Photo credit: USA today
After being passed by Congress, Bush just signed into law a massive energy bill that will, among other things, spell the end of traditional light bulb. USA Today reports that the bill will phase out the venerable (but power-hungry) incandescent bulb over the next dozen years in favor more efficient fluorescent, halogen, and LED bulbs. Specifically, the new law holds that all light bulbs must be 25 to 35 percent more efficient by 2012 to 2014.
A LED-based light bulb
Incandescent bulbs are highly inefficient, and today many compact fluorescent bulbs have a light quality that is similar the warm, incandescent light most of us of familiar with. Each fluorescent bulb installed will chip about $5 off your annual electricity bill. U.S. News has a great FAQ on why the bulbs are being banned, and why fluorescent bulbs are more efficient overall. How about these stats: $40 billion in savings over the years spanning 2012 to 2030, 14 fewer coal-fired power plants, and 51 million fewer tons of carbon emissions annually.
Via: USA Today
Read more! Related stories:
- New LED Light Bulbs Can Replace 100W Incandescents
- 13W LED Bulb Can Replace 100W Incandescent
- EcoLEDs: Mercury-Free LED Bulbs
- Compact Fluorescents (CFLs)
- LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)
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Mike, You say that we should have the right to make our own choices as long as no laws are being broken. Think about that statement, you seem to have shot yourself in the proverbial foot. Congress is making a law that says if you use an incandescent light you will be BREAKING THE LAW. Ergo making a choice to use an incandescent would be BREAKING THE LAW, you would be completely contradicting your own statement.
Thus spake the Anglo-Socialist, Keith. Congress – despite being under the influence of the economic pressure fueled by the false “science” of global warming – and the profit incentive of manufacturing plants in China deeply interested in selling crappy CFL bulbs for lots of money – has absolutely NO business dictating what kinds of bulbs free Americans can buy. It’s Fascistic and I think we’ve had quite enough of the Left’s Fascistic schemes in this millennium thank you. If enough people w/bad taste insist on demanding ugly things to buy, well, I have to suffer by looking at your stuff. Those of us w/good taste also have a right to our share of market goods and the market needs to remain free in order to create the profitable supply for our demands. You just have to squirm over my superior sensibilities. That’s freedom. Deal with it.
Again Keith, in some aspects you are correct. The flourecent light bulbs do save energy and I’m guessing would cut down on the power stress that the power grids face using up energy with old skool light bulbs but as i told you b4, we live in a country where we can do as we please (as long as no laws are broken) and say what we want. (Freedom Of Speech) The fact that congress is making choices for us is unacceptable in my book. Its almost like they’re saying, ” I DONT WANT U EATING ANY MORE SWEETS BECAUSE ITS VERY UNHEALTHY FOR YOU, SO I WILL PASS A BILL TO BOYCOT SWEETS FROM BEING SOLD AT STORES. IF WE SELL ONLY FRUITS AND VEGATABLES, AMERICANS WILL SEE HEALTHIER RESULTS AND NO OR VERY LITTLE HEALTH CONCERNS.” What i just stated about fruits and vegatables and sweets is true. Sweets are unhealthy and will cause you to gain weight and possibly die at an early age and if you eat your fruits and vegetables, most likely you will live longer but theres no guarentee cuz shit happens. There are some who choose to eat sweets all day because they dont care too much about their health but thats their choice. Most americans enjoy sweets so why should some asshole take away our rights to enjoy what we like just because they say so???? I”d tell them to kiss my ass. And those who choose to live longer and to look fit will eat fruits and vegetables which is another choice. Thats one of the beauties about this country. You’re free to make choices. So the fact that congress is making a choice for us to phase out incandecent bulbs, is almost like they’re taking a right from us. If everyone member in congress wants to put flourcent bulbs in their homes, again thats their choice. Just because they like it doesnt mean everyone else will like it and again we gota look at the facts, accidents do happen. u accidently drop and break the new bulbs. Studies show that it will post a health hazard for anyone thats at the location where the bulb broke. Its not like u can just clean it up and not worry about anything. They contain mercury which is deadly. Many ppl who I know who had those new bulbs have told me they’ve had headaches from those bulbs and im talking about REAL BAD headaches and other ppl in here whos been commenting have also complained about other health issues they had, all because of these new shit bulbs. In the beginning, nobody ever complained about incandecent bulbs, only that it produces more heat than light. i guess i’l have no choice than to stock up on a whole bunch of incandecent bulbs. we still have 5 more years to go that they’l be around (supposely) but I’m sure that even after the 5 year period, they’l still be around in certain stores.
Keith, no disrespect intended by any means but if you wana live in a place where you want someone to run ur life, then mayb U should leave the country and move to a communist country, then you can see what its like for ppl to tell u how u should live ur every day life. :]
Mike, Daisy, maybe you should read some history books and then some books about how a democracy actually works. These rights that you constantly claim you have DO NOT EXIST. Then you start the same tired old childish harangue about communism, I am no communist and I have never been a communist, neither of you have the slightest idea what you are talking about. WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ELECT PEOPLE TO CONGRESS TO DO? sit around and drink cocktails? their job is to make CHOICES in the form of legislation (laws) that enable us to continue to live in a free society. You are the dangerous ones, you are Anarchists because you mistakenly believe that freedom means that you can do whatever you want and to hell with anyone who opposes you. You probably own guns and want to use them against me because your paranoia makes you believe that your NON-EXISTENT RIGHTS will be taken away from you.
I have told you many times that you should live in Somalia where your are completely free to do ANYTHING. I prefer to live in a country like this one were my rights are proteceted and sensible people make sensible rules for the benefit of everyone. That is NOT COMMUNISM. You never address the point I make about the banning of the use of lead or the fact that we are all required to drive on the right for our own safety. Of course you don’t address them because they make all your arguments appear foolish/\. put your money where you mouths are and leave the country yourselves, it is obvious that you are dissatisfied, oh! and take your guns with you you are going to need them.
Before that you should take some classes about how this country works as you obviously have no concept of this. The most important thing to learn is this, freedom does NOT mean that you can do anything you want. If you are so pigheaded that you cannot agree on something so obviouslysensible then there is no hope. Remember also that when Congress makes a choice it is doing exactly what the constitution requires it to do. Remember the constitution, go read it and you may be shocked to find out that listening to Rush Lumber is exactly the wrong way to get at the truth. Rush Lumber is a multi millionaire and you don’t make that kind of money by telling the truth on hate radio stations and he knows it.
but wait? if these bulbs have mercury in them, does that mean there is a chance we can get cancer from using them in our home?
and if so then i dont think that they’re worth saving money on your electricity bill
Cristi, NO you won’t get cancer by just using CFLs in your home. Yes they do contain a minute amount of Mercury, so do thermometers that you may put in your mouth. Mercury may also be in the thermostat that controld your heating and A/C. Mercury may also be in the tuna that you had for dinner. Other carcinogenic substances are in your home, Nitrites are in your bacon and other deli meats, Chlorine is in many cleaning products. Selenium may be in your laser printer, and for heavens sake don’t stay around if someone accidentally sets fie to any man made fabrics because the smoke is very toxic. Not to mention cigarettes and of course ALCOHOL which together kill more people than virtually all other causes combined. The list goes on and on, Mercury in CFLs is of concern but there are many other potential hazards that we just take for granted and take reasonable precautions against that the dangers are minimal (far less than breathing second hand smoke).
There are people who post comments here that DO NOT UNDERSTAND this and start accusing people such as myself as being communists. They think that ANY kind of reasonable rules and regulations violate their rights, rights that do not exist by the way, such as the right to buy any kind of light bulb they desire. What amendment to the constitution says that?
I have said it before and I will say it again, freedom does not mean that you can do anything you want to. That is called ANARCHY and if you are so driven that you desire to do ANYTHING you want regardless of the harm you may do to others. Then please, please go live in Somalia, those people NEVER, NEVER respond to that. Why? because it smacks of the truth, No civilized society can exist without laws, rules and regulations and if banning incandescent light means that we can save enormous amounts of energy so be it. I hate to sink to their level but they must all come from oil producing states in the middle east and are afraid of the loss of revenue and the axe that they hold over the heads of the American people. Anyone who does not want to see progressive, reasonable and vital regulations enacted to save this country is a Communist or worse an Anarchist. They should all be rounded up and shipped of to their little bit of heaven in Somalia, with of course their guns, we must not deprive them of their guns. After all they will really need them in a country where freedom really does mean you can do ANYTHING you want, even buy incandescent bulbs That is if the local war lord hasn’t already stockpiled them). They will also need their own generators to produce electricity and for that they will also need middle east oil to run the generators. But that’s OK they want FREEDOM and they can have it. I together with the vast majority of Americans prefer to live in a truly FREE country where we our rights are protected because WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE THE GUARDIAN OF OUR RIGHTS.
Sadly this is probably beyond their capability to understand they are probably listening to Rush Lumber to catch some pearls of wisdom.
Good Luck.
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