Phony Green Lightbulbs

Conservative Battlelines ^ | January 16, 2008 | Timothy Carney

[fweingart]

ALL of the government-edicted bulbs are manufactured in Communist China....our esteemed ally and trading 'partner.'

[Tanniker Smith]

I bought a whole bunch of green light bulbs cheap a couple of weeks ago.

I'm saving them for next Christmas.
ba dum dump CRASH!

Hmmm, y'know, I could make a lot of money selling these "green" light bulbs to libbies.

[Obadiah]

It has come to this. Government now dictates what light bulbs we may use and whether or not we can use paper or plastic grocery bags. The tyranny has begun, and the worship of the environment is the new god used to justify it.

[Slapshot68]

“First, the light is not as attractive to many consumers — a problem with which the industry has struggled for years.”

It used to be a lot worse. CF’s light is much better than 1st gen bulbs, but there are some people who are sensitive to the high frequency flicker.

“Second, they take a little time after you flip the switch to reach full brightness.”

True, but it’s much better than it used to be...and it’s only for certain types of bulbs..floods and globes. The ones in regular lamps come on to full instantly.

“Third, most CFLs can’t be used with dimmer switches or three-way fixtures.”

Not true. Most bulbs have a dimmable version nowadays.

http://www.bulbs.com/Dimmable/results.aspx

“Fourth, the bulbs contain mercury, creating a potential health hazard in case of breakage and an environmental hazard for disposal. “

This is true and it needs to be addressed.

[Edgerunner]

The Government and business are creating another black market...

[o_zarkman44]

Too much Green makes my checkbook look very RED.

We could save more energy by just turning off all the non essential lights.

[Lee N. Field]

together with Dutch-based Royal Phillips Electronics,

Philips. One L.

[gridlock]

So, if these “green” lightbulbs are so wonderful and will save customers all this money on their electric bills, why can’t we just let people make their own rational decisions and replace their bulbs with the money-saving bulbs on their own accord? Why does the government have to coerce people into making a rational decision?

If these bulbs were as wonderful as everybody says they are, they would naturally predominate in the market without bans or subsidies.

Perhaps they are not quite as wonderful as everybody says they are.

[Edgerunner]

I believe the important point is a LAW banning older, less efficient technology...is this the way of the future?

[kittymyrib]

These companies ought to be liable for getting rid of all the mercury the Chinese put into those bulbs.

[gridlock]

Why can’t consumers be trusted to make their own decisions in their own best interests? Why does the state have to get involved and start banning things?

[yankeedame]

It has come to this. Government now dictates what light bulbs we may use and whether or not we can use paper or plastic grocery bags. The tyranny has begun, and the worship of the environment is the new god used to justify it.

Thou speakest a heap of wisdom there, friend Obadiah. First it was "For the children", now it's "For the Earth"....Sure an' you can't fool all of the people all of the time, but you can fool enough of them to get away with *&^#$ like this.

[o_zarkman44]

“Why does the state have to get involved and start banning things?”

Because we let them.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“It has come to this. Government now dictates what light bulbs we may use and whether or not we can use paper or plastic grocery bags. The tyranny has begun, and the worship of the environment is the new god used to justify it.”

This is an example of why we need politicians with conservative values to be elected. We need a smaller, less intrusive government, as the Founders intended.

[Slapshot68]

“I believe the important point is a LAW banning older, less efficient technology”

I didn’t mean to infer that I was for a law banning incandescents. Everyone should be able to choose what works best for them.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Who gives a damn about the quality of the bulb.

The issue is whether a corporation can work with congress to regulate our choices for some alleged benefit to the environment, which many believe to be utter BS.

Are you really so blind as to be comparing the quality of the lightbulbs?

If you are, then your next argument (in a couple of years) will be how to BEST use the few miles you have been rationed to drive each week.

[Slapshot68]

Agreed. I didn’t mean to infer that I was for a law banning incandescents. Everyone should be able to choose what works best for them.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

For contrast, google “Motion Picture Patents Company” and see how Edison fared when he did resort to the law to protect him from competition. (It didn’t work out too well.)

[Slapshot68]

I don’t care about the global warming aspect of it... I like CFs because they help my electric bill. I don’t think there should be a law requiring people to buy them. That’s BS.

[from occupied ga]

The biggest problem is that they don't last anywhere near as long as the manufacturer claims. In an enclosed fixture (higher heat) they fail sooner than the old style incandescents and further they fail by catching on fire inside the housing. I use these things because I'm trying to give them a fair trial, and on more than one occasion I've come into a room smelling burnt insulation and finding smoke in the air and black discoloration on the plastic base of one of these jewels. Another little problem is that sometimes they develop a really annoying 60 cycle hum - pretty loud too.

The only time that they last anywhere near the manufacturer's exaggerated claims is when they're in a base down open fixture (like a table lamp) and they're not turned off and on frequently, but left on for long periods of time.