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| Economy |
| Fair Warning - 100W Light Bulbs Outlawed Next January 1st |
| 2011-05-17 |
| Two manufacturers have revealed Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs they will offer to replace the 100W bulb, at a retail price of about $50 each. They only produce the amount of light typically provided by 60W bulbs. Congress passed a law in 2007 mandating that bulbs producing 100 watts worth of light meet certain efficiency goals, beginning on January 1, 2012. The same rule will start apply to remaining bulbs 40 Watts and above in 2014. Since January of 2011, California has already banned stores from restocking 100-watt incandescent bulbs, in an effort to prevent hoarding. Importantly, some manufacturers are already marketing 100W bulbs that are markedly dimmer than standard bulbs, as measured in Lumens, which rate brightness. Traditional 100W bulbs emitted at least 1500 Lumens, whereas some 100W bulbs now emit as little as 950 Lumens, about the same brightness as a standard 60W bulb. Lumens are usually numbered on the outside of the box. The big problem with LEDs is that although they don't produce as much heat as incandescent bulbs, the heat they do create shortens the lifespan and reduces the efficiency of the chips. Cramming a dozen chips together in a tight bulb-shaped package that fits in today's lamps and sockets makes the heat problem worse. The brighter the bulb, the bigger the problem is. The most powerful pear-shaped LED bulbs in stores today — the kind that fits existing lamps — produce light equivalent to a 60-watt bulb, though there are more powerful ones for directional or flood lighting. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #20 Reductions in energy consumption will come from the initiative and innovation of private corporations and individuals. When they bring it to market it will be up to individuals to perceive the value of the innovation and decide whether to buy it or not. Government mandates only skew the market and screw up the supply and demand curves that determine price and supply. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2011-05-17 18:25 |
| #19 Yeah, if the EPA doesn't have judicial authority to raid a home at any time to check your duct work. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2011-05-17 14:19 |
| #18 "Some how some way, we have to reduce energy consumption." Sure, why not let PEOPLE decide? |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2011-05-17 13:37 |
| #17 Year 2015 Light bulbs will be smuggled in cocaine packages for perfect hiding |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2011-05-17 13:35 |
| #16 "Mexican bulb smugglers set to make killing" |
| Posted by: mojo 2011-05-17 12:56 |
| #15 Some how some way, we have to reduce energy consumption. Speak for yourself. As far as I am concerned, the progress of human civilization has been the result of increasing energy production and consumption not reducing. This is not to endorse waste or inefficiency, but to recognize that energy is what allows us to live in temperate climates, to travel and to have far more leisure. Reduce your consumption all you want, but for me it's drill, baby, frac. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2011-05-17 11:52 |
| #14 When the ban hit Europe, there was panic buying. Some people cannot be in CFL lighting for more than a minute or two before experiencing severe migraines. Their desperation in trying to buy the last few incandescent bulbs at *any* price was downright pitiful. Some are now reduced to having to light their homes at night with oil lamps. Yet there is absolute intolerance by their governments, that offer no waiver for medical reasons. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-05-17 11:40 |
| #13 thanks for the idea cuber sarge |
| Posted by: chris 2011-05-17 11:40 |
| #12 Hmmm a smart person might stock up on 100wt bulbs and making a killing after the law takes affect. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2011-05-17 11:13 |
| #11 http://heatball.de/en/ But they are still fighting to actually sell them |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2011-05-17 11:08 |
| #10 how are we supposed to heat our homes and cook our food, burn horse dung after cars are outlawed? Dr. Evil says you're supposed to DIE, not do any of that other silly stuff. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-05-17 10:54 |
| #9 So how much of that $50 is actually taxes and largesse for the great economy eating machine in Washington? Actually, I've already converted all of my light bulbs to CFL's and I have a few LED's. The LED's don't work in my fan lamps, something about frequency distortion due to the fan motor or something like that. I find a 100W bulb a bit bright. I've made sure that all of the CFL's are 60W equivalent. For reading we all have task lighting that is usually a halogen. Some how some way, we have to reduce energy consumption. Since the vast majority of the electricity is generated by fossil fuel, this may be one way to reduce oil consumption. It's funny though, we have one group of environutniks out there talking the government into removing dams and their associated hydroelectric generation capacity and we have another group of environutniks railing against fossil fuels. And then we have the group that hug trees...so how are we supposed to heat our homes and cook our food, burn horse dung after cars are outlawed? |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2011-05-17 10:47 |
| #8 Some enterprising guys in Germany are selling Heat Bulbs - little devices that convert electricity to heat and give off a little bit of light in the process. You and I and Mr. Edison might regard them as plain old incandescent light bulbs, but let's not argue with the geniuses running the EU who obviously know more about the world than we do. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2011-05-17 10:34 |
| #7 Obviously the most important and urgent problem facing our political masters... |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2011-05-17 10:11 |
| #6 Over the years I've gradually replaced most of my 100W incandescent bulbs with regular fluorescents or halogen bulbs. I use an occasional 100W for porch lights or temporary lighting off an extension cord. I find compact fluorescents not as bright as their posted lumens indicate, and that they noticeably lose brightness as they age. 3 23-watt CFL's are about as bright as a 100W bulb. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-05-17 10:10 |
| #5 Hence the "restocking" stuff, which AFAICT they don't have the authority to enforce, but do anyway. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2011-05-17 10:08 |
| #4 I find 60W lights are just too dim. Do these people not think that we won't resort to the obvious work-arounds? |
| Posted by: Dino Sheregum5336 2011-05-17 10:02 |
| #3 ...that's the cheat. Easy Bake ovens powered by a 'heating device' rather than illuminated by a light bulb. If the government can fast and loose with 'regulations' substituted for laws, then enterprising businessmen can redefine a product as well. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2011-05-17 10:00 |
| #2 Get 'em while they're hot! |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-05-17 09:56 |
| #1 In the EU restocking is prohibited, too, but like a miracle there seems to be an endless supply. I bought about 100 |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2011-05-17 09:44 |