Comments on: Light tech to drive big efficiencies over 20 years http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/09/19/light-tech-to-drive-big-efficiencies-over-20-years/ Trends, happenings and innovations in the clean technology market Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:28:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/09/19/light-tech-to-drive-big-efficiencies-over-20-years/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Anonymous Thu, 21 Sep 2006 19:07:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/09/19/light-tech-to-drive-big-efficiencies-over-20-years/#comment-639 Despite all the innovations you mention in your column I wouldn't be surprised at all if their load forecast is correct. Why? As near as I can tell innovation in the home building sector occurs at a glacial pace. Are any builders putting CFL lights into new homes? Not that I've seen. Low flush toilets? Only if mandated by the municipality. (Most plumbers seem to still think the low flush toilets are horrible -- though the first ones were bad they now seem to be quite good but the stigmatism remains.) Efficient appliances? Nope... the cheapest money can buy. So while the innovations exist home builders will never use them unless they're cheaper than the alternatives and if no new skills are required to install them. And what about all our existing homes & buildings? It's unlikely that retrofitting fiberoptic lighting is going to be feasible. Among the people I know our old house is the only one with CFLs. PS: I'm not sure why LEDs are bragged up so much as CFLs are currently more efficient?!? Despite all the innovations you mention in your column I wouldn’t be surprised at all if their load forecast is correct. Why? As near as I can tell innovation in the home building sector occurs at a glacial pace. Are any builders putting CFL lights into new homes? Not that I’ve seen. Low flush toilets? Only if mandated by the municipality. (Most plumbers seem to still think the low flush toilets are horrible — though the first ones were bad they now seem to be quite good but the stigmatism remains.) Efficient appliances? Nope… the cheapest money can buy.

So while the innovations exist home builders will never use them unless they’re cheaper than the alternatives and if no new skills are required to install them.

And what about all our existing homes & buildings? It’s unlikely that retrofitting fiberoptic lighting is going to be feasible. Among the people I know our old house is the only one with CFLs.

PS: I’m not sure why LEDs are bragged up so much as CFLs are currently more efficient?!?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/09/19/light-tech-to-drive-big-efficiencies-over-20-years/comment-page-1/#comment-638 Anonymous Wed, 20 Sep 2006 09:59:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/09/19/light-tech-to-drive-big-efficiencies-over-20-years/#comment-638 Why aren't the big hydro companies pushing people to downsize their electric hotwater tanks to save the HUGE demand for power during the summer. I moved into a townhouse recently and absolutely had no need for a 60 gallon tank for one person. How much hot water can I possibly use. Our cottage has a 20 gallon and is more than enough for 2 or 3 families to get by on. I asked them to remove the tank when I moved in. They said it would cost me $125 FOR THEM TO COME AND REMOVE THEIR TANK SINCE they don't rent 20gal. What a joke. I refused, but that's another story. I'm no mathimatician (or speller), but how much energy savings for Ontario would be had by these energy pigs being downsized for families. Probably more than the lightbulbs. Why have 60gal of hot water on standby 24/7 ? Why aren’t the big hydro companies pushing people to downsize their electric hotwater tanks to save the HUGE demand for power during the summer. I moved into a townhouse recently and absolutely had no need for a 60 gallon tank for one person. How much hot water can I possibly use. Our cottage has a 20 gallon and is more than enough for 2 or 3 families to get by on.

I asked them to remove the tank when I moved in. They said it would cost me $125 FOR THEM TO COME AND REMOVE THEIR TANK SINCE they don’t rent 20gal. What a joke. I refused, but that’s another story.

I’m no mathimatician (or speller), but how much energy savings for Ontario would be had by these energy pigs being downsized for families. Probably more than the lightbulbs. Why have 60gal of hot water on standby 24/7 ?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/09/19/light-tech-to-drive-big-efficiencies-over-20-years/comment-page-1/#comment-637 Anonymous Wed, 20 Sep 2006 04:37:00 +0000 http://www.cleanbreak.ca/2006/09/19/light-tech-to-drive-big-efficiencies-over-20-years/#comment-637 Organic LEDs! I hope they can figure out how to make them efficient & cheap. This will probably be driven by the computer industry in search of cheaper, less power consuming screens. Organic LEDs! I hope they can figure out how to make them efficient & cheap. This will probably be driven by the computer industry in search of cheaper, less power consuming screens.

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