The Wishful Thinking of Greenie Dreams

The American Thinker ^ | May 24, 2009 | Peter C Glover

[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.

[backhoe]

More Green Death... The Democrat's new emissions plan will kill more Americans than the Iraq War.

Doug Ross reports on The Smart Car death trap.

Posted by Gateway Pundit at 5/23/2009 08:38:00 PM Comments (36) |

"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."

[Proud_USA_Republican]

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.

[pnh102]

I use CFLs entirely in my house because they do save energy... the electric company simply raises rates to compensate. :)

[woofie]

In the US, Republican Jane Harman (D-Calif.)

?

[Fraxinus]

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.

[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 won’t work in rural areas, but CAFE is an average, not a per-car, requirement.

[6SJ7]

"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.

[barb-tex]

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

[marktwain]

Jane Harman is a Democrat.

[FrankR]

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.

[NewHampshireDuo]

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.

[The Great RJ]

Read the EPA guidelines for cleaning up a broken CFL and then decide if you really want them in your homes.

[rbg81]

Yeah, I saw that too. I guess good editors (or even any editor) is optional these days.

[rbg81]

Americans will never buy those cars.

[Sherman Logan]

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?

[Kozak]

It’s sloppy editing. She’s a Rat.

[Kozak]

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.

and then I can roll over them in 2 1/2 ton Suburban and not have to worry about traffic anymore....

[Repeal The 17th]

read later

[Paradox]

Bad editing and fact checking sour an article that otherwise makes a few good points.