Posted on 09/01/2010 8:05:10 AM PDT by markomalley
BRUSSELS, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Wednesday marks the end for the 75-watt incandescent light bulb for European consumers, the European Parliament announced.
The 100-watt light bulb was phased out in 2009 and Wednesday marks the end of the 75 W versions. The European Parliament said the light bulbs would remain on store shelves while supplies last.
European consumers by September 2011 will no longer be able to purchase 60 W, 40 W and 25 W light bulbs. The European Parliament said compact fluorescent, halogen, light-emitting diode or "improved incandescent" light bulbs will replace the conventional light bulb in the European Union.
"The motive behind the change is the energy inefficiency of the old bulbs -- which generate a great deal of heat -- compared to newer models," Parliament said in a statement. "In addition newer bulbs can save money as they can last six to 10 times longer than the old ones."
A conventional incandescent light bulb, Parliament added, converts only 5 percent of the energy it consumes into emitting light.
Europe estimates the switch will save as much energy as Romania consumes in an average year and remove around 15 million tons of harmful emissions from the atmosphere.
ping
Time to get rid of flush toilets too. Wastes too much water.
What would Thomas Edison say?
Oh wait. They're for "gay marriage." I guess that keeps them from being reactionaries.
And guaranteed employment for companies that specialize in hazmat cleanup of mercury from broken CFL bulbs.
Incandescents are being made illegal here as well, right?
Why not, they gave up bathing years ago.
I've replaced many of my day-to-day bulbs with halogens in a regular bulb mount. I love, love, love them. They're more expensive than regular bulbs (maybe $3 a bulb), but they have the advantages of regular incandescent bulbs (instant on, no flickering, can be dimmed) along with a whiter light. Their only real problem is that they seem to be hotter, so you have to be more careful about cheap lamp.
I just hope US laws don't outlaw them.
Violent protesters will start throwing those mercury-laced florescent bulbs at riots. Then the govt will have to mount full-scale hazmat cleanups at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars.
We need to rescind our laws banning the incandescent lightbulbs after November.
Some places in Europe have already gotten rid of flush toilets or maybe they never had them in the first place. Anyone who has ever gotten off the beaten trails knows what I am talking about.
The lights are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime
The evil, dangerous light bulb before tobacco? I’m not for a ban on tobacco, I’m just sayin’....
The new fluorescent bulbs are hideous, don’t give much light and if broken are poisonous.
Someones making a killing on the new bulbs.
It coming to here as well. Bush signed it into law when signed the energy bill in ‘06.
I have a halogen Artemide Tizio lamp that I purchased in the Eighties (I think they’re still available). The only complaint is the unique fitting that will only except a few halogen bulbs. The upside is when someone calls, I bend the lamp down to keep my toast or pasta warm.
I keep one of the early CFL bulbs over a extra side counter in the kitchen that I don’t use. When guests come over after dark, I turn that thing on, scare them with it’s ghastly, ghostly light, and ask them if they’re in favor of CFLs.
Just ask Lionel Hampton.
OK. You can't ask him, because he's dead. But in 1997 he lost everything he owned in a fire started by a halogen lamp in his apartment.
Lionel Hampton loses priceless mementos when fire destroys his N.Y. apartment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.