Light Bulbs... Anyone stocking up on them now?

[Copper Catcher]

The traditional incandescent light bulb is set to be phased out in the US, starting in California at the beginning of 2011, following similar moves in the European Union and Australia.

Background:
In 2007, Congress passed an energy bill that placed stringent efficiency requirements on ordinary incandescent bulbs in an attempt to phase them out beginning in 2012 and have them completely gone by 2014. The goal of the program is to replace incandescent bulbs with more expensive but more energy-efficient bulbs, the most popular currently being CFLs. Politicians used a distorted view of “creative destruction” mixed with global warming concerns to sell the regulation. They said it would create jobs, save consumers money, increase domestic security, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But the politicians, as they typically do, failed to see the unintended consequences of this program. For example, CFLs use high levels of mercury, and exposure to mercury vapor is dangerous if the bulbs are broken.[1] Hospitals and medical charities warn that CFL bulbs cause migraines and epilepsy attacks.[2] Other critics point out that CFLs do not work well in colder temperatures, so they emit less heat, forcing Americans to use their heaters more and negating some of the energy savings.[3] CFLs do not work well with dimmer switches, and the lifespan of the bulb diminishes when turned off and on frequently. Consumers are now hoarding incandescent bulbs in preparation for their phase-out as a result of their dissatisfaction with CFLs.

The latest attack is the unnecessary job losses from traditional incandescent manufacturers in the United States. After already closing factories in Kentucky and Ohio, General Electric recently announced that it is closing its major incandescent factory in Winchester, Virginia—a factory that employed 200 people and the last major incandescent manufacturing facility in the United States.[4]

The jobs likely replacing those put out of work by the government will be in China. The U.S. imports CFL bulbs because the process of making CFLs is labor intensive, and labor in China is comparatively much cheaper.[5]

As a result of the federal bulb ban’s unintended consequences, several Members of Congress are working to repeal it. Representatives Joe Barton (R–TX), Michael Burgess (R–TX), and Marsha Blackburn (R–TN) introduced the Better Use of Light Bulbs (BULB) Act last week, which would repeal Subtitle B of Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007—the phase out of the incandescent bulb.

Congresswoman Blackburn emphasized, “Washington banned a perfectly good product and fired hard working Americans based on little more than their own whim and the silly notion that they know better than the American consumer. Now, hundreds more Americans are looking for work while assembly lines in China are churning out fluorescent bulbs for the U.S. market.”[6]

Creative Destruction or Just Plain Destructive?

The economic theory of “creative destruction” is important when understanding the value innovation has on long-term economic growth. Popularized by Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter, the theory says that the short- and long-term benefits of entrepreneurial activity and competition far outweigh the short-term losses caused by a new product replacing an old one. Audiotape makers may lose their jobs to the makers of compact discs, who may lose their jobs to a new technology in the future.

When it occurs organically, it is a process that begets economic progress and benefits the consumer. But when forced on businesses and consumers by the federal government, it does far more harm than good.

The government’s light bulb ban is far from Schumpeter’s model of creative destruction. Simply put, it is economic ignorance. If consumers really wanted to buy fluorescents rather than cheaper incandescent light bulbs, they would purchase them without a government ban. And while China would likely produce these cheap imports with or without a mandate, the difference is that the government’s ban unnecessarily kills American jobs by manipulating the market.

In this case, a mix of special interest politics and concern that energy use in the U.S. is producing too much greenhouse gas emissions resulted in needless regulations and mandates. The CFL mandate, rather than being an innovation valued in the marketplace, will result in consumers being forced to accept a product they do not want.

The other common cry for almost any energy mandate is that it would improve America’s energy security and this nation will rely less on foreign sources of energy. But the impact of banning the traditional bulb on energy security will be negligible, since electricity comes almost entirely from secure domestic sources, such as coal. Petroleum generates approximately 1 percent of domestic electricity.[7]

A Slippery Slope Attacking Consumer Choice

The attack on the incandescent bulb is just one item in a laundry list of government regulations and mandates attempting to promote conservation. Energy efficiency standards already exist for vehicles, appliances, and buildings, and recently introduced legislation calls on the Secretary of Energy to identify additional appliances and equipment that “have significant national energy savings potential” to be included for future performance standard mandates.

All of these mandates have unintended consequences that their advocates fail to foresee, including increased energy use.[8] If consumers want a product, the market is capable of providing it.

When the government picks winners and losers, it reduces the incentive for companies to innovate and increases the incentive for companies to lobby the government for special handouts and protections. When the government creates specific mandates and regulations, it purposely narrows the path businesses can take. These policies distort normal market forces and encourage government dependence.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Report ... estructive

[Neckro]

I like the CFL much better, they feel like a more natural, less yellow light BS.

[Lemon Thrower]

much prefer incandescents' light.

also, they dont' contain mercury.

what do you do if you drop a cfl - call a haz mat team?

[Neckro]

What do you do if you eat Tuna? Go to an ER? Just put on gloves and clean it up. And toss it in the trash. There are far worse things around the house then CFLs.

[AGgressive Metal]

What do you do if you eat Tuna? Go to an ER? Just put on gloves and clean it up. And toss it in the trash. There are far worse things around the house then CFLs.

Really? Mercury is one of the most toxic subtances! Its downright silly to use it for lightbulbs!

[wolvesdad]

yeah,

I don't like being regulated out of using a perfectly safe, perfectly simple tool.

Really, the energy consumption of production of these 'energy efficient' bulbs must nearly negate their 'lifetime' energy savings.

crazy i tell you.

Yes, I do plan to stock up on some in the near future.

[AGCoinHunter]

I plan to stock up. I use CFL's in lights that have covers on them but I do tend to like the incandescent light bulb's better. We have a lot of the canned recessed lights (about 35) in the house and I have yet to find a CFL that looks right in them and is dimable. I did see a dimable LED system you can install in a canned light but checked the price and they were around $50 each. No way am I paying that when I can get a regular light bulb for less than $2 that lasts 2-3+ years.

As far as regulation of this stuff its again the nanny state telling you what you can and cant do. Next they will regulate how much TP you can use to wipe your a$$. Only one square at a time as Sheryl Crow is pushing...

From my understanding and experience CFL's do save on energy but they dont last much longer than a regular bulb under regular use. Then you must dispose of them which if you just toss them in the trash are very toxic for landfills. The mercury content alone is enough to be scared of them. I read somewhere that if you have one break you should leave the area for at least 30 minutes to let the toxic fumes disapate. Do I really want that in my house, no.

[didou]

I plan to stock up. I use CFL's in lights that have covers on them but I do tend to like the incandescent light bulb's better. We have a lot of the canned recessed lights (about 35) in the house and I have yet to find a CFL that looks right in them and is dimable. I did see a dimable LED system you can install in a canned light but checked the price and they were around $50 each. No way am I paying that when I can get a regular light bulb for less than $2 that lasts 2-3+ years.

As far as regulation of this stuff its again the nanny state telling you what you can and cant do. Next they will regulate how much TP you can use to wipe your a$$. Only one square at a time as Sheryl Crow is pushing...

From my understanding and experience CFL's do save on energy but they dont last much longer than a regular bulb under regular use. Then you must dispose of them which if you just toss them in the trash are very toxic for landfills. The mercury content alone is enough to be scared of them. I read somewhere that if you have one break you should leave the area for at least 30 minutes to let the toxic fumes disapate. Do I really want that in my house, no.

+1

I can't wait to see some LED light to be more affordable, they last forever and aren't toxic.

Doesn't really matter if the government is right or not on that thing, that isn't their choice to make.

[Tourney64]

How many times have you broken a light bulb by accident? How many times has a light bulb been stuck in a socket? Mecury vapors from these bulbs is very dangerous. They are not intended for outdoor or dimmer swiitches. They require special disposal procedures and several states ban mercury in regular trash pickup. These CFL bulbs are very dangerous, when I drank the Kool-Aid and bought them for energy efficiency, but will switching back when burn out. I have a large supply of Incandescent ones on hand.

EPA web site for mecury spills. Doesn't mention CFL bulbs.
http://www.epa.gov/hg/spills/

Government sponsored GE is very big into CFL bulbs.

LED bulbs may be the best choice once all the incandescent supplies run dry, and the prices improve.

[Lemon Thrower]

What do you do if you eat Tuna? Go to an ER? Just put on gloves and clean it up. And toss it in the trash. There are far worse things around the house then CFLs.

the mercury in them is a fine dust. it becomes airborne. its impossible to clean it all up. very tiny amounts are toxic.

[jasmatk]

here is a link on what to do if one breaks i read one released by the fed before but cant find the link this one is basiclly the samehttp://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/cflbreakcleanup.htm

[billo]

Guys, we have to fight things like this. Contact the new Congress members from this election. This law was passed when Americans were hypnotized with "green" and the full long-term impact of the economy had not brought them back down to earth. Laws can be changed if enough people speak out. But it takes time, writing Congress and your local paper are a good start.

[billo]

Or probably calling Congress and writing the paper that is.

[Delawhere Jack]

50+ bulbs in the hoard now, 40,60,75 and 100W. I'm going to try to double that in total. That'll be enough to last me the rest of my life, with plenty extra to sell off.

[billo]

Today I bought enough for maybe 2 years supply. Aiming to stock up 5 or 10 years. (After that, LEDs should be coming of age and merc-free CFL too hopefully.)

BUT does anyone have more specific info on when the ban will really hit us? (60 watt for example.) I thought it was going to affect certain wattages first, but it's been so long I forgot.

[Copper Catcher]

Looks like I might have created a mini run on light bulbs...

[billo]

Sure did!

[Rosco]

We put in 130 watt bulbs when we built it in 1992 and many have not been changed yet Cheep

most spares show made in USA

[AGgressive Metal]

You can't really go wrong getting 100 bulbs or so. If they are made illegal, you have the bulbs you want. If they are not, you have the bulbs you want at a lower price than what they will cost 10 years from now after inflation.

[Copper Catcher]

I was in the dollar store today and picked up another pack of 100 watt bulbs.

[Pennybug]

I dunno... to each his own... but I kinda see it like stocking up on CRT TV's before there all gone (IMHO). Just because something is phasing out shouldn't necessarily trigger a stock up situation. But as I said... to each his own. If it makes sense to you... then I say do it! That's what America is all about! Personally, I stocked up on CFL's when I was able to buy them at $1 for a box of 5 at Home Depot a few years back. I've been using them for 5 years, never broke one, and have had no complaints about them.

[rickygee]

When the light bulbs in your oven and refrigerator go out just put one of those CFL bulbs in there. The electronics (transformers) can't handle the heat or moisture. DMFing congressahoes. Won't those torched 'lectrics make a roast taste great? Maybe a great new Bar B Q fragrance! Or maybe that little cfl in the frig will never really go out! How you gonna know