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• Investment
  No one said anything about providing a solar panel and storage for every home. That is up to the homeowner. If someone wants to purchase solar panels and a plug-in hybrid and then sell their unused power back to the grid, it is their choice. This will only become more common as the years go on and the price comes down. If we are serious about saving money, the utility companies need to be compelled to start now. The cheapest and cleanest power plant is the one that doesn't have to be built. This is an investment in national security, and it should be treated as such.
  
  If the telephone and cable companies can rework their system to provide broadband internet access in 10 years (addressing+two way communication), utility companies can do the same.

  May 22, 2007

  0 replies

• Invalid criticism
  The biggest source of manmade mercury in the environment comes from coal fired power plants, which provide more than 50% of the country's power, and an even greater percentage of the world's power. Installing CFLs results in a net mercury reduction by reducing electricity demand. Use less electricity, burn less coal, emit less mercury and every other form of pollution that coal power plants are responsible for.
  
  We have used flourescent lights in schools, office buildings, stores, industry and just about every purpose other than residential lighting for decades. They haven't resulted in an environmental nightmare. The new standards have reduced mercury content of CFLs to an extremely small amount. If you crack them open, wear gloves and sweep it into a sealed bag. Throw in trash.
  
  The current issue of Popular Mechanics tested various brands of CFLs against an incandescent standard. The CFLs were judged to have superior light quality than the incandescent, and the difference in the amount of light produced between both types was indistinguishable.
  
  When Solid state lighting (LEDs) becomes economical, CFLs will no doubt meet their demise. If this is 10 - 20 years from now, you'd only have to replace the CFLs a handful of times in that time period. Even if they burn out prematurely, the branded CFLs have a 5 year warranty. You'd only have to "buy" 4 bulbs per socket over the course of 20 years.

  May 7, 2007

  0 replies