Logic

Just having a Victor Meldrew moment...

This is an 'energy saving' bulb from a child's bedside light - it lasted less than one year. I am astonished by the design and amount of electronics contained in it. Just how much energy was consumed in the manufacturing process, compared to what was saved during use? The maths probably do not add up in favour of the future of the world - it probably does in favour of the balance sheet of the factory, considering the price.

I also wonder about electic cars - considering we have to get all that oil or gas out of the earth to ship or pipe somewhere to burn it to generate electricity, much of which is then lost in transmitting to where the cars' batteries are charged. And those batteries are not very efficient either, nor are the motors, light bulbs, and heating/aircon systemes of those cars.

Is the overall cost to the ecology less than the cost of burning that same oil at the point of consumption (in a petrol or diesel car)? Or do we just measure at one point in the chain and rejoice how clever we are?

Just wondering.

Grumpy moment over.