Revolt! Robbed of their right to buy traditional light bulbs, millions are clearing shelves(UK)

Mail Online ^ | Jan. 7, 2008 | David Derbyshire

[PROCON]

Millions of Britons are finally waking up to the fact that their beloved light bulb will disappear for good after 120 years. Traditional 100-watt bulbs are vanishing from the High Street because of a controversial European Union decision. Yesterday panic buyers were snapping up the remaining bulbs in a last-ditch attempt to stockpile the final supplies. Hundreds of leading supermarkets and DIY chains - including Sainsbury's, Asda and Homebase - have already sold their last remaining bulbs after a surge in panic buying. Other stores say they have enough stocks to last until the end of next week. The supplies are running out after the Government signed up to an EU decision to replace conventional 100w light bulbs with supposedly greener low energy alternatives. Ministers claim the switch will reduce carbon dioxide by around five million tons each year. But experts have questioned whether or not the new bulbs, far from being environmentally friendly, are actually harmful. The low-energy fluorescent bulbs can trigger skin rashes, migraines and epilepsy.

[central_va]

I’ll trade you a unrestricted shower head for 2 dozen incandescent light bulbs, and for a whole case i’ll throw in a 5 gal. flush toilet(American Standard). LOL

[autumnraine]

Save the environment-ruin your eyes.

It’s a no brainer! Right?

[albie]

Our local Home Depot is starting to faze out regular bulbs for the twisty ones. I bought about 10 years worth of regulars several months ago.

[Syncro]

The low-energy fluorescent bulbs can trigger skin rashes, migraines and epilepsy.

But, but....it's for the children! (And for the medical providers apparently)

[ml/nj]

I like the note about Cuba included in this Overseas Roundup:

... but I did think they switched the placement of the words volunteers and armed.

ML/NJ

[Zeddicus]

Aside from the disposal issue, I'm not seeing what the big deal is. We've replaced most of the incandescents in our house with the CFs and I rather like them. Next time one of the pot lights in the kitchen burns out, I'm going to remove the dimmer switch and replace all them with CFs as well.

How many folks work in offices, manufacturing, retail, or warehouse facilities lit with incandescent lights? Aside from swanky mall retail stores with halogen mood lighting, I can't think of a single workplace that isn't lit with flourescent.

What's the problem? I just don't see the point in wasting 100 watts of power when you can get the same light from 15 watts.

[ScottyinTN]

What are people supposed to use in the oven or refrigerator?

[BBT]

I have a grocery bag with 13 of those expensive twisty, headachy monsters in it, waiting to be taken somewhere to dispose of them. Can’t put them in the trash, ya know. All were purchased within the last year and all have burned out while some of my old ones have been in use for over a decade. Hate those things and their cousins, restricted shower heads, and what they represent: Rapid erosion of our freedoms.

[Stevenc131]

I’ve had good luck in general with CFLs. I do think the newer generation of the CFLs don’t last as long as the older ones which were larger. I just replaced three 60 watt incadescent bulbs in a fixture that hangs over our kitchen table with three 40 watt equivalent CFLs (9 watts usage each if I remember correctly). Power consumption therefore went from 180 watts to 27 watts.

I don’t like the idea of the Gov’t forcing anything on anybody, but the energy savings for me has been significant enough that I’ve been trying to catch the CFLs on sale to replace my conventional bulbs.

[stormer]

Stop making sense!

[Charles Martel]

I have epilepsy and must use not only regular bulbs, but full-spectrum bulbs especially in the winter.

So, it would seem that the mandate to phase out incandescent light bulbs in the U.S. (thanks, George...) is actually a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

[Paladin2]

Can light bulbs be used as a weapon? Are they ammo?

[Balding_Eagle]

Next time one of the pot lights in the kitchen burns out, I'm going to remove the dimmer switch and replace all them with CFs as well.

You're going to put CFLs above the food preparation areas? Really?

[Paladin2]

“What are people supposed to use in the oven or refrigerator?”What about porch lights in the deepest wintertime?

[USS Alaska]

I’ll trade you a unrestricted shower head for 2 dozen incandescent light bulbs, and for a whole case i’ll throw in a 5 gal. flush toilet(American Standard).

I've decided to really "go green" and have installed whale oil lamps.

Instead of using whale oil, I buy blubber from obese dead folks prior to burial.

The kennedy's have sold me futures on fat teddy's carcass, and that should carry me through the next five years.

[Zeddicus]

You're going to put CFLs above the food preparation areas? Really?

Why not? Does the light from them contaminate the food?

Of course, if one breaks while we're making dinner, we're going to throw away whatever we were working on at the time and clean the kitchen. But we'd do that if an incandescent pot light broke too. Or are you saying it's safe to eat the glass from incandescent bulbs?

[dead]

When the govt finally tells the people they are hazerdous waste ad can not be thrown in the garage, how do you suppose people are going react?

Most likely, they'll throw them in the garbage.

[visualops]

I haven’t had any CFL’s burn out yet. In a couple of locations they have already outlived their predecessors 3 times over. I don’t think they should ban the old ones though.

[MEGoody]

Sad to say, these millions of Brits are getting what they voted for. Unfortunately, our country seems to be headed in the same direction.

[PubliusMM]

Sure looks more and more like the Brits are heading straight into a socialist/islamist culture shift. But, they got there pretty much on their own, listening toe LibTards among’em and voting their own entitlements.

Sadly, the US appears to be on much the same path...

I fear for the future of the nation.