Europe’s Ban on Old-Style Light Bulbs Begins

New York Times ^

[Sub-Driver]

Europe’s Ban on Old-Style Light Bulbs Begins By JAMES KANTER

BRUSSELS — Restrictions on the sale of incandescent bulbs begin going into effect across most of Europe on Tuesday in the continent’s latest effort to get people to save energy and combat global warming. But even advocates concede the change is proving problematic.

Under the European Union rules, shops will no longer be allowed to buy or import most incandescent frosted glass bulbs starting Tuesday. Retailers can continue selling off their stock until they run out.

While some Europeans are eagerly jumping on the bandwagon, others are panicking and have been stockpiling the old-style bulbs for aesthetic or practical reasons. Others are resigned to the switch, if grudgingly.

“Why are we switching? Because we have to,” said Ralph Wennig, a 40-year-old photographer shopping on Monday at BHV, a Paris department store.

The new compact fluorescent lamps are billed as more economical in the long run because they use up to 80 percent less energy and do not burn out as quickly.

“But the downside is that the light isn’t as nice,” Mr. Wennig said, “and they are more expensive individually.”

One bulb can cost €10, or $14 — or a lot more, depending on type — whereas traditional incandescent bulbs cost about 70 cents each. But E.U. officials argued that the energy savings would cut average household electricity bills by up to €50 a year, amounting to about €5 billion annually. That would help buoy the economy if consumers spent their savings, they said.

[Sub-Driver]

nanny states

[Tarpon]

Question with boldness, the reason for this is foolish. Too bad they don’t hold town halls in England.

[Cheetahcat]

These people are Idiots for going along with this nonsense.

[GraceG]

Light Bulbs now, next thing they will be saying you can’t have A/C... oh wait...

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[ElayneJ]

See our future here. As odd as it sounds, I’ve been stocking up on “regular” light bulbs - buying them when on sale. I don’t want the mercury-filled “progressive” bulbs in my home. I’ve been known to crash light bulbs and I don’t want to be calling HazMat when I do.
I guess soon I’ll be just sitting in the dark. :)

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Let the mercury poisoning begin.

[KarlInOhio]

others are panicking and have been stockpiling the old-style bulbs for aesthetic or practical reasons. Others are resigned to the switch, if grudgingly.

Panicking? If I want to use something that will soon become unavailable at any price, how is buying them now "panicking"? Has anyone run screaming into a hardware store and had to be slapped to calm him down? Anyone wetting himself in fear about buying light bulbs? Or did saying "Others have been thinking calmly and rationally and have been stockpiling the old-style bulbs for aesthetic or practical reasons" just not fit with the propaganda of the story?

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“But E.U. officials argued that the energy savings would cut average household electricity bills by up to €50 a year, amounting to about €5 billion annually.”

Not in northern Europe. Lighting season and heating season coincide — incandescent bulbs are a (nearly) 100% efficient radiant space heater.

“The new compact fluorescent lamps are billed as more economical in the long run because they use up to 80 percent less energy and do not burn out as quickly.”

A flat-out lie. See this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2328233/posts

“E.U. officials said that they would find ways to push the industry to reduce the amount of mercury to levels around 2 milligrams per bulb from the current level of 5 milligrams per bulb.”

Wait until everyone has no choice but CFL bulbs — then expect harsh penalties for putting them in the garbage bin.

[GI Joe Fan]

Renegade Incandescent Bulb Users were unavailable for comment, but will soon be arrested for their illegal activities?

George Orwell was right about these totalitarians.

[PzLdr]

“Why are we switching? Because we have to.” Best description of the Euro-serf mentality I’ve ever seen. They deserve to be ruled by the bureaucrats of Brussels.

[Buckeye McFrog]

especially silly in France where 95% of the grid is powered by nukes

[Jonny foreigner]

These people are Idiots for going along with this nonsense.

---

you think they asked someone if “we” like it?
this was decided behind back doors as usuall (secretly aproved by the
same politicians “we” voted for) and then condemned from the same guys because you know “we” don´t want it but you know the EU desided it. So don´t hate us hate the EU (as if they would care) for this because there was nothing we could do against this. (as if every countries politicians would have no vote on this). so all is fine because every local politician was against it but yet suprise suprise the EU managed it to get this trough without any approval (as if the EU would dare to fart without the
approval of every single country :-)

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

That would help buoy the economy if consumers spent their savings, they said.

Let me see if I get this.

I switch to these light bulbs.

These light bulbs save me money on electrical bills.

If I spent that "saved" money, it will buoy the economy.

Why wouldn't it buoy the economy if I spent that money on electrical bills?

Whether I am spending it on a utility or on a nice dinner out, the money is going back into the economy.

And if spending money by consumers is a way to buoy the economy, then wouldn't it make sense to cut taxes thus giving more money to consumers to spend?

[bicyclerepair]

My local Home Depot’s light bulb aisle is 99.9% GE and only has one tiny little stack of Philips bulbs. Guess which I buy?

[Cheetahcat]

“you think they asked someone if “we” like it?
this was decided behind back doors as usuall (secretly aproved by the
same politicians “we” voted for) and then condemned from the same guys because you know “we” don´t want it but you know the EU desided it. So don´t hate us hate the EU (as if they would care) for this because there was nothing we could do against this. (as if every countries politicians would have no vote on this). so all is fine because every local politician was against it but yet suprise suprise the EU managed it to get this trough without any approval (as if the EU would dare to fart without the
approval of every single country :-)”

Well sounds like smuggling light bulbs will soon be lucrative.

[Moltke]

Didn’t Australia “outlaw” incandescent lightbulbs quite a while ago? Mad Lightbulb Desease, all over the world.

[Sir Gawain]

Well sounds like smuggling light bulbs will soon be lucrative.

Cha-ching. Soon the EPA will have hired goons like the DEA raiding black market incandescent bulb factories.

[Cheetahcat]

“Cha-ching. Soon the EPA will have hired goons like the DEA raiding black market incandescent bulb factories.”

Sounds good too me as those new bulbs are worthless.