Say Goodbye To Incandescent Bulbs As Government Ban Takes Effect

[Cebu_4_2]

Say Goodbye To Incandescent Bulbs As Government Ban Takes Effect

&nbspecember 30, 2013 by Ben Bullard

http://plnami.blob.core.windows.net/...80-300x300.jpg

PHOTOS.COM

A law signed by President George W. Bush is set to enter its final phase in a long-term plan by Congress to phase the simple incandescent light bulb out of existence. Starting in 2014, you won’t be able to legally get your hands on household 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs.

Some artists, architects, photographers and people who do specialized work in medicine, engineering, research and other demanding fields prefer incandescent bulbs for the quality or the stability of the light they produce, despite their relative inefficiency compared to fluorescent and LED bulbs. Others question the benefit of alternatives to incandescent bulbs in saving energy or preventing environmental damage.

Standards outlined in the Energy Independence and Security Act, which Bush signed in 2007, make it illegal to manufacture or import 40- and 60-watt incandescent bulbs into the United States after Dec. 31 of this year, leaving it up to stores to sell off what they have left. Those same standards have already phased out the 100-watt bulb (in 2012) and 75-watt bulbs (this year).

And while the change was set in place in the name of conservation, critics argue Congress and the President ignored the role of free choice when they agreed to limit American consumers’ options. If the incandescent bulb is so bad, they argue, the free market will eventually drive them into marginal use anyway — just as film cameras still exist, but have been roundly eclipsed by digital cameras in the hands of average consumers.

According to The Heritage Foundation, the flap over phasing out incandescent bulbs reflects the government’s increasingly statist role in tinkering with even the smallest choices of American citizens:

Proponents of government-imposed efficiency standards and regulations will say, “So what? There are still plenty of lighting options on the shelves at Home Depot; we’re saving families money; and we’re reducing harmful climate change emissions.”

The “so what” is that the federal government is taking decisions out of the hands of families and businesses, destroying jobs, and restricting consumer choice in the market. We all have a wide variety of preferences regarding light bulbs. It is not the role of the federal government to override those preferences with what it believes is in our best interest.

Families understand how energy costs impact their lives and make decisions accordingly. Energy efficiency has improved dramatically over the past six decades — long before any national energy efficiency mandates.

If families and firms are not buying the most energy-efficient appliance or technology, it is not that they are acting irrationally; they simply have budget constraints or other preferences such as comfort, convenience, and product quality. A family may know that buying an energy-efficient product will save them money in the long term, but they have to prioritize their short-term expenses. Those families operating from paycheck to paycheck may want to opt for a cheaper light bulb and more food instead of a more expensive light bulb and less food.

Some may read this and think: Chill out — it’s just a light bulb. But it’s not just a light bulb. Take a look at the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program. Basically anything that uses electricity or water in your home or business is subject to an efficiency regulation.

When the market drives energy efficiency, it saves consumers money. The more the federal government takes away decisions that are better left to businesses and families, the worse off we’re going to be.

[EE_]

Say Goodbye To Incandescent Bulbs As Government Ban Takes Effect

*December 30, 2013 by Ben Bullard

http://plnami.blob.core.windows.net/...80-300x300.jpg

PHOTOS.COM

A law signed by President George W. Bush is set to enter its final phase in a long-term plan by Congress to phase the simple incandescent light bulb out of existence. Starting in 2014, you won’t be able to legally get your hands on household 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs.

Some artists, architects, photographers and people who do specialized work in medicine, engineering, research and other demanding fields prefer incandescent bulbs for the quality or the stability of the light they produce, despite their relative inefficiency compared to fluorescent and LED bulbs. Others question the benefit of alternatives to incandescent bulbs in saving energy or preventing environmental damage.

Standards outlined in the Energy Independence and Security Act, which Bush signed in 2007, make it illegal to manufacture or import 40- and 60-watt incandescent bulbs into the United States after Dec. 31 of this year, leaving it up to stores to sell off what they have left. Those same standards have already phased out the 100-watt bulb (in 2012) and 75-watt bulbs (this year).

And while the change was set in place in the name of conservation, critics argue Congress and the President ignored the role of free choice when they agreed to limit American consumers’ options. If the incandescent bulb is so bad, they argue, the free market will eventually drive them into marginal use anyway — just as film cameras still exist, but have been roundly eclipsed by digital cameras in the hands of average consumers.

According to The Heritage Foundation, the flap over phasing out incandescent bulbs reflects the government’s increasingly statist role in tinkering with even the smallest choices of American citizens:

Proponents of government-imposed efficiency standards and regulations will say, “So what? There are still plenty of lighting options on the shelves at Home Depot; we’re saving families money; and we’re reducing harmful climate change emissions.”

The “so what” is that the federal government is taking decisions out of the hands of families and businesses, destroying jobs, and restricting consumer choice in the market. We all have a wide variety of preferences regarding light bulbs. It is not the role of the federal government to override those preferences with what it believes is in our best interest.

Families understand how energy costs impact their lives and make decisions accordingly. Energy efficiency has improved dramatically over the past six decades — long before any national energy efficiency mandates.

If families and firms are not buying the most energy-efficient appliance or technology, it is not that they are acting irrationally; they simply have budget constraints or other preferences such as comfort, convenience, and product quality. A family may know that buying an energy-efficient product will save them money in the long term, but they have to prioritize their short-term expenses. Those families operating from paycheck to paycheck may want to opt for a cheaper light bulb and more food instead of a more expensive light bulb and less food.

Some may read this and think: Chill out — it’s just a light bulb. But it’s not just a light bulb. Take a look at the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program. Basically anything that uses electricity or water in your home or business is subject to an efficiency regulation.

When the market drives energy efficiency, it saves consumers money. The more the federal government takes away decisions that are better left to businesses and families, the worse off we’re going to be.

Is this for real...do I need to hit the store today and buy a case of bulbs?
Those fluorescent bulbs are expensive.

Is it okay to smash fluorescent bulbs before you send them to the landfill?

[Dogman]

Yep,

Oven and stove appliance lights will probably be untouched until they can find a replacement that can stand the heat.

[madfranks]

A month or so ago, my four year old son threw a ball in the house, hitting one of the can lights in the ceiling, shattering the bulb. Since it was incandescent, I shooed the kids away and swept up the debris. If that had been a fluorescent bulb, my home would have been covered in mercury dust. The EPA recommends, in the case of an accidental breakage of a fluorescent bulb, opening all the windows, turning off the forced air system, evacuating the home for a couple hours, then coming back with tape to collect the settled dust, and discard any clothing, blankets, shoes, upholstery that was in contact with the toxic dust. You can't put the clothes in a washing machine, because it won't remove the mercury. You have to throw them away. You can't sweep or use a vacuum to clean it up either, because it will agitate the air, spreading the toxic dust all over your home. Then, after using tape to clean every square inch of the breakage area, you have to place the toxic shards in a sealed glass container and take it to an authorized toxic disposal center.

And no, I'm not making that up. These mercury bulbs are toxic if they break!

[EE_]

The new bulbs should come with asprin for the headaches they give people

http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/def...?itok=kfvlJfK-

[Libertytree]

I read an article last week about this, there was a spokesman for HD and he said they had a six month supply and wouldn't just quit selling them come Jan 1. I'm assuming all the big box stores are following suit, so to answer your question, yes stock up!

[Glass]

Banned in Australia a couple years now. Stock up as much as you can.

Incandecent - $0.60 ea
Compact Fluro - $3.60 ea CFL

CFL's last about the same time as incandescent so no benefit there. CFL's also fall apart as the glue fails. Been trying Hallogens. Same globe shape. The light is bit different to incandescent. not unpleasant and kind of older school.

[drafter]

The new bulbs should come with asprin for the headaches they give people

http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/def...?itok=kfvlJfK-

And big pharma has a pill that can fix that for you. Isn't it funny how that works? You'd almost think that someone has a plan to screw with us.

[Cebu_4_2]

Is it okay to smash fluorescent bulbs before you send them to the landfill?

Absolutely not! You must break them in a box and quickly seal it. The package should be sent to:
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500
C/O Barry Soetoro

[AndreaGail]

I have about 50 bulbs in the varying 40,60,75 and 100 wattages

I'd never touch a CFL