Posted on 07/29/2009 9:45:18 AM PDT by Cheap_Hessian
The staggered phase out of energy-wasting light bulbs begins on Sept. 1 in Germany. The unpopularity of the energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs that will replace them is leading consumers and retailers to start hoarding the traditional bulbs.
As the Sept. 1 deadline for the implementation of the first phase of the EU's ban on incandescent light bulbs approaches, shoppers, retailers and even museums are hoarding the precious wares -- and helping the manufacturers make a bundle.
The EU ban, adopted in March, calls for the gradual replacement of traditional light bulbs with supposedly more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL). The first to go, on Sept. 1, will be 100-watt bulbs. Bulbs of other wattages will then gradually fall under the ban, which is expected to cover all such bulbs by Sept. 1, 2012 (see graphic below).
Hardware stores and home-improvement chains in Germany are seeing massive increases in the sales of the traditional bulbs. Obi reports a 27 percent growth in sales over the same period a year ago. Hornbach has seen its frosted-glass light bulb sales increase by 40-112 percent. When it comes to 100-watt bulbs, Max Bahr has seen an 80 percent jump in sales, while the figure has been 150 percent for its competitor Praktiker.
"It's unbelievable what is happening," says Werner Wiesner, the head of Megaman, a manufacturer of energy-saving bulbs. Wiesner recounts a story of how one of his field representatives recently saw a man in a hardware store with a shopping cart full of light bulbs of all types worth more than €200 ($285). "That's enough for the next 20 years."
And hoarding doesn't seem to be just a customer phenomenon. The EU law only forbids producing and importing incandescent bulbs but does not outlaw their sale.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Gee, I wonder why ...
LOL!!!!
We’re doing the same thing.
I buy two or three packages every time I go shopping.
So are we!
Glad the Germans finally caught on.
I use the new bulbs everywhere except the bedroom and bathroom. I like them ok but I think when the LED technology is more widely available, that will be better than these florescent ones.
Maybe they can sell them to Meth users for a good profit.
I swear some of those light bulbs were in the sockets when I was a kid.
The life span of some of those bulbs were as long as a dogs life.
I’ve got a couple of years’ supply - does anybody know the shelf life? It seems like it would be roughly “forever”.
Just keep quiet on this or somebody in the gov will want to change the socket standard. hehe
This will be happening here shortly....we need to start hoarding ourselves.
California goes mercury laden mandatory in 2010. I am stocking up and hoarding my favorite bulbs every pay check. No doubt the thought police and gun grabbers will be knocking at my screen any day now
My husband is a fan of the new energy bulbs. I am not.
He put them in my clothes closet and now I seem to be leaving the house in mismatched clothes as I can’t tell the browns from the greens anymore.
And they make my eyes hurt from trying to see as they are not bright enough.
I keep buying the old bulbs and he can’t figure out why.
I used to find working Mazda bulbs regularly when I was an electrician for summer work in the 70s. I have a drawer full of them. Some of them even have the little melted glass nipple on the top.
Change husbands.
I’m stocked up on bulbs and .223s.
KRAMER: Are you still on the pill?ELAINE: Uh, Kramer...
KRAMER: I'll tell ya, I think birth control should be discussed in an open forum.
ELAINE: The sponge, o.k.? The Today sponge.
KRAMER: But wasn't that taken off the market?
ELAINE: Off the market? The sponge? No, no...no way. Everybody loves the sponge.
KRAMER: I read it in Wall Street Week...Louis, uh, Rukeyser.
< Elaine laughs. >
...
< Elaine enters. > Hey.
ELAINE: Well, Kramer was right. My friend Kim told me the sponge is off the market.
JERRY: So what are you gonna do?
ELAINE: I'll tell you what I'm gonna do - I'm gonna do a hard-target search. Of every drug store, general store, health store and grocery store in a 25-block radius.
GEORGE: Just for these sponges?
ELAINE: Hey man, women are really loyal to their birth control methods. What does Susan use?
GEORGE: I dunno.
ELAINE: You don't know?
GEORGE: I, uh...figure it's something.
I got mine! 100W bulbs are now hard to find. Most are made in Mexico now and some are made in China.
100W bulbs are perfect for keeping the wellhouse warm in winter. No burst pipes.
I use florescent in places hard to get to but still like incandesant in others.
God I hate government social engeneering!
My Grandpa tells me he uses the burnt out ones for his darkroom.
Thomas Edison....Public Enemy #1......
I think I'll start referring to the Florescent bulbs as F-Bulbs.
Many of the CFLs are so-called warm whte but definitely not as bright nor correct in color rendition as ordinary incandescent lamps.
The LEDs lamps so far have been too bluish or yellowish and the leak to weak for comfortable reading or clothes sorting.
I find CFLs and LEDs to be terrific for low electric use in safety lighting;they provide enough light to prevent trips and falls and cost little if left on .
So far for task lighting and comfortable room lighting nothing beats the incandescent in 75 or 100 watt sizes.Traditional fluorescent eventually cause eyestrain and headaches due to the flicker.
The human eye and brain were made to use the steady illumination of the sun and the illumination of our homes and work by what amounts to semi-continuous flashbulbs stresses the eye and brain.
Let’s see now,...
Name some great things to smuggle and make piles of money on:
1.) Tax free cigarettes
2.) Ammo
3.) Light bulbs
4.) Toilets
5.) Obammy birth certificates
What else?
me, too. I guess the plan will work until the light bulb enforcers arrive at the front door.
At first they’ll just drive through neighborhoods with spectrophotometers to see if you have a “correct” fluorescent spectrum or an “eeeeeeevil” incandescent one.
REALLY. pictures? I want some. :)
It’s going to be funny when the ban fails for the same reasons prohibition failed. I’ve got some extra ones I’ll put them up on E-bay for a HUGE MARK UP once the ban takes effect here in America. LOL
HA! You know what this reminds me of: the Nazis driving thru neighborhoods listening for illegal radio transmissions...
That sounds like the Fairness Doctrine. : )
Nope. I have accumulated several hundred by now. When Walmart stopped selling GE bulbs, I had to stoop to buying Chinese bulbs at the dollar stores.
Has anyone else seen the effect of putting a CFL
in a ceiling fan light?
Don’t do it if you’re epileptic. It is intolerable even to those who are unafflicted. (You’ll probably become epileptic).
Me too. I buy them by the case at Home Depot every time I go.
Name some great things to smuggle and make piles of money on:
1.) Tax free cigarettes
2.) Ammo
3.) Light bulbs
4.) Toilets
5.) Obammy birth certificates
What else?
We are fast approaching the day when there will be widespread shortages and people standing in lines for hours waiting for crumbs at the government stores, just like in the former Soviet Union. Some goods will be available on the black market at astronomical prices. I'm not joking, we will relive a horrible era in history.
True, true, sadly too true.
Re: “We are fast approaching the day when there will be widespread shortages and people standing in lines for hours waiting for crumbs at the government stores, just like in the former Soviet Union. Some goods will be available on the black market at astronomical prices. I’m not joking, we will relive a horrible era in history.”
**********
Exactly — I have heard numerous people talking about this lately, i.e., “our best days are behind us.” I certainly agree. And on Rush’s show today he mentioned some new poll out citing that more than 50% of those polled agreed as well. We are in big trouble, folks, seriously.
Good idea. I am partial to 7.62 X 54R and .38
Are there new energy bulbs for flourescent lighting? The school put a brand new set of about 30 or so in my classroom at the end of the year and something about them gave me, my assistant, and my students wracking headaches.
I’m going to put in my own periphereal lighting next year with floor lamps - unless I can get these changed out. I was told they were more environmentally friendly
Typical of Libs to take something that works exceedingly well (like lightbulbs, health care, and cars) and totally screw them up to be hideous, inefficient, unrecognizable shadows of their former selves.
“I’ve been using CFLs for roughly a decade now, as incandescents die on me like fruitflies (even quality “name brand” ones).”
Could that be “planned incandescence”? (couldn’t resist :)
Yes, and we Boomers are the last generation to experience traditional America. But that won’t last long, as Obama and team have bull’s eyes on our chests.
And didn’t I hear that if you break one of these babies, HAZMAT has to be called? For a fun evening, buy up a bunch and smash them. Keep a govt. bureaucrat occupied.
I have fancy light fixtures with blown-glass all through the house and the lightbulbs show - I use the little flame-looking ones.
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