US Light Bulb Phase-Out's Next Step Begins Next Month 1146
SonicSpike writes "Light bulb manufacturers will cease making traditional 40 and 60-watt light bulbs — the most popular in the country — at the start of 2014. This comes after the controversial phasing out of incandescent 75 and 100-watt light bulbs at the beginning of 2013. In their place will be halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs and high efficiency incandescents — which are just regular incandescents that have the filament wrapped in gas. All are significantly more expensive than traditional light bulbs, but offer significant energy and costs savings over the long run. (Some specialty incandescents — such as three-way bulbs — will still be available.) ... The rules were signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007. They are designed to address gross inefficiencies with old light bulbs — only 10% of the energy they use is converted into light, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which has a handy fact sheet about the changes. The rest is wasted as heat. But the rules have drawn fire from a number of circles — mainly conservatives and libertarians who are unhappy about the government telling people what light bulbs they can use. They argue that if the new ones really are so good, people will buy them on their own without being forced to do so."
Re:Seriously? (Score:5, Funny)
Ha, You could buy heatballs instead - They are little radiators which conveniently fit into your lightbulb sockets, and are 90% energy efficient (the remaining 10% of the energy is wasted as light) : http://heatball.de/en/ [heatball.de]
Re:this is the thing that really gets me (Score:5, Funny)
You mean that well-known eco activist George W Bush?
LOL (Score:2, Funny)
This coming from the country that continues to bring us the 300 Kilowatt (400HP) SUV for soccer moms.
Re: We vote on leaders not lightbulbs (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Are they coming to my house to do a survey? (Score:5, Funny)
Why would you become a politician, if you didn't want to tell other people what to do? That's the whole point of politics.
I thought the whole point of becoming a politician was it doesn't carry the social stigma of being on welfare?
I thought the whole point of becoming a politician was it doesn't carry the social stigma of being a prostitute.
Re:We vote on leaders not lightbulbs (Score:3, Funny)
"A point source of continuous spectrum light with a low color temperature. I do not care about the efficiency - after all, my computers use ~1kW and my Bitcoin miners use ~600W, I really do not care about the 40W or 60W that goes to a light bulb."
Pardon me for nitpicking a bit, but incandescents are not "continuous spectrum". Generally speaking, they are more continuous than fluorescents and LEDs, but continuous they are not.
Correct coatings and phosphors for globes though, when done properly, pretty much correct for the spiky output of fluorescents and LEDs. The technology is improving rapidly.
That is still not to say that I agree with the legislation, though. I agree that encouraging the use of modern efficient replacements for the old bulbs is good, it is bad legislation on principle, if for no other reason. It is FAR beyond any power our ancestors ever imagined giving the Federal government... and in fact they really don't have the legal authority to ban bulbs, regardless of what laws they pass.
Re:Making smart choices (Score:5, Funny)
How dare the government force me to buy seat belts for my car!
No! (Score:4, Funny)
I haven't gotten over being mad about them phasing out buggy whips yet!!