Posted on 12/06/2010 6:42:56 PM PST by jazusamo
Three years after he led the charge to require consumers to ditch their comfortable old incandescent lights in favor of those twisty CFL bulbs, Rep. Fred Upton now wants to be the man to help undo that law as the next chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
That about-face is not unique among lawmakers looking to atone for stances they've taken over the past decade as they seek to gain top posts in a decidedly more conservative Republican Congress, but his reversal underscores how intent the GOP is on proving it has broken with past practices.
"We have heard the grass roots loud and clear, and will have a hearing early next Congress," said Mr. Upton, a Michigan Republican who is facing several others in his party in a bid to earn the gavel of the powerful committee. "The last thing we wanted to do was infringe upon personal liberties - and this has been a good lesson that Congress does not always know best."
Indeed, the compact fluorescent lamp, or CFL, has become a symbol of government overreach for many consumers, who wonder what was wrong with the incandescent bulbs that have lighted their kitchens, family rooms and bedrooms for more than a century.
The government says incandescent bulbs have too short a life span and are inefficient, wasting most of their energy on heat rather than on light. CFLs, on the other hand, can last up to 10 times as long and use 75 percent less electricity.
Still, they were slow to catch on, prompting industry, environmentalists and lawmakers to team up and give consumers a push. Mr. Upton joined Rep. Jane Harman, California Democrat, to co-sponsor legislation to phase out incandescent bulbs beginning in 2012. Their bill was incorporated into the 2007 Energy Independence...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I agree. We use some in lamps we switch on and off frequently. I don't think they last as long as incandescents in that type of application. It seems we are constantly changing them.
Sounds like my High School Girlfriend.
Last I looked in my area the nearest location open daily is about a 40 mile (80 mile) round trip to dispose of CFL’s or other fluorescent bulbs. Most of the time I just bag it in it’s own bag an toss in in the regular trash, as I suspect most people do.
I got one to last about 6-8 years. Though that was only on for a few hours a day, on a timer. The rest last 3-5 years, usually closer to 3.
Have you seen some of the new toilets that are coming out? They use even less water! 1.2 gallons instead of 1.6.
“Have you seen some of the new toilets that are coming out? They use even less water! 1.2 gallons instead of 1.6.”
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Multiple flushes-Unintended consequences from the IdiotLeft again.
My naming convention will thus have to extend well into Gore’s second cousins.
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How about a tall, cool glass of lemonade, General Jackson?
Right Here It was part of their on time delivery to store with reduced on hand inventory plan. Fewer bulbs on the shelves at higher prices plus an extra added bonus of appeasements to so called environmentalist. The incandescents disappeared off the shelves there real fast. Now THEY'RE BACK. I'll buy good old reliable efficient incandescents at Lowes from now on. They didn't cave to PC.
Actually, I think I’ll cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.
The same people who want everybody to use CFLs to save electric power, expect everybody to be able to charge an electric car, and still take out generating plants and hydroelectric dams.
DG
I have no problems tossing out those bulb. Have done it dozens of times. Why, do they stick to your hands or jump out of your garbage?
I throw them in the trash.
If environmentalist say it’s good for the environment, then they are good for the environment, no matter where they are. Right?
And if it causes problems, I’ll direct all complaints to all the enviromentalist groups out there.
:-P
What’s wrong with that? We’d just be helping them help the environment, so they would be grateful for our assistance.
” If they repeal this stupid law, I’ve got a huge pile of incandescent bulbs I really don’t need.”
You did well. Those lightbulbs you bought at $1.00 a four-pak, will sell for $2.00 a four-pak in a few years. Hold a yard sale every weekend and make beer and pizza money. Consider your buy a hedge against inflation.
anybody seen this to be true ? I haven't yet.
No, we had to replace several CFL bulbs that were no where close to five years old. OTOH, we have one incandescent bulb - it is on an electric eye - that has been in the front yard lamp post since 1990.
You’re dead on the money. If ever there are enough electric cars to make a real difference in petroleum usage (which I don’t believe there will be) they’ll have to build a lot of the dreaded nuclear plants to charge the cars, solar and wind power won’t even begin to do it.
Not if Florida.
Did you stockpile on the hopes of making it rich?
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