Light bulbs get Congressional reprieve
Good news for survivalists and others who’ve been hoarding incandescent light bulbs — Congress has given the 19th Century technology at least one more year of shelf life.
Let there be cheap light, said Thomas Edison, who perfected the production of the incandescent bulb more than 70 years after its invention.
Traditional light bulbs (the kind featured over a cartoon character’s head when he gets an idea) were marked for extinction via a 2007 law that banned their manufacture and sale after Jan. 1, 2012. Congress’ light bulb reprieve was tucked into a 1,200-page omnibus spending bill passed by Congress Thursday night.
This was odd legislation considering the replacement technology, compact fluorescent lamps, while much cheaper to operate, are far more expensive and contain chemicals toxic to humans.
I personally like CFLs, but many hate them, saying the light they produce is too unnatural or even gives them headaches.
But, the CFL on my porch has been on non-stop for at least two years.
Newer technology, LED lightbulbs, are even more expensive, but are even cheaper to operate and provide better light. I have a 12-watt led lightbulb that retails for about $25, but is supposed to last years and save enough energy to eventually pay for itself. It provides the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent, but takes a disconcerting half-second to light my bathroom.
Since many manufacturers have quit making the uber-cheap incandescent bulbs, their days are probably numbered no matter what Congress does next year. America’s last traditional light bulb plant closed last year, effectively shipping 200 jobs overseas.
Hmmmm … maybe making laws that dictate what consumers can and can’t buy in the Home Depot lighting aisle isn’t such a bright idea.
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75 comments Add your comment
Umm...you can recycle CFLs at Home Depot
December 16th, 2011
3:34 pm
Home Depot was founded by a conservative Republican family, if that makes you feel better.
Sheila
December 16th, 2011
3:34 pm
You can bring them to Home Depot to recycle. There is a drop off usually at the returns registers.
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 16th, 2011
3:36 pm
No, it’s just the government muddling their way into the marketplace. Face it, it already costs the country 200 jobs and will cause pricing to increase eventually to consumers who will one day have to purchase these bulbs. Let the market drive this and not government.
The market already pretty much is, the government’s ban just cuts out the outdated bulbs tidily.
Yep and one day these will be like other chemicals you have to recycle and everyplace will eventually start charging you to do so.
Not likely considering commercial LED bulbs are already on the market (those don’t have to be recycled).
Stop being a reactionary.
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 16th, 2011
3:38 pm
Moi
December 16th, 2011
2:18 pm
I hate the CFL’s. The light is horribly bright and I DO get headaches from them. Plus, why do we have to go to 50 places to recycle things? Now don’t get me wrong, I fully utilize the recycling service offered by my trash service, so don’t accuse me of being a Ninny Nelly for not recycling. But c’mon, I work ten hours a day and don’t have time to traverse the countryside on my ONE weekend day off to recycle everything under the sun. Here’s a thought…how about making it EASIER for us to recycle and most of us would be happy to do so. I am all for saving the planet and all that fallderall. Oh, and I don’t make a ton of money so don’t expect me to pay $25 for a bulb that may or may not pay for itself in it’s lifetime. I can get regular old lightbulbs for super cheap and they last quite a long time and DON’T cost me a fortune to light. When technology catches up with the regular folks, we’ll pay more attention and a few more dollars for what they’re offering.
Store your old CFLs in a box somewhere, take them in once a year to be recycled.
You’re just lazy and making excuses for yourself.
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 16th, 2011
3:39 pm
willydoit?
December 16th, 2011
2:11 pm
Just build more coal fire power plants and we wouldn’t have to worry about conserving.
We have a 500 year supply of coal in this country and we have idiots that want us to detechnicalize ourselves.
“Clean coal”–isn’t. It’s a horrible way to produce energy, it just happens to be very cheap when the real costs aren’t internalized.
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 16th, 2011
3:40 pm
A B Normal
December 16th, 2011
2:39 pm
Heard someone dropped and broke a pack of CFL’s in a NC WalMart and the mgr. on duty evacuated the store, called in the HazMat team and turned away every customer for 2 hrs. during clean up. Really?
Can you back this up?
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 16th, 2011
3:41 pm
Susan M
December 16th, 2011
2:53 pm
Thank goodness. I have bought CFL’s that burn out in less than a month. Very few of the ones I tried, really last as long, much less longer than incandescent bulbs. Now I’m stuck with nearly a dozen burn-out CFL’s that I can’t find a place to dispose of them at.
Probably a voltage problem (the bulbs are getting too much and are burning out quicker because of it).
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 16th, 2011
3:42 pm
beerad
December 16th, 2011
2:55 pm
Can someone please show me any proof that our founding fathers said the government was to dictate what light bulbs this country is aloud to purchase and use. Hey guys have you noticed the government is bankrupt!!!!
I would have an easier time relating to you if you knew how to spell and punctuate.
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 16th, 2011
3:43 pm
rid0617
December 16th, 2011
3:00 pm
I have enough old light bulbs to last me the next 7 years or so. I refuse to buy this new one for several reasons. More expensive, does not last as long as they claim, only made in China and as for recycling, why should I spend money I do not have in this rotten economy to drive it to the nearest recycling center more than 10 miles away?
Just stay in your cave, you bitter old coot.
BILLY MAYS HERE
December 16th, 2011
3:46 pm
Gov. Talmadge
December 16th, 2011
3:18 pm
The federal government is bankrupt, wasting printed and borrowed money on worthless wars, weapons, foreign aid and all sorts of other foolishness, but this is what gets the attention of the idiots in the electorate.
Boring and predictable.
Get a new act.