Congress bans incandescent bulbs

WorldNetDaily ^ | December 19, 2007` | WorldNetDaily

[kc8ukw]

In addition to raising auto fuel efficiency standards 40 percent, an energy bill passed by Congress yesterday bans the incandescent light bulb by 2014.

President Bush signed the 822-page measure into law today after it was sent up Pennsylvania Avenue in a Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle. The House passed the bill by a 314-100 vote after approval by the Senate last week.

[microgood]

Anything under ~35 watts or over ~150 watts? Safe.

Well, I have 35 90W PAR38 recessed lights on dimmers. That means I have to buy a 30 year supply of light bulbs since the other technologies (CLR or LED) do not support dimmers. I have two not on dimmers which I can replace with CLRs, but I will have to buy about 200 of the PAR 38s to last me another 30 years.

[mbs6]

I’m still wondering about the UV rays emitted. On GE’s website, they assure prospective buyers that,

“regular fluorescent bulbs used in your home or office do not produce a hazardous amount of UV. Most light sources, including fluorescent bulbs, emit a small amount of UV, but the UV produced by fluorescent light bulbs is far less than the amount produced by natural daylight.”

Excuse me while I don’t trust my genetic and ocular health to the GE marketing department, but I’m not so sure that 40 years of many hours a day of exposure won’t cause problems.

[Auntie Mame]

From the link you graciously provided (my favorite part is the drop cloth you put down when you're installing a new bulb)

What if I accidentally break a fluorescent bulb in my home?

The most important thing to remember is to never use a vacuum . A standard vacuum will spread mercury containing dust throughout the area as well as potentially contaminating the vacuum. What you should do is:

• Keep people and pets away from the breakage area so that the mercury in the powder inside the bulb is not accidentally tracked into other areas.
• Ventilate the area by opening windows.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as rubber gloves, safety glasses, old clothing or coveralls, and a dust mask (if you have one) to keep bulb dust and glass from being inhaled.
• Carefully remove the larger pieces and place them in a secure closed container, preferably a glass container with a metal screw top and gasket seal like a canning jar.
• Next, begin collecting the smaller pieces and dust. You can use a disposable broom and dustpan or two stiff pieces of paper to scoop up pieces.
• Put all material into the glass container. Pat the area with the sticky side of duct, packing or masking tape. Wipe the area with a damp cloth or paper towels to pick up fine particles.
• Put all waste and materials used to clean up the bulb in the glass container and label it “Universal Waste - broken lamp”.
• Take the container for recycling as universal waste. To determine where your town has made arrangements for recycling of this type of waste, call your town office or check out the Maine Department of Environmental Protection website at http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/hazardouswaste/uwmunicipalmaster.xls

The next time you replace a bulb, consider putting a drop cloth on the floor so that any accidental breakage can be easily cleaned up.

[dr_lew]

So if you all do as you're threatening and start buying incandescents by the truckload, you're just going to increase the scope of the regulation and make it harder for those of us who don't hoard light bulbs.

A false inference, it would appear! Note that this could only apply to the hoarding of "certain excluded bulb types". So the clause is aimed at a post-ban shift in buying habits. The common light-bulb will not be available for purchase in this regime.

[raygun]

On my list of things to do:

buy a ton of 40w bulbs.

I’m thinkin’ that I’m going to buy the store blind.

Yep, I’m talkin’ ‘bout those fixtures having multiple sockets. I can’t tell you how long there’s been a mere 60w bulb in one of three sockets.

In fact: I’ll buy the store stupid of all its 20w bulbs.

You’ll see...

[boop]

"Well, I’m not a financial investment expert by any means, but I’m going to town tomorrow and buying up all the politically incorrect (and illegal) light bulbs I can buy, cause I hate those other ones"

Me too. I despise the light they produce, and hate to read by fluorecent lights. I can live with halogen. Once again, I can't believe how we are FORCED to obey.

[boop]

"Don’t think so. It takes about 100 CFLs to equal the amount of mercury of ONE old thermometer. The world didn’t from that, and it won’t from this"

Right, but they just evacuated a school and sent in a hazmat team because some science lab broke a mercury thermometer.

[Right Wing Assault]

Everyone hates low flush toilets

I've got a Toto and I love it.

http://terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm

[Ann Archy]

PLEASE post tha on ALL eco-geek threads! That is so freaking STUPID! Send to your Congressman also.

[Ann Archy]

Good Grief!! Ron Paul is CRAZY...and has NO Humor in him.

[muawiyah]

I've practically forgotten how to stand on a ladder and change a bulb since replacing everything with fluorescents.

My father bought one of the new compact lights more than 10 years ago. It's still working.

BTW, I have one of the original GE commercially viable fluorescent light fixtures (circa 1938/39) used by my grandfather. They still produce bulbs that fit in it.

No doubt Congress means well, but they are all a bunch of ignorant hillbillies ~ the best new thing coming along is the Light Emitting Diode lamp.

If Congress-critters actually cared they'd taken that $40 billion in earmarks for horsestalls and butterfly footpeddle park boats and dropped it on some happy camper for the purpose of actualizing an inexpensive LED spotlight!

[foreverfree]

Just think of the impact to the comedy industry. You won’t be able to ask that question anymore.

You sure won't. :-(

ff

[muawiyah]

Around my house switching to the new bulbs has saved enough electricity that we offset the costs of heating water. For those who don’t bathe thee will, of course, be no such offset.

[muawiyah]

$600 ~ if you want the top end machines, it's more. However, the basic front load washer at Sears can sometimes be found for under $500, and also at Lowes and Home Depot.

Avoid the electronic bells and whistles and you'll do just fine.

[muawiyah]

http://www.nextag.com/front-load-washing-machine/search-html

My sister in law bought one of the top end machines. It's virtually silent and has violet and purple glowing lights with a full electronic display system.

It was annoying to watch ~ like a really bad lead-in to a sci-fi cartoon.

[Pravious]

“But will they be any good in light fixtures that only accept 60 watts? because the next step is already in the process - mandating light fixtures/lamps that can only take up to 60 watts”

What business is it of the government how much light we wish to use in our own homes? We’re PAYING the electric bill, aren’t we? What’s next? Outlaw ovens and mandate microwaves? Jigger cars so that they’ll turn off if some government prick thinks we’re driving too far? Or just outlaw our cars entirely if they’re too old to be “environmentally friendly”?

I am angrier about this than I was about the immigration bill, and I guess at the root of that is the feeling that MY side... excuse me, OUR side... you know, the side that’s supposed to be standing up for Truth, Justice and the American way is just as bad as those demented, evil cretins on the RAT side.

And, yes, I DO blame George W. Bush. And yes, he didn’t write the bill. But he did sign it. And I don’t care if it DOES fund the war. In fact, if it was a choice between taking away our right to have light bulbs (I can’t even believe I’m TYPING that!) and taking away the war funding - I’d choose to take away the war funding in a heartbeat. Then make a speech and explain to the American public WHY, and have congress re-write a bill that didn’t invade our homes and tell us what products we could or could not buy in the name of some environmental insanity. But Bush, as with the “campaign finance bill”, took the easy way out, and decided that screwing America was the easier course of action.

[tcostell]

We use led bulbs for the tree now. They’re actually quite nice.

[TheBattman]

The absolute lowest price front-loader I found when we were washer shopping back Thanksgiving week was at Lowes - it was for a Fisher & Paykel front-loader. It was (and still is) $599. My concern - according the salesman who actually was pushing that washer, is that it can take 3-4 weeks for repairs because they have to order the parts - from overseas....

Our neighbor has high-end Whirlpool front load washer and dryer - and the washer went out last year. It took over 6 weeks for the parts to come in for the warranty repair to be done...

I dunno - if I spend $1200-1400 for a washer, not only do I expect not to need warranty work to begin with, but if I do - I certainly don’t expect it to take more than a few days.

All that being said - I would actually like a front-loader. They use less water, and from what I have seen - actually do a better job of cleaning clothes.

[HD1200]

truman left office with a 22% approval rating and is now considered one of our most effective presidents. i don’t really care what bush’s ratings are as most americans don’t. we elect a president to make tough choices that in many cases the majority of us differ with. too bad. good luck running a country on polls.

GOD BLESS GW BUSH. I don’t doubt in 10 years he will be judged a good to great president...despite your feelings.

[HD1200]

truman left office with a 22% approval rating and is now considered one of our most effective presidents. i don’t really care what bush’s ratings are as most americans don’t. we elect a president to make tough choices that in many cases the majority of us differ with. too bad. good luck running a country on polls.

GOD BLESS GW BUSH. I don’t doubt in 10 years he will be judged a good to great president...despite your feelings