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Brooklyn Free Lighting Project - Page 2 — Brooklynian

Brooklyn Free Lighting Project

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Comments

  • veggiequeen
    veggiequeen
    dougheights wrote: [quote=Ben][quote=dougheights]The agent for this program is QCS(Quality Conservation Services.) I allowed QCS to replace 20 bulbs on the 11th of July. Afterwards, I read the agreement I’d signed and began feeling paranoid, They have the sole right to supply and physically replace these bulbs. Replacements, of course, will not be free. They state “you (may be) eligible for additional rebates and discounts…” Their phone solicitation made prominent mention of Con Edison. However, the agreement makes clear that “Con Edison is not a party to these arrangements.” Each bulb has a socket insert designed to prevent replacement with unauthorized bulbs. The worst part is that the agreement gives them the right to inspect my premises to insure compliance.
    Since no one else seems concerned, maybe my paranoia is unfounded
    What's the penalty for non-compliance?I don't know. The agreement states QCS "may request return of such improvements",whatever that means. I'm probably overreacting to the legalese.
    Thanks for your search VeggieQueen. I had looked at the Con Ed site,but didn't see that info. It's reassuring.

    at the very least, we're in the same boat. let me know if someone comes knocking on your door at 3am to inspect the bulbs to make sure you are in compliance ;)
  • ben
    ben
    dougheights wrote: [quote=Ben][quote=dougheights]The agent for this program is QCS(Quality Conservation Services.) I allowed QCS to replace 20 bulbs on the 11th of July. Afterwards, I read the agreement I’d signed and began feeling paranoid, They have the sole right to supply and physically replace these bulbs. Replacements, of course, will not be free. They state “you (may be) eligible for additional rebates and discounts…” Their phone solicitation made prominent mention of Con Edison. However, the agreement makes clear that “Con Edison is not a party to these arrangements.” Each bulb has a socket insert designed to prevent replacement with unauthorized bulbs. The worst part is that the agreement gives them the right to inspect my premises to insure compliance.
    Since no one else seems concerned, maybe my paranoia is unfounded
    What's the penalty for non-compliance?I don't know. The agreement states QCS "may request return of such improvements",whatever that means. I'm probably overreacting to the legalese.
    Thanks for your search VeggieQueen. I had looked at the Con Ed site,but didn't see that info. It's reassuring.

    OK, so you have to give them back their lightbulbs, big deal. I would only be concerned if they somehow manipulated your sockets with their socket insert and it was done in such a way that could not be reversed.

    Also, these bulbs really aren't that expensive. At Lowe's or Home Depot you can get a 6 pack of 60 watt equivalent or a 4 pack of 100 watt equivalent bulbs for $10.
  • doctorj
    doctorj
    I doubt the somewhat amusing reverse side of the pink sheet is enforceable in any meaningful manner. After all, if courts can find in favor of consumers in predatory lending cases, I doubt they'd uphold the fine print on this deal, especially given how it was presented. It's just there because QCS wants you to stick to using them because they're getting paid out of the (aggregated) savings on your bill and need to meet their targets.

    Watts, like dollars, are fungible: if in the highly unlikely circumstance they're not happy with the amount of power I'm saving and come asking, I can always say I treated myself to power hungry appliance X with all the money and power I saved on lighting.
  • nomad
    nomad
    So I've signed up and will get my new lightbulbs next week.

    But those of you who've had them a while - have you noticed any decrease in your electricity bills? Or any other effects??
  • nomad
    nomad
    I've signed up and will have new lightbulbs next week!

    Those of you who've had them a while have you noticed any change in your electricity bills? Or any other effects?
  • veggiequeen
    veggiequeen
    We've had ours since 7/19 and all seems to be well. Hard to tell w/ the electric bill since the AC has been on and off a lot b/c of the wacky weather. The nice thing is that they don't generate nearly as much heat (if at all), so our bathroom doesn't roast.
  • jimbo79
    jimbo79
    We were in Spain last month and the cathedrals in Toledo, Zaragoza and Burgos were almost completely CFT. Toledo didn't even have glass lenses covering them. Ornate chandliers, sconces, everything had CFTs. You get used to it.
  • doctorj
    doctorj
    nomad wrote: I've signed up and will have new lightbulbs next week!
    Those of you who've had them a while have you noticed any change in your electricity bills? Or any other effects?
    I've come up in these huge black pustules since they installed them. But I'm not sure whether it's because of the new lightbulbs, or whether it's because I eat and sleep alongside the carcasses of flea-infested rats.
  • sarahb
    sarahb
    when i lived in japan 5 years ago, my apt. was all florescent bulbs and it was like trying on bathing suits at marshalls every day of the year. thus i was fearful to switch to them now in my bklyn apt. however, i was pleasantly surprised when i did so about a month ago -- the bulbs i got at pintchik's throw off a totally warm, normal-seeming light. i guess strides have been made in the technology.
  • nomad
    nomad
    it was like trying on bathing suits at marshalls every day of the year
    yes, sarahb that is what I fear, but as you say technology has moved on so hopefully it won't be as traumatic.
    I've come up in these huge black pustules since they installed them.
    But I'll be monitoring closely to make sure I escape this awful affliction doctorj describes!
    :wink:
  • doctorj
    doctorj
    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/business/energy-environment/28bulbs.html?hp

    We've had about 30% failures so far, too many for the touted 5-year lifespan, so it seems they were using cheap dodgy components. They did come and replace a few during the first year as promised, but we're now at 18 months.
  • sweet tea
    sweet tea
    in particular, the round ones installed in our bathroom mirror have died quickly. almost all of them. faster than the incandescents before them did -- we've now had these about as long as we had the original bulbs, and all but 2 are out, whereas only 1 of the incandescents went.

    the ones that remain have gotten worse, not better, at warming up. bathroom has all the charm of an open grave. i'm not replacing them with CFLs, even though this was one area where the wattage savings were huge and i thought i was willing to sacrifice light quality. (i am, but not to this degree.)
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