SFist: Lights Out SF This Saturday

SFistJim

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:18:46 -0800

I think what some people don't like is the quality of the light that some/all CFLs produce. The bulb itself is quite fetching, I'm sure all would agree.

gwa

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:45:05 -0800

It's sad to see such comments from this blogger - I can't believe he just said that he's going to go to waste 4 times more energy just simply because he doesn't like the look of the light bulb that he probably never looks at anyway. I hope one day he realizes that we're all actually part of the same world.

mariconsoy

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:26:26 -0800

Most lipstick is made in China and is full of lead. Use organic beet concentrate instead. Blueberry for the goth look.

wtfsfist

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:55:04 -0800

I think Brock can keep his lipstick as long as it's made with environmentally sensitive materials and packaged in a recyclable container.

Brock Keeling

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:09:24 -0800

The SUV stays. As does the private jet.

Local

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:08:59 -0800

Since when has SFist turned into a personal sounding board for Brock? It's great that you tell us about the lights out event but keep your snarky opinion to yourself.

SFistJim

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:04:24 -0800

Agree. I demand that Brock give up his SUV, trust fund, AND lipstick. The sooner the better.

wtfsfist

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:52:38 -0800

Here is a great reference about bulb light quality. Again, not great as reading lights, but excellent in many other settings. http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/home_improvement/4215199.html

wtfsfist

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:47:08 -0800

Wow, Brock. That was quite a helpful response. I'm 100% wrong? My entire comment? You are one person. Other people don't notice the different and/or don't mind the difference at all. The fact that you are urging people not to buy the bulbs AT ALL is appalling, especially when we all need to contribute to solving the problem of global climate change and the looming energy crisis. How about next time you suggest that readers try out just one CFL and see how they like it? Or how about you suggest places readers could use the CFLs where it won't bother them a whit? Another commenter mentioned it's perfect in the bathroom, but not ideal as a reading like, for example. I think they're great in the hallway, on the porch, and in the basement. I have one in a lamp with a colored shade, and it's really lovely. Brock, please look at yourself. You are in a place where you can encourage people to do the right thing and make the world a better place. We all need to chip in, and, quite frankly, your article was really narrow-minded and shallow. Again, I urge you to think more about this for next time.

Brock Keeling

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:59:45 -0800

Sadly, I can still tell the difference even with the newer bulbs. Sadly, you are 100% wrong.

wtfsfist

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:55:19 -0800

Okay, this is a really stupid post, SFist. I am thoroughly disappointed. First, it's true that fluorescent lighting of the past was really unpleasant with bad color and flickering. It's also true that some of today's CFL lighting is of lesser quality than incandescent. However, many if not most CFLs today have near- to full-spetrum lighting. In many settings, you would be very hard pressed to tell the difference. Second, CFLs are funny-looking. However, in most places you can't even see them or would hardly notice them, so what difference does it make? Cutting back on electricity use is important for countless reasons, not the least of which is reducing and hopefully one day reversing global climate change. You sound like a bunch of trust fund babies who don't want to give up your SUVs because it's easier to apply your lipstick in the rearview mirror. We are talking about saving humankind and you are concerned with the lights not looking pretty. I hope you will do some research and in the future support and encourage the greening of building and homes. Please think before you post.

zippy_monster

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:42:35 -0800

Mercury? How about the mercury released by generating electricity by means of burning fossil fuels.

Akit

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:08:20 -0800

Have you ever seen the bright lights at St. Ignatius high school during the night on their football field? It's so bright that that light it's a huge bright spot that leaks out all into the Richmond district hills. The lights at Telephone Park are smart, they don't leak into the streets.

sagitta100

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:20:36 -0800

To KWillets: The San Francisco Amateur Astronomers will be having their city star party from 6:30 to 9:30 pm with public telescope viewing at Land's End. Info and a map are here -- http://www.sfaa-astronomy.org/calendar.php?drawevent:710

jwb

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:27:42 -0800

Madame: forget office buildings. What about our government? The brightest, most obnoxiously lighted building in the city may be the Rosa Parks Senior Homes, which casts its pallid fluorescent glow on the whole Western Addition. Its twin, the JFK Tower Senior Homes, is similarly wasteful. And what about the building on on Otis at Duboce? City Hall? USF? Businesses already have a perfectly good reason to turn out the lights: it saves tons of money. The government is not constrained by such incentives.

Akit

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:23:35 -0800

Has anyone tried an LED bulb? They use those as those real bright headlights and the rears of Muni buses, and signal lamps.

Madame Defarge

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:14:39 -0800

Personally, I'm stock piling incandescent bulbs for the day when some misguided soul outlaws them. Not only are CFL's hideous, they contain mercury, which creates an environmental problem of it's own. My problem with these well meaning gestures, is that they tend to miss ways of dealing with the issue on a macro scale. Every downtown in America is lit up like a Christmas tree all night long. Office buildings should be required to have a lights out policy for unoccupied rooms, after 8:00p. Timers or motion detectors in the hallways after dark, would also go a long way towards saving a lot of electricity.

KWillets

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:46:45 -0800

What you're looking for is CRI. It's usually listed on the tube box for the normal-type fluorescents. The lights-out thing should be great for looking at the stars, if the weather is clear. Are there any Astronomy events planned?

DC1974

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:38:47 -0800

I don't know where you get your CFL bulbs from, but seriously I don't think you can tell the difference. Of course, I've used them for like 6-7 years or so now, so maybe I can't tell the difference. They are, I suppose, dimmer than regularly bulbs, but that's okay. And perhaps having a Japanese partner -- and the Japanese LOVE them some fluorescent lights: they think it's closer to sunlight -- also helps in this as he never complains about the light..

Jamison

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:35:14 -0800

Try giving CFLs another shot, the new generation (especially if you buy the slightly more expensive ones than what PG&E have put out for cheep) are a lot better than the ones from a few years ago and a whole world away from the flickering tubes hanging over cube farms. I put them to the test with my roommates by replacing the bulbs in our bathroom and neither even noticed. I wouldn't put one in my reading lamp, but you can't tell the difference in the bathroom.

City Dweller

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:27:42 -0800

In the spirit of cooperation I'll shut off my lights, but I hope they don't ask me to shut off my T.V.