$50 Light Bulb Wins DOE Affordability Prize

[Karen Kraft]

The U.S. government has awarded appliance-maker Philips $10 million for devising an “affordable” alternative to today’s standard 60-watt incandescent bulb. That standard bulb sells for around $1. The Philips alternative sells for $50.
Of course, the award-winner is no ordinary bulb. It uses only one-sixth the energy of an incandescent. And it lasts 30,000 hours–about 30 times as long. In fact, if you don’t drop it, it may last 10 years or more.

But only the U.S. Government (in this case, the Department of Energy) could view a $50 bulb as cheap.

The Department of Energy created its so-called “L-Prize” to encourage manufacturers to come up with energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) alternatives to incandescent bulbs. To be deemed the winner, a bulb had to be affordable.

But LED alternatives already on the market and comparable to the L-Prize winner sell for less than half its price.

So by what standard is the winner cheap? The federal government’s, of course. But to be fair, also by the standard of other U.S.-made LEDs. The L-Prize originally required the winning bulb to be made in the U.S.A. The components for Philips’ bulb are made in California and assembled in Wisconsin. Cheaper LEDs of comparable performance come from overseas.

One dollar, fifty dollars: Same thing if you print the money.

 

[Disgustipated]

One dollar, fifty dollars: Same thing if you print the money.

It's not going to work, Kenny. Just create a new moniker and start from scratch.

 

[Karen Kraft]

Being another Democrat inspired failure, it will go away after the election.

You expecting it to burn out earlier than claimed?

 

[CHNOPS]

http://tx2.engine.flamingtext.com/netfu/tmp20033/coollogo_com-7362889.gif

 

[garbage can]

It's not going to work, Kenny. Just create a new moniker and start from scratch.

You've already created a new moniker, and it hasn't helped.

Your childish bullshit is roughly the same.

 

[Disgustipated]

http://tx2.engine.flamingtext.com/netfu/tmp20033/coollogo_com-7362889.gif

Drivel?

 

[RobDownSouth]

You expecting it to burn out earlier than claimed?

Hey Karken, long time no sleaze!

How're the wife and kids?

 

[CHNOPS]

You've already created a new moniker, and it hasn't helped.

Your childish bullshit is roughly the same.

ZINGG!!!--wait. Huh?

 

[Disgustipated]

ZIN--wait. Huh?

He also needs a new moniker. And an education.

 

[CHNOPS]

He also needs a new moniker. And an education.

I bet he still listens to A-track tapes!

 

[Disgustipated]

I bet he still listens to A-track tapes!

Ken? Probably, that dude is pretty old.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Wok]

A track?

Inside joke.

 

[CHNOPS]

A track?

Try to keep up!

 

[CHNOPS]

Inside joke.

...from this very thread.

 

[unregistered]

 

[unregistered]

 

[Karen Kraft]

Hey Karken, long time no sleaze!

How're the wife and kids?

I'm not Ken. I am Karen, Bob.

 

[RobDownSouth]

I'm not Ken. I am Karen, Bob.

I wonder if the California Rules of Professional Conduct sanctions bar members who violate California Penal Code 646.9? We might just have to find out, Ken.

Discovery ought to be very informative, don't you think?

 

[QueenLevitra]

I'm not Ken. I am Karen, Bob.

Who's <deleted out of respect>, Ken???

 

[badbabysitter]

I'm not Ken. I am Karen, Bob.

no, you're Ken

 

[thør]

In other news though, three of my neighbors just installed a "whole house emergency generator" This thing runs on natural gas (which our neighborhood is a gas one) and comes on automatically when the power is out for more than 5 minutes. It's a cool little generator, but the power goes out for a significant amount of time about once every 5 years.

On the other hand... our power costs about a dime a KWh. With natural gas prices tanking, I'm wondering if it might be cheaper to run the generator full time.

I have a similar system. Starts when the power's been out for about 50 seconds. It's 7.5 KW, which is just big enough to run the well pump. And, it comes on every Saturday for 15-20 minutes to exercise the system. Still the oil and filters need to be changed every 100 hours or so. I'm not fond of the Generac units I've seen that are sold as whole house units. They aren't set up for easy maintenance and parts are expensive. Just a new starter motor is over $600.

 

[CHNOPS]

I have a similar system. Starts when the power's been out for about 50 seconds. It's 7.5 KW, which is just big enough to run the well pump. And, it comes on every Saturday for 15-20 minutes to exercise the system. Still the oil and filters need to be changed every 100 hours or so. I'm not fond of the Generac units I've seen that are sold as whole house units. They aren't set up for easy maintenance and parts are expensive. Just a new starter motor is over $600.

When we lived in Deliverance-ville for a little while, I put in a generator that ran most of the house. The price difference between the automated system and the kind where I walked four steps out of the back door, primed once and pulled the starter, was massive. Needless to say, I primed and pulled.

 

[JohnnySavage]

I live in an area where toys rule. One neighbor has a heated driveway so he doesn't have to shovel the 2" of snow we get here.


I've been trying to cipher out the KW... If I have 600 amps coming to the house... and

P=IE
P = 600 x 120

...that can't be right. 72Kw? That's a big honkin' generator.

 

[JohnnySavage]

7.5KW = 7,500 watts

P=IE

P/E = I

7500/120 = 62.5 amps?

I must have a gross conceptual error or those generators aren't that good.