[CliffordK (OP)]

For decades, children have been cooking with Easy Bake Ovens powered by a simple 100W light bulb.

But, there is now a movement to eliminate the 100W incandescent bulbs.

Will that also mean an end to the Easy Bake Oven?

[JP]

It's probably an opportunity for them to make a proprietary "heating element" and triple the price!

Also, heat lamps probably won't vanish.

[Geezer]

You might want to buy a couple of thousand while you can. They could be worth a bit on E-bay in twenty or so years.

[Geezer]

I wonder if our legistors will also require us to use high efficiency electric heating elements?

[CliffordK (OP)]

Heat lamps, of course, are different in shape from ordinary light bulbs.  You're right, they probably won't disappear as a Compact Fluorescent Heat Lamp would be quite ineffective.

They might just start selling the light bulbs as "heating elements" in the toy section of stores.  I does make you wonder about the wasted energy with the old bulbs as they can cook small cakes in a matter of minutes.

My niece got one of the Easy Bake ovens for Christmas last year.  "Light Bulb Not Included".  And my brother apparently didn't have any 100W bulbs in the house.  So there was no chance of using it on Christmas Day.

The 100W incandescent bulb ban is supposed to go into effect January 2012. 
How many disappointed kids will there be next Christmas when they open their easy bake oven.  See "bulb not included" and find out the government has banned the sale...  well, in January, but the stores may choose not to restock early.

[Geezer]

It does make you wonder about the wasted energy with the old bulbs as they can cook small cakes in a matter of minutes.

Incandescent bulbs are much better heaters than they are light producers. I'm guessing that a 100W lightbulb produces quite a bit less than 10W of visible light energy. Ironically, in homes that are heated by electricity, consumption might actually increase because of the conversion to high efficiency bulbs.

People are more inclined to switch off the lights in a room when there is nobody in it than they are to switch off an electric heater.

EDIT: It's even worse than I thought. According to Wiki, a 100W bulb puts out 2.6W of light (and 97.4W of heat).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bulb#Efficiency_and_environmental_impact

[SeanB]

Special purpose lamps are exempt from the ban, so you will be able to find a lamp. Might have to look a little, but they will be available.

Just as a thought, how much of your bill is lighting, as opposed to the contribution from heating, cooking, hot water and air conditioning?

[CliffordK (OP)]

I do think that lighting is a minimal component of my power usage, and I generally turn off lights when not in use.  Nonetheless, I've tried to put in a few CFL bulbs.  Ordinary round bulbs are reasonably easy to replace.  I did have a couple of small chandeliers that took about 8 little bulbs that were a pain to convert, with only moderate success.

I do wonder if there is a significant benefit of the CFL bulbs in places like the bathroom or a hallway where I might just turn the lights on for 1 minute at a time.

If there is a market, then the bulbs will be sold.  As I mentioned, perhaps they'll put the ones for the easy bake oven in toy store isles.  However, many of the manufacturing plants are shutting down.  And, there might not be enough of a market to produce and distribute them.

[RD]

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=25210.msg271991#msg271991

[Bored chemist]

http://heatball.de/

[Don_1]

Special purpose lamps are exempt from the ban, so you will be able to find a lamp. Might have to look a little, but they will be available.

Just as a thought, how much of your bill is lighting, as opposed to the contribution from heating, cooking, hot water and air conditioning?

Here is an example. While there are combined heat/UV lamps (such as the Mega-Ray) available, different species of reptile require different levels of UV light, so there will always be a requirement for heat emitting basking lamps for these pets.

While there are energy saver bulbs which emit UV light designed for use in reptile enclosures, no energy saver produces the heat required for reptiles. Incandescent bulbs will still be needed for this purpose.

I am still of the opinion that, until an energy saver can be produced which gives instant maximum illumination, standard incandescent bulbs will still be required for some parts of the home. In particular, to light stair wells. A 1am need to use the stairs, perhaps in the event of a fire, will require instantaneous illumination, if the victims of a fire are to escape without adding to their problems by going arse over tit down the stairs. Also, the elderly and those with some degree of visual impairment may find it rather awkward to have to wait until the energy saver shed's sufficient light to safely negotiate stairs even if they just need a glass of water.

In the case of easy bake ovens, which I must admit I have never used, perhaps a ceramic bulb might be the answer, though these are very expensive by comparison to 100w light bulbs (and much bigger), they do have a long life.


On the point of stocking up with 100w incandescent bulbs while they are still available, we bought a healthy number of bulbs for use over the stairs. Oddly, the bulbs being produced now don't seem to last anywhere near as long as the bulbs we bought in the past. Do I detect some sort of conspiracy?

[peppercorn]

I do wonder if there is a significant benefit of the CFL bulbs in places like the bathroom or a hallway where I might just turn the lights on for 1 minute at a time.

Very good point! I've often thought the same (the start-up current is far higher than in continuous running for CFLs) - to the point where if I put the toilet light on at night-time, I'll leave it on to clean my teeth in bathroom across the hall.

Perhaps our governments should be pushing LED replacements now not CFLs.

[SeanB]

At the current prices for LED lights I will wait for a generation or three of cost reduction, they are available, but expensive.

[CliffordK (OP)]

CFLs produce more of a diffuse light.
LEDs produce a spot light, and are generally considered not as efficient as CFLs for wide area lighting.

However, it is quite possible that each one would have its niche, for example the quick in & out cycles, or under cabinet lighting.

I would actually like to put in some light-tubes in my house.  But, I also believe that single-story commercial structures would also benefit from light tubes and similar designs capturing natural ambient light.  I find it odd that the buildings are often designed to require the lights to be turned on all day long.

I suppose I am rambling some...  but the topic is about changes in light standards, movement forward, and what gets left behind.

[damocles]

Here in Oz we have been without incandescent lights for a couple of years. CFLs in practice put out equivalent light at about 15% of the power consumption. That is, the replacement for a 100 watt incandescent globe operates at about 15 watt power consumption. The CFLs are more expensive but much longer lasting than the incandescent globes were, and are generally accepted by the public. CFLs usually provide less harsh shadows and a better light colour.

(I am talking here about general house lighting; small incandescent bulbs for specific purposes are still available, as are torch globes. However even in these areas LEDs are rapidly replacing the older technology).

[CliffordK (OP)]

(I am talking here about general house lighting; small incandescent bulbs for specific purposes are still available, as are torch globes. However even in these areas LEDs are rapidly replacing the older technology).

Automobile Headlights?

I agree that for the most part LED flashlights are far superior to the incandescent flashlights.

[damocles]

(I am talking here about general house lighting; small incandescent bulbs for specific purposes are still available, as are torch globes. However even in these areas LEDs are rapidly replacing the older technology).

Automobile Headlights?

I agree that for the most part LED flashlights are far superior to the incandescent flashlights.

OK Automobile headlights, and automotive lights generally, are still incandescent. They use some of the engine power via the battery system. Interestingly , though, our older incandescent traffic lights have been replaced with series of LEDs. Instead of looking at a continuous disk when stopped at the lights, we now look at a mosaic of about 100 LEDs (at least, I think they are LEDs -- cannot work out any other reason for that change in appearance).

[Bored chemist]

LED tail lights; turn indicators; and brake lights are here. I think it won't be long before there are LED headlights.

[Geezer]

LED tail lights; turn indicators; and brake lights are here. I think it won't be long before there are LED headlights.

Even sooner than that