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Save the Light Bulb!
Wall Street Journal ^ | AUGUST 30, 2009 | HOWARD M. BRANDSTON

Posted on 08/31/2009 4:40:01 AM PDT by kingattax

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will effectively phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2012-2014 in favor of compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs. Other countries around the world have passed similar legislation to ban most incandescents.

Will some energy be saved? Probably. The problem is this benefit will be more than offset by rampant dissatisfaction with lighting. We are not talking about giving up a small luxury for the greater good. We are talking about compromising light. Light is fundamental. And light is obviously for people, not buildings. The primary objective in the design of any space is to make it comfortable and habitable. This is most critical in homes, where this law will impact our lives the most. And yet while energy conservation, a worthy cause, has strong advocacy in public policy, good lighting has very little.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: america2point0; lightbulbban; nannystate; socialism; starkravingsocialism
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the european union has already admitted that the claims about CFLs have been "exaggerated".
1 posted on 08/31/2009 4:40:02 AM PDT by kingattax
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To: kingattax

This is a very obvious example of how the flat-earth, no-growth environmental wackos are lowering our standard of living.

Being relatively open-minded, I decided to try the new squiggly bulbs, even as I have been stocking up on the old Thomas Edison type of bulbs.

Well, the lighting is clearly inferior. Pushing these bulbs on us is a disgrace, and an insult to those of us who actually want to be able to read during times when there is no natural sunlight.

To me, this light bulb issue is pure govt intrusion on the free market and of our freedom to choose to buy a superior product on the free market. It is resulting in the lowering of our quality of life as a direct result thereof.


2 posted on 08/31/2009 4:54:15 AM PDT by Canedawg (FUBO)
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To: kingattax

So, now I am going to have to hoard freakin light bulbs! I don’t use those CFL’s, they are expensive. I’ve read where you have to be careful when they break.


3 posted on 08/31/2009 4:54:37 AM PDT by panthermom
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To: Canedawg

This is right up there with telling us what kind of toilets we can use. The danged toilets don’t work, and these lightbulbs, while OK for some things, are hideously bad for others (like antique chandeliers).

Congress should have NOTHING to do with either appliance.

Regards,


4 posted on 08/31/2009 4:56:52 AM PDT by VermiciousKnid (Grab your gun and bring in the cat.)
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To: kingattax

5 posted on 08/31/2009 4:59:48 AM PDT by bmwcyle (Socialism is not a bad word. It is a bad concept.)
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To: Canedawg
I decided to try the new squiggly bulbs, even

We tried them when they first came out, before it became forced upon us. It is horrible lighting. Period. Furthermore, they don't last as long as advertised, in many cases not even as long as an incandescent.

6 posted on 08/31/2009 5:00:35 AM PDT by Jemian (PAM of JT ~~ You can not fix STUPID, but you can VOTE it out of office.)
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To: Jemian

I will not have a CFL in my home.

Period.

I DETEST them. I DESPISE them.

...not only because they provide inferior lighting, but because THEY ARE BEING FORCED ON US.

I will, however, switch to LED lighting when it becomes economically feasible to do so.


7 posted on 08/31/2009 5:03:57 AM PDT by Peter W. Kessler (Dirt is for racing... asphalt is for getting there.)
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To: Peter W. Kessler

By economically feasible, I mean this:

CCrane sells a 60w LED bulb for...

((((GULP))))

$99.00

I’ll wait.


8 posted on 08/31/2009 5:06:44 AM PDT by Peter W. Kessler (Dirt is for racing... asphalt is for getting there.)
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To: kingattax
A better question is why does the federal government have the authority under our constitution to prevent people from buying a product they want and are willing to pay the cost of including the electricity it requires to operate?

We've become a nation of sheep who through apathy have lost the gift of liberty the founding fathers put their all into securing.

9 posted on 08/31/2009 5:07:12 AM PDT by DB
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To: Jemian

“We tried them when they first came out, before it became forced upon us. It is horrible lighting. Period.”

They are crap.

Bad crap.

And very bad for your eyes ... not that the gov cares!!!

Is this one of the many many laws that applies to us but not to Congress?

Like Social Security (they have their own, better plan)!!!

Like Sexual Harassment laws ?!?!?!

Like ..... oh forget it; too depressing to continue with the list.


10 posted on 08/31/2009 5:08:33 AM PDT by DontTreadOnMe2009 (So stop treading on me already!)
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To: VermiciousKnid
and these lightbulbs, while OK for some things, are hideously bad for others (like antique chandeliers).

I've been wondering about this. I have way too many lighting situations where I use specialty bulbs - chandelier, wall sconces, recessed lights. Will we have to use some sort of compact fluorescent bulbs for these? I don't think a lot of people realize congress passed this piece of legislation and what the impact will be in their households.
11 posted on 08/31/2009 5:13:35 AM PDT by Girlene (Congratulatinos, Lt Col Chessani)
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To: Peter W. Kessler

As I said, we tried them BEFORE they were forced on us, right after they first came out.

Ironically, my dad hated them and fussed about us putting them in (he owns the house w/ us). Now, though, since the RATS like them, he wants them. We, having tried them, hate them.


12 posted on 08/31/2009 5:14:59 AM PDT by Jemian (PAM of JT ~~ You can not fix STUPID, but you can VOTE it out of office.)
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To: kingattax
Even the NY Times has ran against the bulb. Too much mercury pollution and they are not made of the highest quality; some burnout in a couple hours.
13 posted on 08/31/2009 5:15:46 AM PDT by In veno, veritas (Please identify my Ad Hominem attacks. I should be debating ideas.)
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To: bmwcyle

If broken no hazmat team required,


14 posted on 08/31/2009 5:16:55 AM PDT by Vaduz
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To: kingattax
A serious question for those who might know:

If I stock up on traditional light bulbs now while they are still available, what is their shelf life?

I figure that because of the way they are made, their shelf life ought to be indefinite? Any other thoughts?

15 posted on 08/31/2009 5:17:07 AM PDT by Buffalo Bob
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To: kingattax

Anybody know what the 2007 legislation means for niche incandescent bulbs? What I mean by niche, is low voltage for walkways, flashlights, lanterns, ornamental lighting, and many other bulbs besides the typical lamps and fixtures.


16 posted on 08/31/2009 5:17:40 AM PDT by C210N (A patriot for a Conservative Renaissance!)
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To: Jemian
Old bulbs just "burn out", I have had a few of the CFLs "burn up". I had one flat out catch fire. I don't care for them. I have a couple in the house but not that many. I have yet to find one that works well with a dimmer, or bright enough to light up the garage. (I have 200 watt incandescent that I am sure can seen from space)

We lived over seas for several years and all we had in the place was CFL, we got used to them, but I never saw a big savings. The ones we had would use 15-20 watts and did a good job of lighting up the place. They took a minute or so to really warm up, but they did work ok. I still needed to replace them just as often at three times the price. I think the cfls we needed were $6, vise the $1. We saved about a buck or two a year in power costs, and spend $5 more on the lamp, so net gain was -$2.

Then there was the fire thing. Smoke, burning plastics, and what ever is in those dang things filled the house. fortunately it didn't flame and catch the house on fire, but turned a nasty black color, and filled the house with God only knows what toxins.

Old bulbs Earth friendly materials, new CFLs not so much.

17 posted on 08/31/2009 5:18:45 AM PDT by DYngbld (I have read the back of the Book and we WIN!!!!)
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To: Girlene
I use specialty bulbs - chandelier, wall sconces, recessed lights. Will we have to use some sort of compact fluorescent bulbs for these?

You get the screw-in CFL for just about every screw base light fixture out there. I have not seen any for the little tiny ones, but those I would just wire an LED in if I needed to.

18 posted on 08/31/2009 5:23:11 AM PDT by DYngbld (I have read the back of the Book and we WIN!!!!)
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To: Buffalo Bob
If I stock up on traditional light bulbs now while they are still available, what is their shelf life?

I have used some that are twenty years old, and have been moved halfway across the planet and back. I bet the older ones last longer anyway.

http://www.centennialbulb.org/

108 years and still burning.

19 posted on 08/31/2009 5:26:36 AM PDT by DYngbld (I have read the back of the Book and we WIN!!!!)
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To: Buffalo Bob

Regular incandescent bulbs should last a very, very long time in storage. There’s really only two failure issues. One is corrosion of the threaded base and contact and the other a vacuum leak letting oxygen into the envelope. A glass metal seal is very good.

So keep them dry and they’ll stay in storage longer than either of us will live...


20 posted on 08/31/2009 5:28:10 AM PDT by DB
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