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The Wishful Thinking of Greenie Dreams
The American Thinker ^
| May 24, 2009
| Peter C Glover
Posted on 05/24/2009 2:44:52 AM PDT by Scanian
The social engineering spin of the green mindset dictates that we should buy green' cars, divert food crops to fuel them, restrict air travel and ban plasma TVs and, of course, traditional light-bulbs. So let's take a closer look at the current green-led switchover: the dimly-lit realities behind green' light bulbs.
Back to the dark ages'
In the US, Republican Jane Harman (D-Calif.) introduced legislation aimed at setting a target date of 2012 to ban the sale of traditional incandescent light-bulbs, switching America over to low-energy alternatives. After all, low-energy "compact fluorescent bulbs" (CFLs) use just one-fifth of the energy of traditional light-bulbs? So it's a no-brainer, right? Harman is taking her lead from the European Union which is currently phasing out the sale of incandescent light-bulbs - even though there is a raft of hidden economic, energy and environmental factors with which neither the EU nor Harman seem cognizant. Harman maintains that implementing such a ban would be, "an important first step toward making every household, business and public building in America more energy-efficient."
CFL low-energy light bulbs are significantly more expensive to produce, and between 3 and 10 times as much to buy, as the standard tungsten-filament bulbs Harman wants scrapped. That is, if they work at all. In addition, CFLs need much more ventilation (top and bottom). A review of what such a switchover means for England in the wake of the EU ban revealed that up to 50 percent of existing fittings would need changing - at an estimated cost of around $6 billion. And that's just the beginning. Low-energy light bulbs do not give off a steady stream of light - they flicker fifty times a second, which can be expected to contribute to health and safety problems, with associated financial costs, down the line.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; Technical
KEYWORDS: carboncult; greenieweenies; greenreligion; lightbulbs
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1
posted on
05/24/2009 2:44:52 AM PDT
by
Scanian
To: Scanian; All
2
posted on
05/24/2009 3:02:10 AM PDT
by
backhoe
(All across America, the Lights are going out...)
To: Scanian
My apartment complex had maintenence come around and swap out all the regular light bulbs with these energy efficient ones, even though we pay our own electric bills each month. I feel like I’m living in dracula’s lair right now its soo freaking dark. A regular 20 watt light bulb put out more light then these CFL “green” bulbs. Plus we got this long letter taped to our doors telling us to not throw the CFL bulbs out if they do fail, because there is toxic chemicals in them. What a total joke.
3
posted on
05/24/2009 3:36:40 AM PDT
by
Proud_USA_Republican
(Trust unto God and He shall direct your path)
To: Scanian
I use CFLs entirely in my house because they do save energy... the electric company simply raises rates to compensate. :)
4
posted on
05/24/2009 3:55:31 AM PDT
by
pnh102
(Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
To: Scanian
In the US, Republican Jane Harman (D-Calif.) ?
5
posted on
05/24/2009 4:09:01 AM PDT
by
woofie
To: Scanian
Low-energy light bulbs do not give off a steady stream of light - they flicker fifty times a second, which can be expected to contribute to health and safety problems, with associated financial costs, down the line. This article and writer needs to do a lot more fact checking. Florescent bulbs do not flicker 50 times a second in North America. In England they would flicker at 50 hertz because that is the frequency of AC power in England. The grid in North America runs at 60 Hertz.
6
posted on
05/24/2009 4:25:12 AM PDT
by
Fraxinus
(My opinion, worth what you paid.)
To: backhoe
In liberal enclaves, teeny tiny cars would be a great way to reduce congestion. If they are made small enough, a 3-lane stretch of the Kennedy expressway in Chicago could be re-striped into 4 lanes, etc. It won’t work in rural areas, but CAFE is an average, not a per-car, requirement.
7
posted on
05/24/2009 4:30:00 AM PDT
by
Bernard
(If you always tell the truth, you never have to remember exactly what you said.)
To: backhoe
"I think the theory with the midget cars is; if you die on impact then there won't be any healthcare cost for your recovery." ... and the wreak can be used as a coffin. It's a twofer.
8
posted on
05/24/2009 4:39:34 AM PDT
by
6SJ7
(atlasShruggedInd: ON)
To: Fraxinus
Well 60/sec seems a lot better some how. Of course lighting is a minor part of my electric bill. As far as mercury poisoning, Almost all of commercial lighting is fluorescent and has been for many years (look in their Dumpsters to see how they dispose of theirs). The life span of CFL’s must be measured in dog-years. I use CFL’s in places difficult to change bulbs in and in some fixtures to beat the 60 watt maximum, also in ceiling fan lights to beat the effect of vibration on tungsten bulbs.
barbra ann
9
posted on
05/24/2009 4:48:45 AM PDT
by
barb-tex
(Republic of Texas will include all of the Confederacy, except Maybe VA.)
To: woofie
Jane Harman is a Democrat.
To: Scanian
Every time we go grocery shopping, I grab a 4 or 8 pack of 75-watt incandescent bulbs...I'm stocking up. Also, I have motion-activated floodlights all around my house and yard, so I'll need to stock up on those type bulbs too.
I saw a house the other day where they had put 60-watt CFL's in their outdoor floodlight sockets...sheeeesh.
Our power company (an EMC-government subsidized) has left us two CFL's and a "green indocrination phamplet) on our front porce at least twice now.
I think someone in the greenie movement has a stake in the CFL business, and the best way to sell them is to outlaw conventional bulbs. It's like the law against freon, some guy invented an alternate and when no one would use it, he lobbied to get freon outlawed.
Follow the money.......................not the light.
11
posted on
05/24/2009 5:16:09 AM PDT
by
FrankR
(We are only enslaved to the extent of charity (bailout) we receive...think about it.)
To: pnh102
I use fluorescent tubes and some CFLs in selected areas of the house - workshop, etc. I really don’t like the quality of the light, at least in the bulbs I’ve used, for the living spaces.
IIRC, the law does permit some incandescents to be sold: larger bulbs (>100 watts?), specialty bulbs, exterior lamps (floodlights, etc. For the more common 60/75/100 we have a nice stockpile.
12
posted on
05/24/2009 5:18:47 AM PDT
by
NewHampshireDuo
(Earth - Taking care of itself since 4.6 billion BC)
To: Scanian
Read the
EPA guidelines for cleaning up a broken CFL and then decide if you really want them in your homes.
To: woofie
Yeah, I saw that too. I guess good editors (or even any editor) is optional these days.
14
posted on
05/24/2009 5:25:03 AM PDT
by
rbg81
(DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
To: backhoe
Americans will never buy those cars.
15
posted on
05/24/2009 5:27:07 AM PDT
by
rbg81
(DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
To: Scanian
When the EPA introduced a more realistic standard of testing in 2008 the average mileage dropped to 45 mpg, around the same as a normal car. Where can I buy one of these "normal" cars?
16
posted on
05/24/2009 5:29:27 AM PDT
by
Sherman Logan
(Everyone has a right to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.)
To: woofie
It’s sloppy editing. She’s a Rat.
17
posted on
05/24/2009 5:35:59 AM PDT
by
Kozak
(USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Reqiescat in Pace)
To: Bernard
In liberal enclaves, teeny tiny cars would be a great way to reduce congestion. If they are made small enough, a 3-lane stretch of the Kennedy expressway in Chicago could be re-striped into 4 lanes, etc. It wont work in rural areas, but CAFE is an average, not a per-car, requirement.
and then I can roll over them in 2 1/2 ton Suburban and not have to worry about traffic anymore....
18
posted on
05/24/2009 5:37:31 AM PDT
by
Kozak
(USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Reqiescat in Pace)
To: Scanian
Bad editing and fact checking sour an article that otherwise makes a few good points.
20
posted on
05/24/2009 7:08:00 AM PDT
by
Paradox
(When the left have no one to villainize, they'll turn on each other.)
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