ActewAGL "free" energy saving house calls

JC said :

Maya123 said :

Solidarity said :

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

Useless, in my opinion.

They are not useless if you use a bright enough bulb. I have bought 25watt fluorescent bulbs and they are bright enough; closer to the (clear) incandescent 100watt bulbs, than those that falsely advertise they are. LED are slowly replacing them. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a LED bulb I like the colour of. I don’t like the present cool or warm choices. I use cool in fluorescent bulbs.
Unfortunately some overhead fans I bought a couple of years ago with built in lights can’t take anything but low powered fluorescent bulbs as they don’t fit larger brighter bulbs. The add said they would take up to two 20 watt bulbs, but I discovered, after the fans were all wired in, that meant incandescent bulbs, even though incandescent bulbs were no longer sold. I suppose I could have returned the fans, but they were already wired in. Now I have to put up with dim rooms. Some people like dim rooms, but I don’t.
I am in the process of replacing another wired in light (came with the house) that won’t fit bigger, brighter bulbs. Maybe LED bulbs will solve this problem, but first they need to be brighter and with a better colour balance.

Its been discussed here before but incandescent globes are still very much available, though they need to be halogen, rather than the traditional filament type.

Also one thing with LED’s is they run quite hot. So in many cases they are not suitable for enclosed light fittings. Then there are also dimming issues, same with fluro’s too.

I recently had my entire house fitted with LED down-lights.
They get warm but not too hot to hold in the hand. Maybe the fact that they have large, metal fins dissipates the heat better.
The electrician said they could be covered with insulation bats which cannot be done with halogen.
I understand that unless they are covered an EER 5 rating cannot be given not that I am hung up on these standards.
Most rooms have dimmers fitted and they work perfectly.
There is a huge difference in price with LED lighting and this is reflected in the quality. One quote I received was over a thousand dollars cheaper than the one I accepted.

JC said :

Maya123 said :

Solidarity said :

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

Useless, in my opinion.

They are not useless if you use a bright enough bulb. I have bought 25watt fluorescent bulbs and they are bright enough; closer to the (clear) incandescent 100watt bulbs, than those that falsely advertise they are. LED are slowly replacing them. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a LED bulb I like the colour of. I don’t like the present cool or warm choices. I use cool in fluorescent bulbs.
Unfortunately some overhead fans I bought a couple of years ago with built in lights can’t take anything but low powered fluorescent bulbs as they don’t fit larger brighter bulbs. The add said they would take up to two 20 watt bulbs, but I discovered, after the fans were all wired in, that meant incandescent bulbs, even though incandescent bulbs were no longer sold. I suppose I could have returned the fans, but they were already wired in. Now I have to put up with dim rooms. Some people like dim rooms, but I don’t.
I am in the process of replacing another wired in light (came with the house) that won’t fit bigger, brighter bulbs. Maybe LED bulbs will solve this problem, but first they need to be brighter and with a better colour balance.

Its been discussed here before but incandescent globes are still very much available, though they need to be halogen, rather than the traditional filament type.

Also one thing with LED’s is they run quite hot. So in many cases they are not suitable for enclosed light fittings. Then there are also dimming issues, same with fluro’s too.

LED’s actually don’t produce much heat if at all, some have efficiencies over 100%. The heat is the LED driver that converts the 240v into the 4v or so that the LED needs. Some are bad and some aren’t too bad.

Maya123 said :

Solidarity said :

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

Useless, in my opinion.

They are not useless if you use a bright enough bulb. I have bought 25watt fluorescent bulbs and they are bright enough; closer to the (clear) incandescent 100watt bulbs, than those that falsely advertise they are. LED are slowly replacing them. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a LED bulb I like the colour of. I don’t like the present cool or warm choices. I use cool in fluorescent bulbs.
Unfortunately some overhead fans I bought a couple of years ago with built in lights can’t take anything but low powered fluorescent bulbs as they don’t fit larger brighter bulbs. The add said they would take up to two 20 watt bulbs, but I discovered, after the fans were all wired in, that meant incandescent bulbs, even though incandescent bulbs were no longer sold. I suppose I could have returned the fans, but they were already wired in. Now I have to put up with dim rooms. Some people like dim rooms, but I don’t.
I am in the process of replacing another wired in light (came with the house) that won’t fit bigger, brighter bulbs. Maybe LED bulbs will solve this problem, but first they need to be brighter and with a better colour balance.

Its been discussed here before but incandescent globes are still very much available, though they need to be halogen, rather than the traditional filament type.

Also one thing with LED’s is they run quite hot. So in many cases they are not suitable for enclosed light fittings. Then there are also dimming issues, same with fluro’s too.

John Moulis said :

I still have bad memories about the night they did that to our house. It was like Kristallnacht. First they came for the light bulbs, then the children … They took all our bulbs despite them being energy saving halogen bulbs and replaced them with those squirly ones which take a few seconds to come on and a few minutes to get bright. They also attached a gadget to the TV which turned it off after 30 minutes. The following morning I threw away all the squirly bulbs and disconnected the TV gadget. Luckily I had a secret stash of halogen bulbs away from their clutches.

Every few months they come to the door threatening to do another energy audit of the house and we tell them to go away as it has already been done. Never again!

They replaced the halogen bulbs, because they use more energy than fluorescent bulbs. Halogen bulbs are not much better than old incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs don’t have to take a few seconds to come on. Many come on immediately. It depends on the brand. I would never except something that turns off equipment as I don’t need this. I turn off things myself at the wall when not is use and don’t leave things running unnecessarily. Which helps explain why I use less than one quarter the power of a similar sized household.

I still have bad memories about the night they did that to our house. It was like Kristallnacht. First they came for the light bulbs, then the children … They took all our bulbs despite them being energy saving halogen bulbs and replaced them with those squirly ones which take a few seconds to come on and a few minutes to get bright. They also attached a gadget to the TV which turned it off after 30 minutes. The following morning I threw away all the squirly bulbs and disconnected the TV gadget. Luckily I had a secret stash of halogen bulbs away from their clutches.

Every few months they come to the door threatening to do another energy audit of the house and we tell them to go away as it has already been done. Never again!

Solidarity said :

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

I was happy to get a 15 watt light bulb for a lamp I’d had trouble fitting, but agree about the TV power-saver thing. It always turned the TV off at the most inopportune moments. After only 6 months, however, it seems to have died, as yesterday I couldn’t turn my TV on at all. At least that meant I could remove it without feeling guilty.

Solidarity said :

Maya123 said :

Solidarity said :

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

Useless, in my opinion.

They are not useless if you use a bright enough bulb. I have bought 25watt fluorescent bulbs and they are bright enough; closer to the (clear) incandescent 100watt bulbs, than those that falsely advertise they are. LED are slowly replacing them. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a LED bulb I like the colour of. I don’t like the present cool or warm choices. I use cool in fluorescent bulbs.
Unfortunately some overhead fans I bought a couple of years ago with built in lights can’t take anything but low powered fluorescent bulbs as they don’t fit larger brighter bulbs. The add said they would take up to two 20 watt bulbs, but I discovered, after the fans were all wired in, that meant incandescent bulbs, even though incandescent bulbs were no longer sold. I suppose I could have returned the fans, but they were already wired in. Now I have to put up with dim rooms. Some people like dim rooms, but I don’t.
I am in the process of replacing another wired in light (came with the house) that won’t fit bigger, brighter bulbs. Maybe LED bulbs will solve this problem, but first they need to be brighter and with a better colour balance.

That’s great.

You know what also worked?

The incandescent bulbs I had before the ACTEW guy ruined my kitchen.

This is a discussion about ACTEW initiative, not about other solutions.

My overhead fan lights would be even dimmer if I put two 20 watt (maximum rating for them) incandescent bulbs in them, rather than two fluorescent bulbs. Even two 16 watt fluorescent bulbs, although not bright enough, are brighter than two 20 watt incandescent bulbs.

Maya123 said :

Solidarity said :

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

Useless, in my opinion.

They are not useless if you use a bright enough bulb. I have bought 25watt fluorescent bulbs and they are bright enough; closer to the (clear) incandescent 100watt bulbs, than those that falsely advertise they are. LED are slowly replacing them. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a LED bulb I like the colour of. I don’t like the present cool or warm choices. I use cool in fluorescent bulbs.
Unfortunately some overhead fans I bought a couple of years ago with built in lights can’t take anything but low powered fluorescent bulbs as they don’t fit larger brighter bulbs. The add said they would take up to two 20 watt bulbs, but I discovered, after the fans were all wired in, that meant incandescent bulbs, even though incandescent bulbs were no longer sold. I suppose I could have returned the fans, but they were already wired in. Now I have to put up with dim rooms. Some people like dim rooms, but I don’t.
I am in the process of replacing another wired in light (came with the house) that won’t fit bigger, brighter bulbs. Maybe LED bulbs will solve this problem, but first they need to be brighter and with a better colour balance.

That’s great.

You know what also worked?

The incandescent bulbs I had before the ACTEW guy ruined my kitchen.

This is a discussion about ACTEW initiative, not about other solutions.

JessP said :

Did it last year and it was great. Good advice, free stuff (efficient bulbs for a light fitting that I hadn’t been able to source) , plugs for the TV, Door sealing etc.

ITS FREE PEOPLE!!! If you don’t like it disconnect it.

That said I found it all good.

ACTEW have to meet the efficiency bizzo from 2012. They are funded to do this. Just go with it.

“They are funded to do this”, “IT’S FREE PEOPLE!!! ”
The age of entitlement is alive and well.

Did it last year and it was great. Good advice, free stuff (efficient bulbs for a light fitting that I hadn’t been able to source) , plugs for the TV, Door sealing etc. ITS FREE PEOPLE!!! If you don’t like it disconnect it. That said I found it all good.

ACTEW have to meet the efficiency bizzo from 2012. They are funded to do this. Just go with it.

Maya123 said :

Solidarity said :

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

Useless, in my opinion.

They are not useless if you use a bright enough bulb. I have bought 25watt fluorescent bulbs and they are bright enough; closer to the (clear) incandescent 100watt bulbs, than those that falsely advertise they are. LED are slowly replacing them. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a LED bulb I like the colour of. I don’t like the present cool or warm choices. I use cool in fluorescent bulbs.
Unfortunately some overhead fans I bought a couple of years ago with built in lights can’t take anything but low powered fluorescent bulbs as they don’t fit larger brighter bulbs. The add said they would take up to two 20 watt bulbs, but I discovered, after the fans were all wired in, that meant incandescent bulbs, even though incandescent bulbs were no longer sold. I suppose I could have returned the fans, but they were already wired in. Now I have to put up with dim rooms. Some people like dim rooms, but I don’t.
I am in the process of replacing another wired in light (came with the house) that won’t fit bigger, brighter bulbs. Maybe LED bulbs will solve this problem, but first they need to be brighter and with a better colour balance.

LEDs work well with dimmers when contrast needs to be changed.

Solidarity said :

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

Useless, in my opinion.

They are not useless if you use a bright enough bulb. I have bought 25watt fluorescent bulbs and they are bright enough; closer to the (clear) incandescent 100watt bulbs, than those that falsely advertise they are. LED are slowly replacing them. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a LED bulb I like the colour of. I don’t like the present cool or warm choices. I use cool in fluorescent bulbs.
Unfortunately some overhead fans I bought a couple of years ago with built in lights can’t take anything but low powered fluorescent bulbs as they don’t fit larger brighter bulbs. The add said they would take up to two 20 watt bulbs, but I discovered, after the fans were all wired in, that meant incandescent bulbs, even though incandescent bulbs were no longer sold. I suppose I could have returned the fans, but they were already wired in. Now I have to put up with dim rooms. Some people like dim rooms, but I don’t.
I am in the process of replacing another wired in light (came with the house) that won’t fit bigger, brighter bulbs. Maybe LED bulbs will solve this problem, but first they need to be brighter and with a better colour balance.

According to advertising material included with my last quarterly electricity account I received from ActewAGL, that supplier is now in the business of supplying “off-grid” domestic power systems.
I suspect these will use the new technology batteries from Tesla and it will mean that most homes in Canberra can become totally independent electrical energy producers and they can disconnect from the grid.
I think ActewAGL are thinking ahead and can see that the new game will be supplying self generation rather than power via the grid.
I think ActewAGL sold most of their grid equities a few years ago. Grids could ultimately become worthless (as will coal fired power stations, commercial solar farms and wind turbines) as everyone converts to home solar and battery storage.
That is why ActewAGL are knocking on our doors; to remind us of what they are about to start promoting big time and head off the competition.

The energy saving light-bulbs are shite, leaving a shadowy, dimly lit room instead of a nice bright kitchen bench and the TV auto-turn off thing is a pain in the a***.

Useless, in my opinion.

TinFoilHatMode: On!

Well, if everyone uses less electricity, especially during peak times, they don’t have to keep maintaining infrastructure to meet high peak demands, so can keep prices ‘low’ and not get the ACCC off side, and avoid any inquiries into what the government money has actually been spent on….

Or, they can cite less demand as a reason to raise prices per kilowatt hour
TinFoilHatMode: Off!

A few people I know have had them around, and like empororminge mentions, does what it says on the box 🙂

It was instituted as part of ActewAGL’s response to the Energy Efficiency law brought in 2012.

So, there’s no catch, they have to do it, and you get some free stuff.

We got this done a few months back and it does what it says on the box – fella (with ID) came around and swapped out old globes for energy saving globes (would have been at least a dozen), gave us and set up 2 power savers for electronics (tv, stereo etc and office computer) and installed draft protectors on doors. I didn’t have to answer any questionnaires or trade out personal details for energy savings.

Its not just altruism from Actew driving this – from what I can recall it was an obligation (not sure if regulatory or legislatively) to provide this to customers. Long story short, I got a bunch of good energy saving bits for nothing.