Edison's Bulb WHY IT TOOK ALMOST 20 YEARS:
Energy Saving Light Bulbs were available in 1982, so why did it take so long for these new light bulbs to become readily available to the public!
In 1982, the word around the industry was that it cost only "seven pennies" from raw material to supermarket shelf to make a 75 watt bulb. A bulb that sold for $1.15, or around .85 cents when on sale. A bulb that burned-out after only 750 hours of use, thus guaranteeing repeat business. So why would a major manufacturer make an energy saving bulb that would last 10,000 hours and kiss goodbye all those profits from an inefficient incandescent light bulb? This was a product with a huge mark-up and who would care that it was so grossly inefficient?
The incandescent bulb is so inefficient that out of the 100% of electricity used to operate the bulb, 90% generates heat! Only 10% of the electricity consumed produces light!
Energy Saving Light Bulbs were available in 1982, so why did it take so long for these new light bulbs to become readily available to the public!
In 1982, the word around the industry was that it cost only "seven pennies" from raw material to supermarket shelf to make a 75 watt bulb. A bulb that sold for $1.15, or around .85 cents when on sale. A bulb that burned-out after only 750 hours of use, thus guaranteeing repeat business. So why would a major manufacturer make an energy saving bulb that would last 10,000 hours and kiss goodbye all those profits from an inefficient incandescent light bulb? This was a product with a huge mark-up and who would care that it was so grossly inefficient?
The incandescent bulb is so inefficient that out of the 100% of electricity used to operate the bulb, 90% generates heat! Only 10% of the electricity consumed produces light!
Phillip's SL-18 Bulb Nevertheless, the new SL-18 light bulb would have to wait five years before any sustained interest would materialize. Even during the twenty anniversary of Earth Day back in 1990 when the third generation energy saving bulbs were available, they still were not readily available to the general public in stores. These new energy saving fluorescent bulbs saved you money, but their price tag scared people away. Stores were not about to pay sales people to learn the facts on these bulbs and then explain to each and every customers how this more expensive bulb was actually less money in the long run. After all, a homeowner was not going to buy a case of these bulbs, just one, and to spend ten minutes trying to educate a shopper on the spot for the sale was not worth it.
The end results: Years had to pass, patents had to expire, educated consumers had to prevail, demand had to increase, the price of oil had to go up, corners were cut to make cheaper versions of these energy saving bulbs, quality had to be sacrificed so prices would come down, and valuable time to save energy and money was lost.
Updated Blog Post - Published Article from EnergyHotwire.com to GoingTrueGreen.com
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
The end results: Years had to pass, patents had to expire, educated consumers had to prevail, demand had to increase, the price of oil had to go up, corners were cut to make cheaper versions of these energy saving bulbs, quality had to be sacrificed so prices would come down, and valuable time to save energy and money was lost.
Updated Blog Post - Published Article from EnergyHotwire.com to GoingTrueGreen.com
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
