Public told to snoop on lightbulb law breakers

Telegraph (UK) ^ | August 24, 2009

[Cheap_Hessian]

The public have been asked to 'snoop' on shopkeepers who continue to sell traditional light bulbs banned by Europe.

From September 1, it will be illegal to import conventional pearl or frosted bulbs of any shape or wattage. Traditional incandescent bulbs of 100 watts will also be banned under European law aimed at reducing energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions.

They will be replaced by energy saving lights, which usually use flourescent tubes, but it is thought some consumers will still prefer their 'traditional' bulbs, particularly for reading lamps.

There is evidence of people hoarding the old fashioned bulbs around Europe and enforcement agencies are ready to crack down on unscrupulous businessmen who continue to import the "illegal bulbs" from factories in China.

In Britain, trading standards officers will be carrying out inspections and are asking members of the public to report any shop continuing to stock the illegal bulbs.

[Always Right]

Socialism requires lots of Brown Shirts.

[wbill]

Coming to a store near you in 2012.

[svcw]

Is this really from The Onion?
What a freaking joke.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

Coming to America!

[Pan_Yan]

There will be a lot of money to be made in incandescent bulbs after 2012. Stock up now. Especially after compact fluorescents are labeled as hazardous waste and their cost doubles because of disposal.

[mrmeyer]

How ironic is it that Britain fought the national socialists to eventually become the national socialists? Inform on your family, friends, and neighbors comrades, it is your patriotic duty!

[thinking]

wonder if that includes painting green trees on store windows.....using street thugs to enforce regulations, is just one tiny step towards fascism....

[blam]

I bought my lifetime supply of incadessent bulbs last year. They’re already in storage.

[Jonny foreigner]

Stock up now.

---

Allready done it :-)
(as most people in Europe).

[mmichaels1970]

Traditional incandescent bulbs of 100 watts will also be banned under European law

And thus, we enter the "New Dark Ages".

[grobdriver]

2012?
I thought 2010!

Oh well... better to be stocked early than never.

Meanwhile, Joe Chinaman's incidence of mercury posioning is rising... just Google "china mercury poisoning"

Hope AlGore is happy.

[Charles Martel]

I bought my lifetime supply of incandescent bulbs last year. They’re already in storage.

Same here, earlier this year. I figure the stockpile will get me to the point where decent LED bulbs replace the flourescent garbage.

[HereInTheHeartland]

And this story from LA in today’s WSJ. It shows that we are not far behind our UK cousins in the nanny state catgory:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125106947738952331.html

[Sender]

Bulb hoarders. They probably have 15-hole salt shakers too. I'll bet they don't recycle and are over the EU approved weight standards.

Off to the re-education centers with you!

[SUSSA]

Just wait until the local hazmat team has to come out and clean up every time someone breaks one of the new bulbs in a store.

The retailers and the towns will be raising hell to change the law.

[ErnBatavia]

Yep - from various moves and home "consolidations" (two down to the current one) we've got three large and one medium rubbermaid containers full of 'em.........more than a lifetime supply.

Along this general line - while cruising through Target yesterday, we saw three-way flourescent bulbs.....that's a new one on me.

[SES1066]

What is becoming oh so ironic here is that technology is rapidly developing energy efficient incandescent bulbs but they may be futile when government regulations ban the entire class. A recent article in the NYT cites 30% improvement in current technology with laboratory yielding 100% improvements that exceed CFL bulbs. Add to that that none of these new generation incandescent bulbs have the mercury hazards that will make their breakage or disposal a nightmare and you have another set of idiot laws thanks to Global Warming alarmists!

[Salvation]

[Bernard Marx]

Socialism requires lots of Brown Shirts.

Change "socialism" to totalitarianism and you'll have it right, Always.

[BigBobber]

Hopefully LED lights will be improved over the next few years and incandescents and CFLs will both be out of commission becasue of CONSUMER CHOICE, not a government mandate.

[blam]

"Along this general line - while cruising through Target yesterday, we saw three-way flourescent bulbs.....that's a new one on me. "

I'm just an old fashioned (ahem) one-way kinda guy.

[Eva]

Is there a problem with storing old incandescent bulbs? I plan to buy cases of bulbs of different types to fit my decorative lighting and reading lamps, but someone told me that they won’t keep well.

[SES1066]

I agree that LED lights, for power consumption and longevity, are the most likely to be the ultimate winners IF they can do something about their radiating pattern. Incandescent and CFL bulbs have a large radiating surface to cast light in a spherical pattern, LEDs by their current construction are very directional. This makes for great flashlights but for poor illumination. Best I have seen so far is a ‘bulb’ that looks like a cross between a hand grenade and a fruit bunch, having multiple LEDs pointed in all directions. At best an inelegant solution to this problem. I predict that we will have a mix of types for a long time to come and that the last incandescent bulbs will still be shinning long after we are dead!

[TYVets]

In Britain, trading standards officers will be carrying out inspections and are asking members of the public to report any shop continuing to stock the illegal bulbs.

Why don't they just have an email addy to snitch on your neighbor.

flag@gov.com is available right now

[Buckeye McFrog]

send your tips to flag@bulbcops.gov.uk

[AFreeBird]

Along this general line - while cruising through Target yesterday, we saw three-way flourescent bulbs.....that's a new one on me.

My GF bought one that is actually dimmable via a conventional rheostat or even X10. Don't recall the cost, but it really works. Still, LED's will be the future as soon as they can get MFG processes standardized, lumen output up and costs down.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I’m in SF. We’ll probably get this before anyone else. They’ve already banned plastic bags. What’s the alternative to fluorescent (which I will REFUSE to use)?

[TexasRepublic]

I have already stocked up a lifetime supply of bulbs. I hate the sickly, nearly monochromatic light that comes from LEDs. Incandescent bulbs radiate light in a wide range of wavelengths, giving a warmer and more natural appearance.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[aruanan]

Rise up, Britain. Slay the lightbulb komissars. Screw that twisty bulb right up their flues.