[Greenbuilding] U.S. Energy Mark Day

[Bob Korves]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Smith" <michael_1234 at msn.com>
To: "greenbuilding" <greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 6:44 PM
Subject: [Greenbuilding] U.S. Energy Mark Day


> Let's call it the "Mark". The idea that we will change the 4 light bulbs 
> we use the most in our normal day as it pertains to a week. That is, if 
> you leave your garage lights on all day until you get home, that's one 
> light to change.
>  Change it to a 50,000 or 100,000 hour LED light that uses 80-90% less 
> energy than the incandescent, fluorescent or halogen you use now. They're 
> expensive! Why would you spend $40.00 on one light bulb much less 4? 
> Because your government just gave you back $1200.00 and I want you to do 2 
> things. Turn that $40.00x4 into $160.00 every year in savings. And, show 
> the government they have their heads up their you know what. But....that 
> will show the whole world we can change habits more in one month... 
> forever....than some world fund do-gooders can do with someone else's 
> donations.
> Do some research on cost over the life of the bulb and see what I mean. 
> Let's make a real change right now without giving up any life style.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Michael,
Here is a post that I recently sent to another group:
---------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: ********
Cheap, efficient LED`s
I bought these efficient, low cost LED light tubes from ebay, and I`m
amazed at the amount
of bright white light, the low cost, and small amount of power they
draw.

LED LIGHT TUBE 198 LEDS WITH PLUG

GIVES 100 WATTS OF LIGHT, USING ONLY 11 WATTS,
Description:

Model:W-198
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Light output is measured in lumens. This LED light is spec'ed at 697
lumens, according to the ad on Ebay. That is 63 lumens/watt. By cost
($13.00 US) it is 54 lumens/dollar. Life is rated at 80,000 hours, or 6154
hours/dollar.

A 100 watt incandescent in my closet is rated at 1450 lumens. That is 14.5
lumens/watt. I bought them on sale many years ago for $0.25 each, so that's
5800 lumens/dollar. Life is rated at 2500 hours, or 12,500 hours/dollar.

A 23 watt CFL (100 watt equivalent) in my closet puts out 1600 lumens. That
is 70 lumens/watt. I just purchased several 4 packs at $2.00 US each(!).
It gives 3200 lumens/dollar. Life is rated at 10,000 hours, or 20,000
hours/dollar.

The LED light does not win in any category, except _possibly_ absolute life
span. The individual LED's might possibly last that long, and it is also
not likely that 198 of them will fail at once. Calling this light a "100
watt equivalent" is a lie. It puts out less than half the light of a 100
watt bulb. Depending on the electronic wiring of the LED's, it might
fail-soft, with only part of the fixture failing at once. Or maybe not.
The ad doesn't say. Fail-soft lights might have value for certain
applications. These fixtures are too new to have a track record, so the
jury is still out. I do know that the CFL bulbs that I have had have not
lasted well at all, possibly because I turn them on and off to save power,
which shortens their life.

I agree with ****** that LED's, at least at this point, are better suited 
for
task lighting, or maybe for something like a minimal light to turn on
briefly (for instance) to light a hallway or stairwell at night.

Incandescent bulbs are, or course, hopeless WRT energy usage, so they only
make sense if someone else is paying the electric bill! And you are not a
conservationist...

CFL lights are certainly not perfect, but seem to be the best all around
choice for interior lighting other than standard flourescent tubes, which
are even more efficient in areas that can use that amount of light.
(snip)
-Bob Korves
-------------------------------------------

Michael,
Do you have other numbers or a better reference LED?
-Bob Korves