djjsr
Well-known member
I guess it started about 10 years ago, I think. The Dept of Energy came up with some kind of an energy saving plan. Part of that plan was to eventually phase out much of the lighting we've been using for decades in favor of stuff that uses less power.
Seems like a good idea.
Now, about 10 years later, many of us are replacing light fixtures and bulbs because the T-12 ballasts haven't been manufactured since July of last year and are getting a little hard to find. And the bulb phase out begins in July of this year (now) so I guess we have to do something, ready or not.
I have about 35 T-12 fixtures. Almost all are 8 ft with 2 bulbs, the "single pin" type. Most of them are VERY old (40 or 50 years) but have worked well.
In one room I have 6 of these fixtures and recently one of them quit. No ballasts available, so I replace the fixture with an 8 ft T-8 that takes four of the 4 ft bulbs. Everything seems good.
The light seemed a little dimmer than the old lights. Thinking it might just be the color of the lights, I grab my light meter and compare the T-8 to the old T-12.
There's a difference. The old T-12 shows about 820 (lux) and the new T-8 is about 700. I try some bulbs of a different brand. The color is a little brighter but the actual amount of light is not significantly different, at least according to my meter.
Ok, this means I'll have to add more light fixtures to get the same amount of light.
Hmmmm ........... there goes my "energy savings".
This starts playing on my mind and I'm thinking that I can't be the only one that's going to be replacing a LOT of lights for an insignificant savings. I guess I really need to do a comparison of actual light for the amount of energy used. Lux per watt, or something like that.
I've got meters and I'm going to figure this out! ............ maybe.
As my mind is trying to make sense of this whole phase out plan, I wonder why are we REALLY doing this? Hmmmmm.
Ok, we'll probably be saving energy in the long run, but it's going to cost a LOT of money to replace millions of T-12 lights.
That last part echoed in my mind.
"it's going to cost a LOT of money to replace millions of T-12 lights."
The conspiracy ............
"Follow the money" as they say.
Just suppose that the lighting industry guys all get together and come up with a plan to convince everybody that we absolutely, positively MUST throw out all the old stuff and buy lots of new stuff.
WooooHoooooo !!!! $$$$$$$$$$$
So then I think it's not likely that guys from Sylvania, Osram, Philips, Cooper, Westinghouse, General Electric and a few others would all get together, right?
Wrong. There's a couple of lighting trade associations that all of these companies belong to and I'm betting they have a few lobbyists and those lobbyists have done their job in Washington.
I could be wrong.
Seems like a good idea.
Now, about 10 years later, many of us are replacing light fixtures and bulbs because the T-12 ballasts haven't been manufactured since July of last year and are getting a little hard to find. And the bulb phase out begins in July of this year (now) so I guess we have to do something, ready or not.
I have about 35 T-12 fixtures. Almost all are 8 ft with 2 bulbs, the "single pin" type. Most of them are VERY old (40 or 50 years) but have worked well.
In one room I have 6 of these fixtures and recently one of them quit. No ballasts available, so I replace the fixture with an 8 ft T-8 that takes four of the 4 ft bulbs. Everything seems good.
The light seemed a little dimmer than the old lights. Thinking it might just be the color of the lights, I grab my light meter and compare the T-8 to the old T-12.
There's a difference. The old T-12 shows about 820 (lux) and the new T-8 is about 700. I try some bulbs of a different brand. The color is a little brighter but the actual amount of light is not significantly different, at least according to my meter.
Ok, this means I'll have to add more light fixtures to get the same amount of light.
Hmmmm ........... there goes my "energy savings".
This starts playing on my mind and I'm thinking that I can't be the only one that's going to be replacing a LOT of lights for an insignificant savings. I guess I really need to do a comparison of actual light for the amount of energy used. Lux per watt, or something like that.
I've got meters and I'm going to figure this out! ............ maybe.
As my mind is trying to make sense of this whole phase out plan, I wonder why are we REALLY doing this? Hmmmmm.
Ok, we'll probably be saving energy in the long run, but it's going to cost a LOT of money to replace millions of T-12 lights.
That last part echoed in my mind.
"it's going to cost a LOT of money to replace millions of T-12 lights."
The conspiracy ............
"Follow the money" as they say.
Just suppose that the lighting industry guys all get together and come up with a plan to convince everybody that we absolutely, positively MUST throw out all the old stuff and buy lots of new stuff.
WooooHoooooo !!!! $$$$$$$$$$$
So then I think it's not likely that guys from Sylvania, Osram, Philips, Cooper, Westinghouse, General Electric and a few others would all get together, right?
Wrong. There's a couple of lighting trade associations that all of these companies belong to and I'm betting they have a few lobbyists and those lobbyists have done their job in Washington.
I could be wrong.
