Glad to See I’m Not the Only One With a Basement Full of Lightbulbs
around lunchtime on Wednesday, the 29th of July 2009 by Katie
Germans Hoarding Traditional Light Bulbs
So happy to hear that other people hate the ugly, corkscrewy things that emit a horrid light. Oh, and let’s not forget the breakage problems. And why isn’t anyone concerned about the mercury from the bloody things – after all, we can’t even have a normal thermometer anymore because of the bloody mercury.
And Americans should also pay attention to the fact that the “new” lights are made in China – so kiss all those jobs goodbye. The wacko environmentalists will make us use the horrid things, but no, we can’t make them, it might destroy the freakin’ environment.
As the Sept. 1 deadline for the implementation of the first phase of the EU’s ban on incandescent light bulbs approaches, shoppers, retailers and even museums are hoarding the precious wares — and helping the manufacturers make a bundle.
The EU’s ban was originally meant to help it reach its targets on energy efficiency and climate protection. Though much cheaper to buy, incandescent bulbs have long been seen as wasteful because only 5 percent of the energy they consume goes to light production, with the rest just becoming heat.
And consumers were also supposed to feel a positive effect in their pocketbooks as well. European Energy Commission Andris Piebalgs has estimated that the average European household will save €50 per year on electricity bills and that annual CO2 emissions in Europe will be cut by 15 millions tons….
But — like laws on bent cucumbers — many have mocked the light bulb legislation as just another example of an EU bureaucracy gone wild. Holger Krahmer, for example, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Germany’s business-friendly FDP party has accused the EU of imposing ‘light bulb socialism.”
In fact, in creating this legislation, the EU failed to address consumer preferences and the reservations of a number of other groups. For example, many have complained that the light emitted by a CFL bulb is colder and weaker and that its high-frequency flickering can cause headaches. Then there are complaints about the mercury the CFL bulbs contain, how there is no system for disposing of them in a convenient and environmentally friendly way, and how they allegedly result in exposure to radiation levels higher than allowed under international guidelines.
I know that there is no hope that our government will listen to “the people”, because they are so much smarter than us. We can’t possibly figure out which light bulb we want….
Next thing you know, they’ll tell us what food to eat (oops, they are doing that too, aren’t they?)
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July 29th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Not surprised re hoarding…
Germans like other Europeans choose to buy ordinary light bulbs around 9 times out of 10 (European Commission and lighting industry data 2007-8).
Banning what people want gives the supposed savings – no point in banning an impopular product!
If new LED lights -or improved CFLs- are good,
people will buy them – no need to ban ordinary light bulbs (little point).
If they are not good, people will not buy them – no need to ban ordinary light bulbs (no point).
The arrival of the transistor didn’t mean that more energy using radio valves had to be banned… they were bought less anyway.
All lights have their advantages
The ordinary simple light bulb has for many people a pleasing appearance, it responds quickly with bright broad spectrum light, is easy to use with dimmers and other equipment, can come in small sizes, and has safely been used for over 100 years.
100 W+ equivalent brightness is a particular issue – difficult and expensive with both fluorescents and LEDS – yet such incandescent bulbs are first in line for banning !
Energy?
Since when does Europe need to save on electricity?
There is no energy shortage, there are plenty of local energy sources, Middle East oil is not used for electricity generation.
Consumers – not politicians – pay for the energy used.
Certainly it is good to let people know how they can save energy and money – but why force them to do it?
Emissions?
OK: Does a light bulb give out any gases?
Power stations might not either:
In France and Sweden practically all electricity is emission-free, while a lot of it is in Austria, Finland and even in Germany and other states. Why should households there be denied the use of lighting they obviously want to use?
Low emission households will increase everywhere, since emissions will be reduced anyway through the planned use of coal/gas processing technology or energy substitution.
Also, the actual savings amounts can be questioned for many reasons:
For a referenced list of reasons against light bulb bans, see
http://www.ceolas.net/#li1x onwards
Even if a reduction in use was needed, then taxation to reduce consumption would make more sense since government can use the income to reduce emissions (home insulation schemes, renewable projects etc) more than any remaining product use causes such problems.
People can still buy what they want, unlike with bans.
However taxation on electrical appliances is in principle wrong for similar reasons to bans (for example, emission-free households are hit too).
July 30th, 2009 at 8:14 am
All I know is the crappy mercury bulbs go out much faster than my Edison bulbs, they cost more and don’t provide as much light. Furthermore, they don’t work with my dimmer switches and the motion sensor switches I installed in my basement cautioned about using them.
Suddenly, I beginning to think candles and oil lamps are more practical than these mercury laden glass tubes.
Perhaps making my own Edison bulbs is not such a bad idea either.
August 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
JCincy.. ok too funny you had exactly the same thought I had.. I was going to note about hording oillamps.. wait I have some, well I am prepared.
I also was thinking I wonder if this frenzy is because they are planning to ban gas vehicles next and all the electricity saved by the screwy bulbs will be able to run electric vehicles?
but then they will have a gripe with electric cars and their use.. soo everyone get to know the Amish.. that is how we may end up living.. unless the government has a gripe with the lack of finicial contribution they are giving the government? seriously every blink they have a new angle..