Èxit aclaparador el de la consulta del 10A a Barcelona. Més de 257,000 persones (21% sobre el cens) van anar a votar amb una clara majoria de ¨Sí¨ (91%).

Per fer-nos una idea del que han significat les diferents consultes a Catalunya només cal saber contar: 800.000 persones han anat a votar, juntes sumen tant com tots els vots que van obtenir el PSC i el PP als darrers comicis electorals al Parlament de Catalunya:

Vots a partits, El.leccions al Parlament Catalunya 2010. Font: Idescat.

Perquè PSC, PP, IC i C´s minimitzen el valor de les consultes …?

“España es un país con numerosas fortalezas y no se puede comparar con otros países. Tiene multinacionales que son excelentes, tiene regiones como Cataluña que, aislada, sería uno de los países más ricos del mundo… Pero, desde luego, sin crecimiento todos los planes de reestructuración de la deuda no serán sostenibles”, Kenneth Rogoff @ expansion

Minister Blanco went further by setting the example of replacing lighting devices  in tunnels by LED lighting saving 40% energy cost. Based on his statement, it is difficult to say whether politicians base their decisions on facts. It might well be that they have data on the lighting sources across spanish towns and data indicates there is room for improvement, but could they cite it?! Let’s be more precise: when Blanco says “LED lighting reduces 40% energy cost,what is he comparing LED to? Do you know? Does he know?

Regarding lighting efficacy, I found out an interesting document from 2009 by EnergyLab which summarizes some data. First, let’s take a look at the relative source of electric expense in Spain, which in the public sector looks relatively low compared to heating/cooling:

% electricity devoted to lighting in Spain, source EnergyLab

Second, let’s look at some relevant indicators regarding light sources: Luminous efficacy measured in lumens (amount of light observed by the human eye) per watt (electrical power consumed by the device) and half-life (in hours, given a population of devices the time at which 50% of them stop functioning):

Luminous Efficacy of lighting technologies, source EnergyLab

Lighting technology indicators, source EnergyLab

Clearly the top performers seem to be LED and sodium low pressure. A closer look reveals that the two tables are contradictory or mix different data sources: The first table rates LED efficacy to 55 and up to 100 (considering prototypes, I understand not commercially available) but the second table reads 80-120 for LED efficacy. Also, the first table does not include low-pressure sodium lamps that (from second table) outperforms LED.

Anyway, assuming data consistency inside each table and focusing our attention to the second table (best case for LED), still sodium low pressure lamps seem to be the best option nowadays. Aren’t they mainly used in towns and roads, Mr. Blanco?