Thursday, January 24, 2013

What's wrong with this light bulb?

It's inexpensive, provides great light quality, and has been used for a century.  It's also soon to be illegal. Congress, that collection of Solons, has decided in its wisdom that the Republic is at risk not from out of control government debt, but from the energy use of incandescent light bulbs.

Fear not, citizen.  Congress is in session.

And so it's been mandated that you use this.  It's almost ten times as expensive as the incandescent bulb.  It was claimed to last for years and years, but people have discovered that they don't last much longer than the old style bulbs.  They take a lot less electricity, true, but the quality of the light they put out is horrible.

But that isn't the biggest problem with the bulbs.  This is:
Oman Observer reported that more than 140 countries have agreed on the first global treaty to cut mercury pollution through a blacklist of household items and controls on power plants and small scale mines

United Nations said that the legally binding agreement aims to phase out many products that use the toxic liquid metal such as batteries, thermometers and some fluorescent lamps, through banning global import and exports by 2020.
So Congress passes a law that makes us buy replacement bulbs that don't work as well and are ten times and expensive, then then the President gets all International and goes and bans them.  Observe your Philosopher Kings in action.  Why people still give these people credit for being smart when they act in such an unambiguously dumb manner is quite a mystery to me.
IDIOT, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling. The Idiot's activity is not confined to any special field of thought or action, but "pervades and regulates the whole." He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable. He sets the fashions and opinion of taste, dictates the limitations of speech and circumscribes conduct with a dead-line.
- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

11 comments:

  1. Old NFOJanuary 24, 2013 at 12:12 PM

    I have a case of incandescent... Piss on those CFLs...

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2013 at 2:02 PM

    You missed the article the other day that the CFL bulbs also emit other cancer causing chemicals. Sorry can not remember where i saw it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ASM826January 24, 2013 at 2:07 PM

    Beeswax candles. An idea whose time has come!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jay GJanuary 24, 2013 at 2:14 PM

    COMMON SENSE LIGHTBULB CONTROL.

    You know, "if it saves one life"...

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2013 at 3:54 PM

    I use energy-saving LED bulbs in the warm/hot months, and energy-saving incandescent bulbs in the cool/cold months.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Czar of MuscovyJanuary 24, 2013 at 4:56 PM

    You don't mention it, but the ban was signed by GWB during his presidency. It was a definite black mark on his legacy since the largest producer of CFLs at the time (and I believe still) is China.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Czar of MuscovyJanuary 24, 2013 at 4:57 PM

    KnottedProp-- they don't emit cancer-causing materials, but rather (when broken) expose the environment to mercury. It's the mercury that's linked to various diseases including cancer. I think I have this right, but will accept corrections by the Borepatch gallery.

    ReplyDelete
  8. drjimJanuary 24, 2013 at 5:18 PM

    After having dozens of CFL's fail LONG before the running time listed on the box, I've switched to LED bulbs.
    Our dining room light had 4 60 Watt incandescent bulbs in it, and I replaced them with 60 Watt LED equivalents. The total power draw went from 240 Watts at full brightness to 48 Watts.
    They've been in there a year now, controlled by a special LED dimmer module, and I haven't had any fail.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2013 at 1:06 AM

    Czar of Muscovy I found the article it's a few years old so I must have found it on a blog somewhere mind like a sieve when it comes to remembering where so apologies to anyone if they posted it.
    http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/apr/25/study-enviro-light-bulbs-can-cause-cancer/

    I personally don't know if it's true though as for mercury exposure the Mad Hatter was based on real life people in Victorian times from Luton in England. Repeated mercury exposure to make hats drove them literally crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. GooberJanuary 25, 2013 at 11:34 AM

    I've argued that in northern lattitudes that incandesants inside the house is a tually more energy efficient than any other type of bulb. And I'm actually right. But greenies have never been ones to worry about little things like science and truth get in their way.

    But to answer your question honestly about what is wrong with that light bulb, I'd have to simply answer "old technology". LED bulbs for the win. Life span longer than you. Light is close to true sunlight as can be. Yeah they're more expensive, for now. But just wait.

    ReplyDelete
  11. TOTWTYTRFebruary 1, 2013 at 12:53 PM

    I had a lot of hope for CFLs when they first came out. Like most, I was completely disappointed. Among other faults, they have a distressing tendency to catch fire when the bases come loose. That happens when the glue that holds them together dries out.

    Maybe LEDs will be the answer, if an answer is needed. Once the price comes down.

    ReplyDelete

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