Energy conservation and aesthetics
This morning, as I was seeing all too well by the light of the new LEDs in our bathroom lighting fixture, the thick black hairs growing out of my chin (I’m a fair-haired woman) I was remembering a conversation I had yesterday about energy efficiency. I was suggesting the replacement of household-wide incandescent lighting with LEDs as a first step for anyone interested in taking energy efficiency measures. The savings are astonishing — I’ve discovered a 1-watt bulb that is comparable to 60-watt incandescents, and a 2-watt that is comparable to halogen splotlights generally used in the kitchen. We’ve replaced all of the lighting on our first floor with LEDs and in the first month we realized approximately$25 savings the first month, and we are burning around 1/60th the amount of coal to have that lighting.
The person I was speaking with about LEDs made a comment that the ones they’ve seen on the store shelves ‘ugly’. More than a few people have said to me that they haven’t switched to LEDs because they are not so nice looking and the hues are not quite what they are accustomed to. All of these folks were having those conversations with me because they are aware of the need for change, and they actually care.
Another thing popped into my groggy morning pre-pot-of-coffee brain… I have heard some of those same people complain about things like suburbanites that are still driving SUVs and large trucks around (probably because they like the way the vehicles look), and commuters that are still not ride-sharing or taking public transportation (probably because they don’t want to be inconvenienced), and people that throw perfectly functional things into a landfill to buy new ones (probably because the old ones were ‘ugly’), … I could go on and on … if I only had more coffee…
After using the tweezers to yank my beard hairs (I refuse to use an electric razor, not because I’m conserving energy, but because more of the little buggers will show up to invade my chin and probably work their way into becoming a mustache as well) I decided that being energy efficient can really be inconvenient. I really don’t want to see myself in the mirror that well…and the lights are kind of ugly and make my bathroom ceiling look like someone peed on it…
But it’s not nearly so inconvenient as taking my asthma medicine twice a day, using an inhaler, or installing a household filtration system so I can drink my water — out here in the country where everything was supposed to be so clean…
Those damned LEDs…they may be ugly, but not even 1/60th as ugly as the black beard!
So much about residential lighting (and I think, should also be considered more often in commercial settings), is about aesthetics, so that is an unavoidable obstacle that has to be overcome. I hope it is sooner rather than later that manufacturers and entrepreneurs can come up with affordable, energy efficient light “bulbs” that will also fulfill the different aesthetic requirements we desire. As is said so often “we can put a man on the moon…”. This shouldn’t be rocket science, should it?
There are actually quite a few options for commercial and industrial lighting as well as residential. One problem, though. I’ve discovered that the U.S. is way behind in this market — as they are in renewable energy systems. The majority of the ‘nice looking’ LED products I’ve found are manufactured in China.
Through my years of manufacturing experience as a Project Manager in new product introduction I learned that in the United States, R&D for product improvements happens only after BETA products are purchased, and consumers give feedback — after they’ve actually tried the product.
We are running out of time. We cannot afford to wait until things are ‘nice looking’ or ‘convenient’.
I am pushing the lighting issue because it is a rather inexpensive change that each property owner (or lessee) can make right away. If people would change out their incandescent or halogen lighting with efficient bulbs in just one room, the environmental benefits would be immediate, and ENORMOUS!
Lately, I’ve been suggesting to anyone who says they are concerned about the state of our environment: “Vote with your dollars, and put your money where your mouth is…”
Respectfully submitted,
Vicki
Vicki, it reminds me of when cities and towns (like Chicago) installed sodium vapor street lighting – you know, the ugly prison yard looking stuff. It was so offensive that now many munipalities ban sodium vapor in their ordinaces.
The reality is that you cannot ignore aesthetics. Lighting is aesthetics. And the best energy-efficient options are just not affordable for most people.
Buy:Buspar.Lipitor.Benicar.Prozac.Nymphomax.SleepWell.Ventolin.Aricept.Zocor.Lipothin.Seroquel.Cozaar.Female Cialis.Zetia.Lasix.Acomplia.Female Pink Viagra.Advair.Amoxicillin.Wellbutrin SR….