wjm@lcuxc.UUCP (B. Mitchell) (01/29/85)
<chomp>
There is nothing special about "long-life" light bulbs, all of the major
manufacturers have been making them for years. However, you do pay a price
in that these bulbs are less efficient than the standard bulbs (you get
less light out of a "long-life" 100w bulb than a standard 100w bulb, although
they both use the same amount of electricity.)
You can do the same thing by using a bulb with a rated voltage HIGHER than
the line voltage - e.g. 130v bulbs, or by putting a dimmer on a standard bulb.
Generally, long-life bulbs are only economical when a light fixture is in a
hard to reach place, since they will use more electricity for the same
amount of light and generally cost more than standard bulbs (since fewer
long life bulbs are produced, the unit cost per bulb is higher).
Personally, I use the high efficiency "miser" (which is a GE trademark, but
these bulbs are also made by Westinghouse and Duro-Test (and probably Sylvania))
bulbs, which have the same light output and life as a standard soft-white lamp
but use about 10% less electricity (90w instead of 100, 70w instead of 75, and
55w instead of 60). They have high-efficiency filaments and although the bulbs
cost a bit more, they save enough on my electric bill to make it worthwhile
(of course, I live in an area where electricity is expensive - I get my power
from Jersey Central Power and Light and have to pay for Three Mile Island)
It is possible to have your cake and eat it too, and get both long life and
efficiency by installing fluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps are about three
times more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs and they last about 20
times longer, so the cost of replacing the fixture can often be recovered in
less than a year.
Regards,
Bill Mitchell ({ihnp4!}lcuxc!wjm)