Bye Bye, Light Bulb ... (billion$$$$$ to be made)

WSJ Opinion Journal ^ | Wednesday, January 2, 2008 | BRIAN M. CARNEY

[IrishMike]

Bye Bye, Light Bulb If only Microsoft could argue its competitors hurt the environment.

Just like that--like flipping a switch--Congress and the president banned incandescent light bulbs last month. OK, they did not exactly ban them. But the energy bill passed by Congress and signed by President Bush sets energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs that traditional incandescent bulbs cannot meet.

The new rules phase in starting in 2012, but don't be lulled by that five-year delay. Whether it's next week or next decade, you will one day walk into a hardware store looking for a 100-watt bulb--and there won't be any. By 2014, the new efficiency standards will apply to 75-watt, 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs too.

Representatives of Philips and General Electric, two of the biggest lightbulb makers, say there's nothing to be concerned about. And Larry Lauck of the American Lighting Association says, "I think everyone's pretty happy" with the new law. But then, the lighting industry has no reason not to be: People will need light, whatever the law says--according to Randy Moorehead of Philips, there are four billion standard-size (or "medium base") light sockets in America alone. So if you're GE or Philips or Sylvania, the demise of the plain vanilla lightbulb is less a threat than an opportunity--an opportunity, in particular, to replace a product that you can sell for 50 cents with one that sells for $3 or more.

[IrishMike]

The light bulb that costs 10 times as much, last four times as long. But if you're a lightbulb maker, that's a pretty good trade.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

You can’t buy a decent thermometer any longer (the old mercury type), because mercury was so horrid. Now they are electronic and last about a month, or use another fluid that takes about 15 minutes to reach temperature.

But some greedy bastard sees Green in being Green and convinces the country to fill their homes with lightbulbs filled with mercury.

Let me put this question out there: have you broken more lightbulbs in your lifetime or thermometers?

And I’ve used the fluorescent lightbulbs. They burn out just as fast as the others. And while they are more harsh on the eyes to look at, they do not increase ambient luminosity more than incandescents for more than a few weeks. Then they become weaker.

[Always Right]

Yep, the Big Light industry has Congress in their pocket.

[Straight Vermonter]

I have compact flourescent bulbs in my house but they certainly do not last 4 times as long as standard bulbs. I don’t think they last much longer than standard bulbs at all.

[IrishMike]

The environment is a religion to liberals.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

And a cash cow to corporate socialists who can’t see beyond the bottom line.

[Pravious]

No, the pinhead environmentalists have Congress in their pocket.

[reg45]

Dim bulbs from dim bulbs.

[EBH]

I have to agree with you about how long they last. The package says 5-7 years, yet mine stop working in a matter of months.

And then what to do?

[nevergore]

The “Box” stores have the price down to around $1.35 per bulb.

I’ve replaced almost every light in the house with them except the bathrooms.

The lights do not emit full power until they have been on for 2-3 minutes. Too long for most bathroom encounters....

Now I don’t “freak-out” as badly when the kids leave the lights on....

[Always Right]

And then what to do?

Send it back for a free one. I think some companies guaranteed they would last 5 years under normal use.

[LIConFem]

"But some greedy bastard sees Green in being Green and convinces the country to fill their homes with lightbulbs filled with mercury."

Well, they don't call it $$green$$ for nothing.

[poinq]

You have bad circuits. Rewire and your bulbs will last longer.

[poinq]

You have bad circuits. Rewire and your bulbs will last longer.

[IrishMike]

I installed compact flourescent bulbs in my house, was not to save the polar bear or the polar ice, was to save a few dollars on my electric bill. I didn’t like them so I changed back, just at less wattage.

95 % of the public don’t buy this light bulb hoax, so big brother will force us to do what’s best for us
.... in their opinion.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I think some companies guaranteed they would last 5 years under normal use.Don't expect those guarantees to last. They are trying to speed up the transition now.

[Can i say that here?]

But if you're a lightbulb maker, that's a pretty good trade.

But what is the profit margin on the new bulbs? It seems that if the profit per bulb is even close to that of standard incandescent bulbs, the companies will lose money by selling less units.

Reading this article immediately reminded me of people complaining about Exxon's "billions of dollars in profits".

[Moonman62]

The cfl’s at Lowes are about a buck a piece if you buy at least four and they are on sale. The color is excellent and no flicker whatsoever. They do take about a minute to reach full brightness, but I don’t think most people would notice.

[babble-on]

lol. That’ll save TONS of money.

[Daveinyork]

I use compact flourescent bulbs in my office, only because I have twelve foot ceilings in my 150 year old building. To change a light bulb, I need to haul out an eight foot ladder. The compact flourescent bulbs do last longer, and save me a lot of trouble. At home I don’t use them because they don’t fit most lamps.

This begs the question - How many liberals does it take to change a light bulb? None. They hire illegal aliens to do it for them.