advanced search

The Shape of Things to Come

Mar 1, 2004 12:00 PM, By Michael Eby, Editor-in-Chief

When all is said and done, it may be the comic book illustrators and cartoon artists who feel the greatest effects of the current changing of the guard in the lighting industry. For so long, the familiar image of the light bulb shining in all its soft-white, 60W glory above the head of a character has been the go-to cliché to signify a brilliant idea or epiphany. Only the exclamation “eureka!” floating nearby in a word bubble is less trite. But that could all change now that the manufacturers of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), the latest link in the light bulb's evolutionary chain, have taken the look of the traditional incandescent lamp and cut it up like a paper doll. Now corkscrews and short, stubby tubes have replaced the rounded profile that had come to symbolize everything from intelligence to invention.

To be fair, the light bulb was due for a facelift. The tried-and-true style we've come accustomed to screwing into tabletop lamps and lighting fixtures hasn't changed much since its invention in the late 1800s. But unlike the seemingly constant redesigns to cars and the home computer, this update to the light bulb is actually less sleek and aerodynamic than its predecessor. In this increasingly image-conscious society, this is one instance where form can truly follow function and be acceptable.

Despite their goofy appearance, on average, compact fluorescent lamps can last 10 times longer than a standard incandescent model, while using 75% less energy. Not only that, they give off a fraction of the heat that traditional lamps produce, which has the less tangible effect of lowering the cost to cool a room.

“So why all the fuss about the new look?” you might ask. “It's just a light bulb. If it's cheaper to operate and more efficient, that's all that should matter.” While that may be true, the simple fact is people don't like change. It's human nature to stick with something that we know and trust because it's comforting. Throwing an unknown into the mix — especially when it looks weird — can disrupt the comfort that comes with consistency.

Add to that the fact that CFLs cost substantially more than an incandescent lamp ($4 to $5 per lamp, as opposed to $1 for a four-pack), and they become that much harder to sell. “Life-cycle cost” isn't a phrase that many building owners are willing to accept these days.

But like it or not, that's the task you're faced with. The best you can do to prepare for the sell is educate yourself on the benefits of CFLs so you can prove to your customer that the choice isn't as difficult as they might think. And to that end, this month Staff Writer Amy Florence Fischbach presents the ten things you need to know about CFLs in “Compact Fluorescents Light the Way for Energy Efficiency” on page 28. All things being equal, who wouldn't want to spend less time dragging the ladder out of the maintenance closet to change light bulbs?

And who knows? Replacing that cliché image may not be that difficult for cartoon artists after all. When trying to represent a bright idea, they may just be able use the CFL's alter ego: the dollar sign.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2012 Penton Business Media, Inc.

---

Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus

Browse Back Issues Select an Issue November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 1, 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 1, 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 1, 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 2006 March 1, 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 February 1, 1995 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 December 1, 1996 November 1, 1996 October 1, 1996 September 1, 1996 August 1, 1996 July 1, 1996 June 1, 1996 May 1, 1996 April 1, 1996 March 1, 1996 February 1, 1996 January 1, 1996 December 1, 1995 November 30, 1995 November 1, 1995 October 1, 1995 September 1, 1995 August 1, 1995 July 1, 1995 June 1, 1995 May 1, 1995 April 1, 1995 March 1, 1995

browse e-newsletters