California may ban conventional lightbulbs by 2012

[jetsetter]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California lawmaker wants to make his state the first to ban incandescent lightbulbs as part of California's groundbreaking initiatives to reduce energy use and greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

The "How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb Act" would ban incandescent lightbulbs by 2012 in favor of energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

"Incandescent lightbulbs were first developed almost 125 years ago, and since that time they have undergone no major modifications," California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine said on Tuesday.

"Meanwhile, they remain incredibly inefficient, converting only about 5 percent of the energy they receive into light."

Levine is expected to introduce the legislation this week, his office said.

If passed, it would be another pioneering environmental effort in California, the most populous U.S. state. It became the first state to mandate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, targeting a 25 percent reduction in emissions by 2020.

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) use about 25 percent of the energy of conventional lightbulbs.

Many CFLs have a spiral shape, which was introduced in 1980. By 2005, about 100 million CFLs were sold in the United States, or about 5 percent of the 2-billion-lightbulb market, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

That number could more than double this year. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. alone wants to sell 100 million CFLs at its stores by the end of 2007, the world's biggest retailer said in November.

While it will not give opinion on the possible California law, the EPA recommends CFLs.

"They save money and energy," EPA spokeswoman Enesta Jones said. "They are more convenient than other alternatives and come in different sizes and shapes to fit almost any fixture."

Also, CFLs generate 70 percent less heat than incandescent lights, Jones said.

About a fifth of the average U.S. home's electricity costs pays for lighting, which means even if CFLs initially cost more than conventional lightbulbs, consumers will save, Jones said.

A 20-watt CFL gives as much light as a 75-watt conventional bulb, and lasts 13 times longer, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit group studying energy issues.

Southern California Edison, an Edison International subsidiary and one of the state's biggest utilities, runs a program that cuts the cost of a CFL by $1 to $2.50. In the past year, SCE has helped consumers buy 6 million CFLs, it said.

California Energy Commission member Arthur Rosenfeld said an average home in California will save $40 to $50 per year if CFLs replace all incandescent bulbs.

While not commenting specifically on Levine's likely legislation, Rosenfeld, winner of the Enrico Fermi Presidential Award in 2006, said the switch from incandescent bulbs became feasible about five years ago when CFL performance improved.

"This is clearly an idea whose time has come," he said.

Levine, a Democrat from Van Nuys in Los Angeles, last year introduced a bill that will become law in July that requires most grocery stores to have plastic bag recycling.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070131/..._lightbulbs_dc

Next stop, LED lighting.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

I already use 100% CFL's in my home, they save money in the long run anyway.

[NecroJoe]

I don't like 'em for all uses. I have a couple dimmers in my house...they don't work with CF bulbs. If you take a normal 60 watt bulb, and dim it 10%, you'll double the life of the bulb.

[jetsetter]

The one problem I have is the kind of light they put out. Less of a warm glow and more of a bright white light.

[NecroJoe]

Actually, Jet Setter, they have different "light temperature" models. Some have a warmer, more "golden" glow, while others have a more bright-white light. Because of this, fluorescent tubes lights are actually finding their way into designer bathrooms, which they were previously pretty much never due to having almost a weird "green" glow, and making every single blemish on your face visible.

[Viper007Bond]

They should just tax them instead. There are many cases where you need an old school light bulb and a new one just wouldn't work.

[NecroJoe]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

They should just tax them instead. There are many cases where you need an old school light bulb and a new one just wouldn't work.

Agreed...like in dimmers, or things with "flicker" bulbs...not to mention the global economic juggernaut that is the Easy-Bake Oven.

[nomix]

THOMAS EDISON TURNS IN HIS GRAVE!

[konradiusz]

Originally Posted by nomix

THOMAS EDISON TURNS IN HIS GRAVE!

Why not make solar panels compulsory? 8) Its by far the best way to cut back on the electricity bill.

[Kilowatt]

In the same swoop of logic they made all florescent bulbs including the ones you would use to to replace the ones they proposing to ban hazardous waste, so you have to hand carry them to the wast facility for special handleling.
Hi folks, first post, sitting here in the power control room with my hand on the big switch.

[Blind_Io]

Fuck you, California. Seriously, get your damn government out of my house. I like my halogen and incandescent bulbs because they give off a warmer color of light and the florescent lights give me a headache. I can actually hear those little fuckers cycling.

Piss off you wankers, I'd like to see you enforce it!

EDIT: Now these I could go for, if they were not so expensive. They passed the Mythbusters test of 10 years of simulated on/offs and were the only bulb to survive.

[nomix]

That's right, stick it to the man.

When it comes to lighting, a think it stands for about 5 % or less of the power used in a house, so why focus on that? That's like arresting users of narc to stop the distrobution.. wait, most countries allready do that to.

[Blind_Io]

FROM MY COLD, DEAD FINGERS!

[zenkidori]

California FTL.

We'll, I'll be running bootleg lightbulbs to cali it seems, hahaha.

[nomix]

I think Blind_Io will get a bumber sticker with a picture of a light bulb, displaying the text "you can have my light bulb, when you pry it from my cold dead fingers".

[Blind_Io]

When light bulbs are outlawed only outlaws will have light bulbs... and lava lamps

[Cobol74]

^

[nomix]

Yes, the NLBA. Rebel? Getting a Harly? Forget it, get a light bulb, show it to the cops, light it!

[KaJuN]

Wow, I'm impressed. California has tons of serious problems to worry about with the murderings and robbings and whatnot. But what do they choose to act upon? Those pesky incandescents. On the plus side they'll be uber energy effecient when they float off to party with Hawaii.

[zenkidori]

Some say the end is near.
Some say we'll see armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will.
I sure could use a vacation from this

Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of
Freaks

Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay.

Fret for your figure and
Fret for your latte and
Fret for your hairpiece and
Fret for your lawsuit and
Fret for your prozac and
Fret for your pilot and
Fret for your contract and
Fret for your car.

It's a
Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of
Freaks

Here in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay.

Some say a comet will fall from the sky.
Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves.
Followed by faultlines that cannot sit still.
Followed by millions of dumbfounded dipshits.

Some say the end is near.
Some say we'll see armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will cuz
I sure could use a vacation from this

Silly shit, stupid shit...

One great big festering neon distraction,
I've a suggestion to keep you all occupied.

Learn to swim.

Mom's gonna fix it all soon.
Mom's comin' round to put it back the way it ought to be.

Learn to swim.

Fuck L Ron Hubbard and
Fuck all his clones.
Fuck all those gun-toting
Hip gangster wannabes.

Learn to swim.

Fuck retro anything.
Fuck your tattoos.
Fuck all you junkies and
Fuck your short memory.

Learn to swim.

Fuck smiley glad-hands
With hidden agendas.
Fuck these dysfunctional,
Insecure actresses.

Learn to swim.

Cuz I'm praying for rain
And I'm praying for tidal waves
I wanna see the ground give way.
I wanna watch it all go down.
Mom please flush it all away.
I wanna watch it go right in and down.
I wanna watch it go right in.
Watch you flush it all away.

Time to bring it down again.
Don't just call me pessimist.
Try and read between the lines.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't
Welcome any change, my friend.

I wanna see it all come down.
suck it down.
flush it down.