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It's Lights Out For The Incandescent Bulb In Calif
NPR ^ | January 23, 2011 | The Associated Press via NPR

Posted on 01/23/2011 10:17:15 AM PST by TaxPayer2000

The brightest bulb in most homes for more than a century is fading toward darkness this year as California turns out the light on the century-old incandescent.

Beginning Jan. 1, the state began phasing out certain energy-sucking bulbs, federal standards the rest of the country will enact next year.

Manufacturers will no longer make the traditional 100-watt bulb and stores will eventually sell out of current supplies. Consumers will have to choose from more efficient bulbs that use no more than 72 watts, including halogen incandescents, compact fluorescents and light-emitting diode, or LED, bulbs.

"These standards will help cut our nation's electric bill by over $10 billion a year and will save the equivalent electricity as 30 large power plants," said Noah Horowitz a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "That translates into a whole lot less global warming pollution being emitted."

The change is part of the federal Energy Independence and Security Act that President George Bush signed in 2007, to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. California was allowed to adopt the national standard one year earlier.

The act requires new bulbs to use 25 to 30 percent less energy beginning in 2012 nationally — starting with the 100-watt bulb. By 2014, other incandescent bulbs, including the 75-, 60- and 40-watt, will also be phased out across the country.

Some specialty bulbs, however, will continue to be available. Consumers will still be able to get smaller lights such as yellow bug lights and aquarium bulbs.

Light bulb manufacturers said they haven't gotten any reports of customers hoarding 100-watt bulbs yet, though that may change once supplies begin to dry up and word gets out.

Nick Reynoza, manager at Royal Lighting in Los Angeles, said it's a shame the transition comes at a time when alternatives are so much more expensive.

"It's not really an option — you have this or you don't get anything," he said. "The options are more expensive. Four incandescents are $1.00, the halogens are $5.99 and the LED are like $20."

While conservation groups back the change and the lighting industry has invested heavily in new technology, not everyone supports the law. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who could not immediately be reached for comment, reintroduced legislation this year to repeal the law.

"People don't want Congress dictating what light fixtures they can use," said Rep. Barton on his website. "Traditional incandescent bulbs are cheap and reliable."

Adam Gottlieb, spokesman for the California Energy Commission, acknowledged that the change has resulted in a "great deal of hue and cry" on some blogs as well. Recent postings have included the titles "More dim bulbs: California banning 100-watt incandescent light bulbs" and "More evidence that California is nuts."

Gottlieb, however, said it was not a ban and that consumers can still buy whatever bulbs they want as long as they meet the new standards.

"After 130 years Tom Edison's old-fashioned light bulb is getting a 20th century makeover," he said. "The simple truth is consumers will save money."

The newer bulbs are more expensive than incandescents, but supporters of the technology say they last so much longer that there is a financial savings in the end. For example, while incandescents provide as much as 2,000 hours of light, compact fluorescents can provide light for six times longer.

Incandescents, which create light by passing an electric current through a tungsten wire filament, also waste 90 percent of the electricity they use as heat instead of light. Fluorescents, by comparison, apply an electrical current to different types of phosphers to produce light and produce less heat.

But fans of the traditional bulb say they provide a softer, more natural light and turn on more quickly. Michael Petras, president of GE Lighting, said the industry is aware of the shortcomings and is working to refine the technology.

"We've got compact fluorescents that look like incandescents," he said from the company's headquarters in Cleveland. "We have a product coming out this spring that's a hybrid of compact fluorescent and halogen that will provide energy savings and a better start up time."

Australia was the first to begin phasing out incandescents beginning in 2009, followed by the European Union, the Philippines and Argentina, said Petras. Mexico and Brazil are expected to follow the U.S.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: energy; government; lightbulb; nannystate; regulations
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To: muawiyah

The McD’s coffee around NC & SC wasn’t pots or water. You couldn’t make coffee taste like that if you tried. I’m pretty low-class when it comes to coffee ... I’ll drink coffee that’s been boiling on a campfire for 8 hours. But not that stuff.


61 posted on 01/23/2011 5:44:48 PM PST by gitmo ( The democRats drew first blood. It's our turn now.)
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To: TaxPayer2000

I’ll just add another reading lamp and use two 60 watt bulbs.


62 posted on 01/23/2011 5:47:56 PM PST by Mears
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To: TaxPayer2000
Another huge shill of the CFL's was Lee Scott who at the time was CEO of Walmart. The lawmakers who got this insane bill made law nation wide is a great example of out of control government intrusion in our private lives.

I hope the current congress starts reversing the damage the DEMs and GOP congress and ALL the presidents have done to our nation since 1989. Not dictating my type of home lighting would at least be a start.

63 posted on 01/23/2011 6:14:38 PM PST by cva66snipe (Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?)
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To: Innovative

Arizona State Senator Frank Antenori is fighting this...AZ will NOT comply.....but we’re a rogue state...LOL


64 posted on 01/23/2011 6:19:50 PM PST by DLfromthedesert
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To: johnandrhonda
They contain mercury

Legally if you break one you have to call in specialist in removing harmful materials in white protective suits and masks to clean it up because they contain murcury. Can you imagine? This world has gone nuts!

65 posted on 01/24/2011 3:28:27 AM PST by Bellflower (Isa 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said [to be] bountiful.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

How many watts is the 25k19?


66 posted on 01/24/2011 5:01:25 PM PST by Bellflower (Isa 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said [to be] bountiful.)
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To: Bellflower

You have your choice of 40, 60, 75 and 100 watts bulbs.


67 posted on 01/24/2011 5:03:17 PM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: TaxPayer2000

Does anyone have any ideas as to why bulbs in my house often burn out way too soon?


68 posted on 01/24/2011 5:03:23 PM PST by Bellflower (Isa 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said [to be] bountiful.)
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