Posted on 01/30/2007 6:54:26 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California lawmaker wants to make his state the first to ban incandescent lightbulbs as part of California's groundbreaking initiatives to reduce energy use and greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
The "How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb Act" would ban incandescent lightbulbs by 2012 in favor of energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs.
"Incandescent lightbulbs were first developed almost 125 years ago, and since that time they have undergone no major modifications," California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine said on Tuesday.
"Meanwhile, they remain incredibly inefficient, converting only about 5 percent of the energy they receive into light."
Levine is expected to introduce the legislation this week, his office said.
If passed, it would be another pioneering environmental effort in California, the most populous U.S. state. It became the first state to mandate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, targeting a 25 percent reduction in emissions by 2020.
Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) use about 25 percent of the energy of conventional lightbulbs.
Many CFLs have a spiral shape, which was introduced in 1980. By 2005, about 100 million CFLs were sold in the United States, or about 5 percent of the 2-billion-lightbulb market, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
That number could more than double this year. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. alone wants to sell 100 million CFLs at its stores by the end of 2007, the world's biggest retailer said in November.
While it will not give opinion on the possible California law, the EPA recommends CFLs.
"They save money and energy," EPA spokeswoman Enesta Jones said. "They are more convenient than other alternatives and come in different sizes and shapes to fit almost any fixture."
Also, CFLs generate 70 percent less heat than incandescent lights, Jones said.
About a fifth of the average U.S. home's electricity costs pays for lighting, which means even if CFLs initially cost more than conventional lightbulbs, consumers will save, Jones said.
A 20-watt CFL gives as much light as a 75-watt conventional bulb, and lasts 13 times longer, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit group studying energy issues.
Southern California Edison, an Edison International subsidiary and one of the state's biggest utilities, runs a program that cuts the cost of a CFL by $1 to $2.50. In the past year, SCE has helped consumers buy 6 million CFLs, it said.
California Energy Commission member Arthur Rosenfeld said an average home in California will save $40 to $50 per year if CFLs replace all incandescent bulbs.
While not commenting specifically on Levine's likely legislation, Rosenfeld, winner of the Enrico Fermi Presidential Award in 2006, said the switch from incandescent bulbs became feasible about five years ago when CFL performance improved.
"This is clearly an idea whose time has come," he said.
Levine, a Democrat from Van Nuys in Los Angeles, last year introduced a bill that will become law in July that requires most grocery stores to have plastic bag recycling.
It is probabably the best idea that came from that State since 1908.
The reason incandesant works is lost power heating up the filament in the bulb to produce light,,it glows like an electric heater on the wall,,neon uses most of its' power starting the bulb when it's first turned on,after that it doesn't use as much as incandesant...go with gas , save you some money..
Otherwise known as... didn't work. Did I mention color temperature?
Try replacing elipsoidal bulbs in angled cans in a 25 foot ceiling. Then there's the huge investment some folks have made in low voltage halogens.
When I can get equivalent or better in fluorescents I'll start using them. For now, they're fine for my basement porcelains and that's about it.
They're too tall and hit the bail on the shade.
Some of the long bulbs do but the CFLs I use all over my house don't.
I've heard that there are CF bulbs that are dimmable, but it is still an immature technology I think. It'll probably get better as time goes on.
Like somebody else commented upthread said... something to watch is the development of LED's. They're going to take over someday, I think. Bright, clean light, and a fraction of even CF power usage. They're not quite there yet, but I think they will be.
And now Bush has signed on to it.
Both the ballast and the switch has to be capable of dimming.
Like everything, time will tell. The technology is improving rapidly, and the products available for various different applications are changing almost monthly. Stay tuned.
If you Kalifornians are looking for an investment opportunity, here it is. As with anything that gets banned, its market value will skyrocket. Just look at 5 gallon toilets, standard capacity maganzines (10>), and assault rifles.
Heat is primarily what incandescents produce.
I use a fair number as well. They are not as bright as the incandescent bulbs that they claim equivalence to. In addition, I am concerned about fire danger. I have one that burned a hole in its base, another where the base was discolored by heat but didn't burn through (different brands).
You must be buying those CDLs made in Elbonia. I have had all good results with mine. I only buy GE.
I've certainly never had a CFL bulb last 13 times as long as a regular one.
By the way, if this law is passed, I will be glad to sell anyone in California smuggled incandescent bulbs from out of state.
and this bulb thing is nothing. wait until you have to buy a carbon credit, in order to purchase a full sized car or SUV/truck. that's coming soon too.
Yeah. Liberals are reallllllly good at that. I'm amazed at how many want Cheney for President.
I see their "Impeach Bush" bumper stickers everywhere!
I use a lot of CF's because they are much more efficient. You're right about the issue with dimmers. Currently (no pun intended), I dim the CF's by unscrewing 4 of the five in the ceiling fixture. If I owned instead of renting, I might rig up a 5 position switch to select having between one and five on--not quite a dimmer switch but better than unscrewing.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
They won't have to in California. They can just keep raising the utility rates and peeps will just sit in the dark and sweat or freeze. Our bills are extra high year round now. Electric bill $600 in the summer and combined gas and electric $450 in the winter. Two of us in the house and have cut back everywhere we can. Only thing left to do is shut it all off.
California pffffftttt!
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