what will our way-of-life look like after the skies clear, should we as a nation not reach political consensus - and fail to act.

The convergence of elements relating to America's dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil represent profound and ominous consequences: expanding extremism abroad, compounded by indifference at home, both being byproducts of our dependence on fossil fuels:

• Deeply Entrenched Special Interests
  
• Increasing Fossil Fuel Induced Air and Water Pollution
  
• Unabated Nuclear Proliferation
  
• Intensifying Effects of Climate Change
  
• Looming Implications of Peak Oil
  
• Deeply Rooted Oil Dependence in Volatile Regions
  
• Escalating Middle East Tension and Conflict
  
• Increasing Global Confrontation over Decreasing Resources
  
• Mounting Environmental Threats via Mountaintop Removal and Oil Exploration
  
• Economic Volatility via Rising Fuel Costs
  
• Swelling World Population and Industrialization

Each inseparably intertwined with U.S.energy and foreign policies…

Yet, when it comes to the precarious (fossil fuel induced) situation we find ourselves in today, as much as we may want to lay the burden of blame on the doorstep of Capitol Hill and the White House, the real problem lies in our own indifference and failure to hold our past and present leaders accountable.

Perhaps as a nation have we forgotten, democracy is not, nor has it ever been, a spectator sport. In the final analysis...we are response-able!

Since the oil embargo of the early 70’s, it has been an abundance of talk and scarcity of action by lawmakers and leaders, that has brought us to the precipice we now face.

Therefore, with a high degree of confidence, we can assume talk is not the answer, but rather action.

Throughout history we have seen the incredible change one person can bring about when totally dedicated to a cause; Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., to name a few examples. Likewise, monumental change also occurs when many dedicated even a small amount of effort to a worthy cause.


So, how do we as a nation get from here to there?

We must start by asking ourselves, do we care as much as we say we do. Do we care enough to make subtle the changes in our lifestyles indicative of foresight to take a different path, a sustainable path where our children and theirs can follow?

Do we care enough to pick up the phone…to send an email…to sign an online petition? Do we care enough to contact other like-minded people within our circle of influence to ask them to do the same?

In a few weeks time, a bi-partisan effort will be under way to produce a cohesive piece of legislation for presidential approval. The conference committee which will convene on or about September 4th to reconcile the Senate & House bills, will be debating hotly contested items.

Specifically, whether to require electric utilities to produce 15 percent of their power from renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass by 2020 (today only 2.3 percent of the country's electricity is produced via renewable sources). And, to raise fleet-wide fuel economy standards for cars and trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 (efficiency standards have not been increased in over two decades).

Yet, each proposal is strongly opposed by the utility industry and automotive industry respectively, each having lobbied hard to defeat these initiatives.

Both measures are profound in their impact on reducing GHG emissions and reducing our dependence on countries that do not have our best interest in mind.

Thus, It is up to us to lobby hard for their enactment and provide congress with the support and political confidence to make the right choices!

Take the time now to contact your Senate & House legislators, and let them know you support the 15% renewable by 2020 amendment - as well as raising vehicle fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Let's use our collective power to lead our country to "greener" pastures.

Thank you,
Energize Now Initiative

Start by signing the Fueling the Renewable Energy Movement Petition

FYI...

Edison Electric Institute - call (202-508-5000) and / or environment@eei.org

Atlanta-based Southern Co – call (202-261-5000) and / or email

Ford Motor Company – call 800-392-3673 and / or email

General Motors Company – call 800-462-8782

Chrysler Motor Corp – call 1-800-992-1997 and / or email

"Fueling the Renewable Energy Movement"

When it comes to addressing the security of our nation and planet, we cannot afford politics as usual. Help insure America’s voice is heard in Washington. Please sign the “Fueling the Renewable Energy Movement” petition below:

"The years teach much which the days never knew"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dear U.S. Legislators,

Energy is the common thread running through every aspect of our society; interweaving economic, trade, agriculture, environmental, defense and foreign policies, inseparably linking one to the next. Accordingly, it is no coincidence energy is at the epicenter of the unprecedented challenges facing America today, challenges in the form of fossil fuel & foreign oil dependence.

The energy bills recently passed by the Senate & House of Representatives represent real progress toward addressing America's fossil fuel dependence, environmental and national security concerns.

However, as these historic Senate & House bills make their way to committee and becoming law, more partisan progress is needed.

To act in a manner consistent with that which is best for our nation, final legislation must contain a renewable energy standard requiring electric utilities to produce 15% of their power via clean renewable sources such as wind, solar, etc. It must also include fuel-efficiency increase for automobiles to 35mpg by 2020, and a nationwide utility net-metering standard, a prerequisite to wide-scale adoption of solar energy.

Awareness and understanding of the profound implications of our nation's past and present energy policies is increasing among constituents and the nation's social and political conscience as a whole. Similarly, the consequences of politics as usual, pandering to special interests, and placing party before principle is becoming better understood by many.

Whereas a growing, energized and informed non-partisan movement is under way across the nation, clearing a path for reason to prevail regarding the most important issues of our time: The overriding need to safeguard our planet while obtaining energy independence through conservation and clean, domestic renewable / alternate energy sources.

Be it through indifference, ignorance or blind faith, our actions or lack thereof, all of us have participated in creating the precarious (fossil fuel induced) situation that exists today. Likewise, it will require everyone's participation to bring about a new level of thinking with regard to the environment and our nation's energy independence.

In recognition of our shared responsibility, by signing this petition, we the undersigned each pledge to act for the good of the many...not the few...by making every reasonable effort to promote and practice energy conservation, and supporting clean, domestic renewable energy initiatives. We respectfully request your pledge in doing the same.

With world oil production nearing or at peak capacity; energy demand and climate-change increasing unabated, man's law of supply and demand, coupled with nature's law of cause and effect, will inevitably bring about change. The only question is for better or worse. Will we as a nation have the will to act now...not talk...nor posture or politic, but act out of conscience endeavor to usher in a new energy era, or through indifference will we be acted upon by the environmental, economic and geo-political threats now gathering on the horizon?

Dating back to the Arab oil embargo of 1973, each new administration and congress has pledged to lead our country toward greater energy security. Yet, in the absence of accountability, our previous leaders have been far more proficient at following (money & power) than leading. Consequently, our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels has increased year-over-year, as the security of our nation and planet decreases at our own peril.

For these reasons Ladies and Gentlemen, via the inherent power of "we the people" energy security and safeguarding our planet can and will be elevated to the level of national priority... we request your assistance in the effort. For the influence, this legislative session has over America's continued prosperity, our personal future well-being, and that of generations to come, is as powerful as its willingness to exert it.

Our Nation requires your leadership, not to the left neither to the right, but rather to a state of stainable independence...it is time to end the era of fossil fuel and foreign oil dependence!

Respectfully Submitted,

The undersigned

House Passes Bill to Support Renewable Energy

The House yesterday passed a far-reaching package of energy legislation that would promote conservation and the use of renewable resources at the expense of the country's oil and gas interests.

The bill, which passed 241 to 172, would require more energy efficiency in appliances, buildings and power grids, which proponents of the bill say would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and electricity use. It calls for more energy efficiency measures in the Capitol building. It also would provide grants for studies to promote ethanol pipelines, installation of pumps for 85 percent ethanol fuel at gas stations and production of cellulosic ethanol.

The Democrats also won passage of a provision that would require that 15 percent of electricity from private utilities come from solar, wind or other renewable energy sources. It would be the first such requirement to apply to all the states.

The House last night also passed, 221 to 189, a companion tax package, totaling nearly $16 billion, that targets the oil and gas industry. In a letter to Congress, however, the Bush administration said Friday that the two House measures would result in less domestic oil and gas production. The letter said President Bush's senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bills.

Since taking control of Congress last year, the Democrats have identified the reordering of the nation's energy priorities as an important goal that would position their party as the principal advocates for environmentally friendly policies.

"This is the historic break with the fossil-fuel past and the beginning of the solar wind renewable era in the United States," said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. "People will look back at this as the turning point where Congress began to embrace renewable energy."

However, the energy bill omitted several proposals, including other mandates for renewable energy, incentives for coal-to-liquid production and a tougher vehicle fuel-economy standard contained in a Senate package that was passed in June. They could be taken up later this year, when the House and Senate reconcile their energy bills, or in a possible bill on global warming.
"There are many things that will put the strength of the federal government behind energy conservation and renewable energy," Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said of the House legislation. "This bill is some of the low-hanging fruit -- the issues that we can agree upon across regions. This is a warm-up for us to tackle those tougher issues."

Republicans pilloried the bill for ignoring ways to boost the nation's traditional energy supplies -- labeling it the Democrats' "energy scarcity bill." Republicans challenged Democrats for doing nothing to promote nuclear power, coal-to-liquid plants or new oil offshore drilling in federal waters.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) launched a drive for a new energy bill in January, but Democrats struggled over key issues. The byproduct of 10 committees, the "consensus" energy bill nearly came unraveled in skirmishes over turf and regional conflicts.

Pelosi has had to mollify members from oil- and gas-producing districts by changing provisions on oil royalties and permitting. Democrats also had to contend with opposition to the renewable electricity mandate by lawmakers from Southern states, where officials say they lack the wind or hydropower resources to meet those standards.

Earlier in the week, Rep. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), the lead sponsor of the provision, lowered the mandate from 20 to 15 percent, broadening support for the measure. Later in negotiations, supporters made another change allowing states to achieve up to 4 percent of the new mandate through efficiency. The provision passed as an amendment to the energy bill by a vote of 220 to 190.

The House energy bill left out vehicle fuel economy increases included in the Senate bill, in the face of heavy opposition from auto lobbyists, the United Auto Workers and Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.).

Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wants to make auto fuel usage part of a broad climate change bill later in the year.
Throughout the year, Dingell squared off with Markey, a principal supporter of higher fuel economy standards. With that fight moving to a conference committee, Markey said yesterday that he wants a seat at that table.

By Sholnn Freeman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 5, 2007; Page A09