Look at the nearest light fixture. Do it.
Which do you see?
For the most part, I bet you see the one on the right -- an incandescent bulb. Most of mine are incandescents, but I'll admit I caved and bought a pack of the ones on the right -- CFLs, or compact fluorescent light bulb. I hate the damned things. They remind me too much of a 'sterile' environment... work or the hospital. I put them in places where that wouldn't matter, closets and the kitchen. In the bedroom, bathrooms, living rooms, and dining room, I still have incandescents. I think they cast a much warmer light.
There's a problem, though.
I knew about this right after it happened. Now, of course, there are some hitches. The largest bulb, the 100-watt, will be banned in 2010, through the smallest, a 40-watt, by 2012. Most of what we have in our homes are 60-watts.
I bet most of you who are reading didn't know this. This, of course, affects all of us, everywhere, in more ways than you may think. I wouldn't expect the FBI to come kicking doors down and ripping lighbulbs out. I suspect it only bans the sale, or manufacture of them. I'd suggest you buy a few, try them out, and if you like 'em, don't worry. If you don't, buy a bit of a stockpile of regular bulbs. The only reason I suggest that is that the ban is inevitable. Other than that reason, I'd highly recommend you don't buy them.
What really has me shaking my head over the whole compact fluorescent lighbulb (CFLs, from here on in) business is that there are major risks associated with these bulbs that have been overlooked. There is a major push for these CFLs from the green community, but I would think that they'd analyze every aspect of the CFLs before putting themselves in such a compromising position.
You see, CFLs contain small amounts of highly-toxic mecury. Smashing one of these bulbs will have more of a consequence than a regular bulb, as illustrated in
this news story. An excerpt:
WASHINGTON – Brandy Bridges heard the claims of government officials, environmentalists and retailers like Wal-Mart all pushing the idea of replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving and money-saving compact fluorescent lamps.
So, last month, the Prospect, Maine, resident went out and bought two dozen CFLs and began installing them in her home. One broke. A month later, her daughter's bedroom remains sealed off with plastic like the site of a hazardous materials accident, while Bridges works on a way to pay off a $2,000 estimate by a company specializing in environmentally sound cleanups of the mercury inside the bulb.
"Live Green or Die Trying"
It's a scary prospect, but it won't just happen in your house. Once this ban takes effect and bulbs start burning out, then what? You're going to throw them away. Maybe you'll smash them in the garbage can. Maybe the garbage truck will compact them. Either way, they will be smashed at the dump, where that lovely mercury will seep its way into our water supply. Pass me a drink.
This ban, while in good heart, has likely done more wrong than good. It would have been in Congress's best interest to make sure there was an established way to dispose of them, namely recycling programs that can handle this and are widespread. I find the entire thing laughable. What about small towns that don't have the facilities or budgets? They'll just have to toss them in the trash, and with a small-town dump, it is almost guarenteed to enter the water supply.
How about another anecdote?
The warnings on the packages of some of the new bulbs are in fine print – hard to read. They are also voluntary, with many bulbs being sold and distributed with no disposal warnings at all.
Charmain Miles of Toronto, Canada, had another frightening experience with a CFL bulb.
Last month she smelled smoke on the second floor of her home, only to discover it was emanating from a new energy-efficient bulb.
"I was horrified," she told a local TV station. "I went through every place upstairs and took out every bulb."
The bulb had been placed in a track-lighting fixture. Though the bulb contained no warning about such fixtures, it turns out CFLs are not for use in track, recessed or dimmer fixtures.
Voluntary warnings? And they're going to be mandated?
Take a look at this:
Nobody promoted CFLs as aggressively as IKEA. Not only does the retailer sell them, it also provides one of the very few recycling centers for the burned out bulbs. But even with a plethora of recycling centers, how will the public view the prospect of saving up dead bulbs and transporting them to recycling centers? And how about the danger of breakage in that process?
"The industry is currently aiming at totally mercury-free CFL lighting, but this is still five to 10 years away," admits IKEA.
Well, that's good news. At least there are recycling facilities available. The problem is this is a private retailer. They can pull it any time they want. That, and the nearest IKEA is four hours away, for me. I am
not taking my smashable bulbs four hours to have them recycled.
This is something I found interesting. I think this would be a much more realistic approach. That, and it promotes free market by not banning a specific product and almost favoring another.
The American Lighting Association has some ideas. It has created a list of five considerations that should be weighed by all legislative bodies considering bans on incandescent bulbs.
The association of American manufacturers and retail outlets suggests any such legislation include the following provisions:
- a lumen per watt energy efficiency standard should be established rather than a ban on a specific type of product. It should include a 10-year goal
- halogen bulbs should be exempted
- incandescent bulbs 40 watts or less should be exempt
- collection and disposal plans for mercury-based CFLs should be made prior to any ban;
- persuade consumers through education rather than coerce them through limiting choices
Another aspect -- CFLs cost, on average, $3 each. Unless the industry is going to pull out a remarkable way to save money on them, or take a volunatry profit loss, I would suspect that prices will still hover around $3 when they are the only practical lighting solution. A normal lightbulb costs, on average, $0.50 a day. How are folks who don't have money to throw at lightbulbs going to light their homes when they can buy six normal bulbs for one CFL? Are people in the inner cities going to be stealing bulbs from homes and stores to light their homes?
Yes, the CFLs do last about three years. Yes, the CFLs do use less energy. I think, with the evidence I've shown you, that there is a price to pay for saving the planet. Live Green or Die Trying.
-Ze Baron
Links Depositry:
"Consumers in dark over risks of new light bulbs"
"Planet Earth banning common light bulbs"
"Congress bans incandescent bulbs"
(Print or link to this blog or one of the above articles. Get the word out.)
clipped from www.worldnetdaily.com
clipped from www.worldnetdaily.com
clipped from www.worldnetdaily.com
clipped from www.worldnetdaily.com
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