Posted on 11/11/2007 7:20:25 PM PST by Westlander
If U.S. lawmakers have their way, the lights may soon go out on Thomas Edison's greatest invention -- the incandescent light bulb. The 19th-century inventor brought illumination to the world's fingertips, but according to Congress, his invention isn't efficient enough for an age anxious about energy supplies.
"Only 10% of the power used by today's incandescent bulbs is emitted as light, while the other 90% is released as heat," Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., said when she introduced her legislation to ban standard light bulbs.
To eliminate this waste, Harman has proposed legislation that would effectively eliminate incandescent light bulbs from store shelves nationwide as early as 2012.
(Excerpt) Read more at realestate.msn.com ...
The government interferes in just about everything. I disagree in 99% of all cases. However, even though I'd disagree with it, it would at least be a net benefit for everyone (less energy use which means 'less pollution' and more importantly---a far lower electric bill each month). In other words, there are far worse mandates the gov't has done and could do than this.
well it makes these new bulbs more expensive
GE is gonna stop making regular bulbs. I like my CFLs
“My husband, who think global warming is a hoax, replaced all of our 100 watt ceiling spot lights with the “warm light” CFL’s about 3 years ago. He did this because even the long lasting incandescents were only lasting about 1 year and it was a pain for him to get a ladder and replace the bulbs that are recessed in the ceiling None of the 30 plus CFL’s have failed in 3 years, so he is happy with them.”
I love when I benefit from technology advancement.
Those will look beautiful in my chandelier - not.
“Why not LED lamps?.......”
Because LED lamps would make too much sense. And really, who ever heard of a liberal who understood anything about science or economics? Really. No I mean it... really.
Walmart/Target/etc now have more space for CFLs than incandescent. I’m not surprised to hear about that from GE. The price continues to drop. Walmart has dropped their prices on them twice this year that I know of. Costco is still cheaper though so I bought mine from there.
Any idea what kind of effect it had on your electric bill each month out of curiosity?
Let us not light an incandescent lamp rather than curse the darkness. Let us instead revel in darkness and forbid that accursed illumination like the people of that worker’s paradise, North Korea.
And as Rush has said, we turn the lights on in the dark when it’s colder out. Why not get rid of life? It has been known to create generate heat.
I said the same thing last year. I’m now a huge fan. They don’t make a noise anymore, they cost a lot less than they use to, they really do save a lot of energy (which means I keep more money), the delay is now only 1-3 sec for full lighting and we can’t even tell the difference between the color at our house between the two.
I can’t detect any noise or flicker in the newer CFLs, and I’m pretty sensitive to those things. Early CFLs had a nasty purplish cast, but the newer ones have a sunlight-like spectrum comparable to a good “warm light” incandescent bulb.
I like Sylvania CFLs. A nice, warm spectrum, long life, low power demand, fast start-up.
Some of the ones I have in the house do, indeed, take a half-minute or so to “warm up” — they give off some light immediately, but don’t reach full strength for 20 or 30 seconds. This is especially acute in the flame- or torpedo-shaped lamps, the ones that go into faux chandeliers. The spiral-shaped lamps made for standard bulb sockets are more reliable.
My mom was 4’11”, and had low blood pressure, so she lost feeling in her arms if she had to hold them over her head for long. What that meant was that every time I visited, I had to change a lot of light bulbs. When I bought my first CFL, they offered five times the life for ten times the cost. But that was worth it to me, because it meant I spent less time on a stepladder and Mom spent less time in the dark.
Now, CFLs cost about three times as much for about ten times the lifespan, not to mention the lower energy cost every minute they’re lit. My household incandescents are going extinct by attrition. When one goes dead, it’s replaced with a CFL. Some day soon, when they become economically viable, my dead CFLs will be replaced with LCD lamps.
Technology marches on. Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever buy another TV with a cathode ray tube — LCD and plasma keep getting cheaper, are more durable, and have a sharper picture. It’s the way of things. Incandescent bulbs will, sooner than later, give way to better technology. So will the internal combustion engine.
This is not a dictate of the enviro-nazis — it’s the inevitable march of progress. Not so long ago, a computer that could handle a teraflop and display a million pixels would occupy a city block. I have one I can fit in a shoebox.
But it feels good!
This is right up there with them telling us what kind of toilets we can use.
Idiots.
Regards,
PS: And what, pray tell, shall those of us with antique lighting fixtures do when our little candelabara bulbs wear out?
None ... We use AC a lot, electric cooking, electric dishwasher, electric clothes wash and dry, you think you will notice a 100 watt bulb is saving a few dollars every century when you are running the KW through the other things?
Nuclear power is the answer, but Democraps never were the brightest bulbs. Ask Jimmuh Carter for references.
Isn’t this Rep Harman ‘crap the one who used to do intelligence before she wouldn’t go along with Pelosers plans? How did she get so smart about light bulbs?
Not really, we have reverse cycle electrical heating/cooling and all of our appliances are electrical, so I think the lighting is just a small part of our bill.
I haven't had such luck. I bought 5 or 6 CFLs and only ONE has lasted a reasonable time. It's in the kid's closet where it's used as a nightlight. The rest lasted no better than an incandescent bulb. A couple didn't make 4 months.
I'd like to see the LED lights come along faster.
A CO2 detector? Is that so we can all monitor the .038% of that atmosphere that is CO2 for out-of-control increases that endanger us all? I knew Rat gov’t was out of control, but that is ridiculous.
A CO detector, on the other hand, makes a lot of sense, especially if you have a gas appliance in the house.
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