Inconvenient Facts: Will Changing from Incandescent Light Bulbs to Neon Help the Environment?

No day passes now that we don't hear something having to do with global warming, especially now that Al Gore's film won an Academy Award. And what we hear mostly are all the dire things that are about to happen, accompanied by what we must do to turn the situation around. A fix that seems to appeal to the politicians and the public alike is switching from standard incandescent light bulbs to gas filled devices, usually neon. After all, it's easy to do, and it's simple enough that everyone can understand it. The recommendation, and in California it is being advanced as a state mandate, is said to be capable of saving millions of tons of carbon pollution from entering the environment and it will save consumers money, too.

Sounds good, but I am an electrical engineer, and, well, let's see what the facts are. How effective such a change, with its attendant cost to accomplish, will be depends on a number of factors, mainly where you live and the season of the year. The fact is that with only three exceptions, all the energy used to run the appliances that are inside the home is eventually transferred into the room in the form of heat - all of it - after the work of the appliance is done. That includes the lights, refrigerator, computers, electric fans, radios, TVs, etc. The exceptions are the hot water heater, because most of the heat from the hot water goes down the drain, the clothes dryer, which vents the heat outside, and the clothes washer, unless cold water is used for all the cycles.

If the home is in a northern climate, and it is the winter heating season, changing the light bulbs will have minimal effect on the amount of energy the house uses because the heat from the lights replaces heat from the heating system. In fact, that's true of all the appliances, save the three listed earlier. During the heating season, running the appliances really costs little or nothing. They generate useful heat for the home.

All that changes, of course, as the season changes. During that time of year in spring and fall, when neither the heating system nor the air conditioning system is needed, heat from light bulbs might be beneficial when the air is chilly, or useless when it is warmer. In the former it provides some measure of physical comfort, while in the latter it is heat that must be transferred outside, usually through open windows, and that does have an affect on the environment.

During the summer months, on the other hand, all the heat from appliances is transferred outside either through open windows or, in the worst case scenario, by air conditioners. Why is the reliance on air conditioners the worst case scenario? Because the use of energy, and its cost to the consumer, almost doubles. First, there is the cost of the energy that is used by the appliances and which is released into the room as heat. Then there is the cost of energy to run the air conditioner to transfer that heat to the outside. In effect, a consumer pays twice for the energy used in the warm season. Of course, although for these reasons what energy is used does cost more in the summer, we use less of it. The greatest consumer of energy in northern regions is usually the heater and it is turned off. Moreover, because the days are longer, we tend to use less lighting, watch less TV, use our computers less often, and so on. Therefore, the overall utility bill in the summer is probably less than in the winter.

Let's summarize. Will changing to gas filled light bulbs from incandecents have a beneficial effect on the environment? Probably, but not nearly as much as the environmentalists claim, and it depends largely on where you live. Like so many other claims involving the environment, it's mostly hyperbole. In the average home, lighting simply is not a big waster of electricity.

Here are a few suggestions, though, some of which may be familiar and some of which might be new.

In the heating season turn your thermostat down as low as you can and still live in the house, and don't worry about leaving the lights on or using the other appliances.

In the summer keep the thermostat as high as you can and still be relatively comfortable, and do worry about leaving the lights on and using the other appliances.

In the summer do your cooking outside on an electric or gas grill. The heat from cooking doesn't need to be transferred by an air conditioner.

In the summer, when cooking indoors, turn on your stove hood exhaust fan if it vents to the outside. It is cheaper to get rid of the heat with an exhaust fan than with an air conditioner. But remember to turn the fan off when you are through cooking or you will be blowing out air conditioned air.

Summer and winter, take short showers, and use cold water for laundry and dish washers when you can, and don't let the bathroom exhaust fans run longer than is necessary.

Weather strip doors, windows and the electrical outlets, especially those on the exterior walls.

If you live in a warm part of the country, and it will make you feel better, change your light bulbs. Like chicken soup for a cold, it might not help much, but it can't hurt.