Maybe We Still Get to Use the Good Light Bulbs?
That’s how it’s looking . . . for now. The Instapundit has the news:
AWESOME NEWS IF IT PANS OUT: Spending bill blocks light bulb standards. “The shutdown-averting budget bill will block federal light bulb efficiency standards, giving a win to House Republicans fighting the so-called ban on incandescent light bulbs. GOP and Democratic sources tell POLITICO the final omnibus bill includes a rider defunding the Energy Department’s standards for traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient. DOE’s light bulb rules — authorized under a 2007 energy law authored signed by President George W. Bush — would start going into effect Jan. 1. The rider will prevent DOE from implementing the rules through Sept. 30.”
So if this works, what will I do with my closet full of incandescent bulbs? Er, use ‘em, just like I would have anyway. But it’s great if we can scuttle the idiotic bulb-ban.
I’ve complained about this before: we have some of those ridiculous kind that take forever to warm up. But when I flipped the light switch, it was because I wanted to be able to see NOW, not in ten minutes.
Let the consumer decide, Central Planners. Let the consumer decide.
The question now is whether there’s still infrastructure in place to sell them next year.
Karl (e39d6b) — 12/16/2011 @ 7:29 amSmart Meters, coming soon to homes near you.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/16/2011 @ 7:38 amWhat will I do with all of the light bulbs I’ve stockpiled?
rochf (f3fbb0) — 12/16/2011 @ 7:46 amthrough September 30?
these loser congresswhores thrive thrive thrive on creating uncertainty
but this is not how you create jobs in your pathetic little country’s global laughingstock of an economy… nobody’s gonna hire people to make distribute or market light bulbs what may be illegal come September
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 12/16/2011 @ 7:51 amOnly the hunnerts were going to be illegal on Jan 1. (Hence a stash of 30 of them in our garage storage space.) The lower wattages of incandescents were to be phased out over the next couple of years giving some additional time to stockpile them as well. Unfortunately, it appears few bulbs are still made in America.
Tried the aquiggly poison bulbs. Hate both the short life and bad light from the squiggly poison bulbs. Fingers crossed that sanity will prevail and that a new congress will say ixnay to the stupid central planning stuff.
elissa (c4b759) — 12/16/2011 @ 8:16 amI eat a lot of carrots and see in the dark. Healthy and saves money on electricity on light bulbs.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/16/2011 @ 8:38 amI like banning light bulbs because I’m an awful decorator anyway.
Elissa’s comment has me wondering: how bad are those CFLs? If I break one, what precautions do I need to take? I pretty much break everything I come into contact with at least twice.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/16/2011 @ 8:49 amI was thinking they weren’t going to do taht. Apparently this was of those can”t-g-past-the-deadline pieces of legislation.
The only thing is, I am not sure what this does.
Will the manufacture and sale of these bulbs be completely legal?
(BTW, only the 100 watt and higher bulbs are affected this year – 60 watt and 75 watt bulbs have two more years, and 3-way bulbs never were included, so you could have always plugged in a 3-way bulb into a non-3-way socket.)
A Washington Times article says:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/16/congress-overturns-incandescent-light-bulb-ban/
Stopping the bulb ban was a chief GOP priority coming into this year, with all of the candidates seeking to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee saying they would push through a repeal. That bill cleared the House but Democrats blocked its consideration in the Senate.
House Republicans then insisted on adding a provision into the year-end spending bill, and it was one of the last major sticking-points in the negotiations.
The spending bill doesn’t actually amend the 2007 law, but does prohibit the administration from spending any money to carry out the light bulb standards — which amounts to at least a temporary reprieve.
The spending bill is full of similar provisions that are included year after year to restrict what administrations can do.
Yesterday’s New York Times had an article that began…
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/us/politics/spending-bill-held-up-as-congress-dickers-over-riders.html?scp=1&sq=%22light%20bulbs%22&st=cse
Omnibus Spending Bill Held Up as Congress Dickers Over Riders and Restrictions
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: December 14, 2011
WASHINGTON — Travel to Cuba. Abortions in the nation’s capital. Energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. Those are a few of the issues that have ensnarled members of Congress trying to finish an omnibus spending bill that was due to be completed more than two months ago.
Futher down, it says:
House Republicans are also trying to repeal energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. “We are trying to promote fluorescent lights while Republicans are protecting incandescent bulbs,” said a Senate Democratic aide.
Republicans said the federal government had no business telling people what kind of lights they could buy for their homes. Supporters of the federal standards said the new bulbs saved energy and would save money in the long run.
But there doesn’t seem to be anything in today’s New York Times about the lightbulb provision in the bill.
August 11, 2011 New York Times discussion article about all the different light bulbs that are availaBLE:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E4D91030F932A2575BC0A9679D8B63&ref=thepragmatist&pagewanted=all
Sammy Finkelman (d3daeb) — 12/16/2011 @ 8:57 amThey will explain, in the new season of the WD, that was the source of the Zombie Apocalypse.
narciso (87e966) — 12/16/2011 @ 8:58 amThis whole subject matter is greatly undercovered.
It’s only mentioned in the 4th item in a Google News search for “light bulbs” – and the 5th article is still saying the government will pull the plug.
http://www.kcentv.com/story/16336034/government-to-pull-the-plug-on-low-efficiency-lighting
The sixth article is about a vending machine taht accepts light bulbs and batteries (the way other machines accept cans and bottles)
The 7th article is a Washington post story that merely mentions some agreement was reached abouyt light bulbs without saying exactly what. They talk about other things in the bill.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/congressional-negotiators-agree-on-1t-spending-measure-to-avert-government-shutdown/2011/12/15/gIQAccbAxO_story.html
WASHINGTON — Republicans yielded on policy affecting communist Cuba and Democrats gave way on new energy standards for light bulbs to seal an agreement Thursday evening on a massive $1 trillion-plus year-end spending package in time avert a possible government shutdown this weekend.
Sammy Finkelman (d3daeb) — 12/16/2011 @ 8:58 amJust think about the degree of freedom that Goldwater was arguing for, and now we’re struggling just to keep DC from choosing which light bulbs we use, forcing toxic and ugly over clean warmth because … well, probably because of GE.
When I lose my cool over politics, it’s because I feel like it’s an incredible struggle just to hold steady in a ridiculous and stupid situation.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:02 am“They will explain, in the new season of the WD, that was the source of the Zombie Apocalypse.”
narciso – Since I did not get Raptured, I am stockpiling in anticipation of the Zombie Apocalypse. I’m Okay with the slow ones. I’m ascared of the faster ones.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:03 amJust watched a French movie The Horde where those zombies took over a whole city.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:06 am“probably because of GE.”
Dustin – Barcky’s buddy Immelt helping to guide policy that helps GE, and sometimes America.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:10 amComment by Dustin — 12/16/2011 @ 8:49 am
how bad are those CFLs? If I break one, what precautions do I need to take? I pretty much break everything I come into contact with at least twice.
Well, this is a case where two environmental warnings conflict with each other. Don’t get exposed even a tiny amount of mercury and use energy efficient light bulbs.
They are both wrong. The old lights bulbs may cost more money and use more fuel, but that’s about all – it’s not going to do anything bad to the world.
There is no real problem from breaking one of these light bulbs. It comes from having an extreme safety standard.
If you are worried about mercury, take a selenium pill. Most fish give you no problem with mercury because they also contain selenium. It’s only people who are whales and other things that contained mercury but not selenium who had any health problems.
http://fishscam.com/
http://fishscam.com/fSelenium.cfm
The more recent selenium hypothesis holds that mercury takes a more active role in the relationship. Under this theory, when mercury enters the body it seeks out selenium and takes it out of circulation, preventing the body from creating enzymes that depend on selenium to perform their functions. Enzymes are special proteins that control the various steps in chemical reactions that make life possible.
Without enough selenium-based enzymes, the functions of the brain and other organs can be affected.
While this might sound scary, problems can only occur if we don’t get enough selenium to counteract the trace amounts of mercury in the fish we eat. And fish are so rich in selenium that this is not likely to happen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has measured selenium levels in more than 1,000 commonly consumed foods, and 16 of the 25 best sources of dietary selenium are ocean fish. University of North Dakota environmental scientist Dr. Nicholas Ralston is an expert on the relationship between selenium and mercury. Here’s how he describes it:
Dr. Ralston is right. Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that most of the fish we eat contains significantly more selenium than mercury. Seafood that contains more mercury (Hg) than selenium (Se) includes pilot whale, tarpon, marlin, and some shark. Fish we most commonly consume, including all forms of tuna and salmon, are rich in selenium.
http://fishscam.com/fMeltdown.cfm
http://www.naturalnews.com/026729_selenium_mercury_fish.html
Sammy Finkelman (d3daeb) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:17 am* the happier you are
Sammy Finkelman (d3daeb) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:18 am‘It’s a madhouse’
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/headline/europe-the-incontinent-continent-decrees-that-prunes-are-not-a-laxative/
narciso (87e966) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:27 amBut Patterico, we live in the great state of California, which put this ban into effect statewide already. Go try to find a 100 watt incandescent bulb at Home Depot in Los Angeles.
On Jan 1, 2012, the same thing will happen to 75 watt bulbs and this is not affected by the federal legislation.
see the California Energy Commission fact sheet
Apparently, the only thing you can get in CA that even approximates a 100-watt incandescent is the Philips 72-watt halogen-based incandescent bulb that has the same lumen output and the same form factor.
Of course “halogen” means it has iodine or bromine in it, and the color tempature is bluer than one might like, but this is for the planet, right?
Kevin M (563f77) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:37 amNow just think about the degree of freedom that Washington, Jefferson, Henry, Adams, etc. thought worth taking up arms for. Compared to what we put up with, the laws they thought intolerable seem like a libertarian paradise!
Milhouse (d7842d) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:40 amActually, GE is probably a loser here since they had at least half the market for incandescents, and they are just another player when it comes to CFLs, most of which come from China. I’ve only seen the lower-wattage halogen-incandescents from Philips, and they may have a patent there. Much as Obama might like it, I cannot see how this particularly helps GE, unless it increases sales of more expensive 3-way and 150-watt bulbs.
Kevin M (563f77) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:44 amAnd it’s all based on a lie, the notion that our industrial society, is responsible for Global warming
narciso (87e966) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:45 amPerhaps because these bulbs are super expensive and don’t last very long, and a lot of organizations are indeed pulling working bulbs and replacing them with CFLs to ‘save’. Just trashing the good and installing the bad.
Reason suggests that GE does make more from these CFLs, partly because they make then in a low regulation environment (China).
Their press release on CFLs sounds almost identical to the DOE’s view of CFLs. Same ‘up to’ ten times longer life weasel words, too.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:54 amInterestingly, a lot of GE’s former employees have similar remarks to Kevin’s noting that GE had a good thing with the old school bulbs, which is an industry with hundreds of American workers GE no longer employs.
They also complain that NBC (of course this is GE) has been very lopsided in their global warming coverage as GE sells a lot of ‘green’ alternatives, some with heavy government subsidy or, in this case, actual control of economic choices.
But Kevin is right that in a sane world, GE would be happy to make and sell the bulbs I want to use.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/16/2011 @ 9:56 amDustin,
GE has a tiny part of the CFL market as the Chinese bulbs are SOOooo much cheaper. This may change as the light quality becomes more important (most CFLs now installed are used for hall and outdoor lights where color accuracy is not a big issue).
But GE will certainly lose market share in the short run.
Kevin M (563f77) — 12/16/2011 @ 10:09 amI certainly don’t know different than what you’re saying, Kevin.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/16/2011 @ 10:13 amThere is another, rather crappy, thing that California has done, although I can’t find the regs, I observe the results.
New standard-socket lamps at Home Depot are now rated for CFLs only — their safe operation limits allow only low wattage bulbs (e.g. 27 watts). This makes them officially unsafe to operate with incandescents of any kind, and a possible violation of your fire insurance rules to do so.
Kevin M (563f77) — 12/16/2011 @ 10:21 amAnd since these lamps come from China, if they say the wiring is only rate for 27 watts, I’d not bet my house that the wiring is beefier than spec’ed.
Kevin M (563f77) — 12/16/2011 @ 10:23 amHow much could that have possibly saved?
I mean, a wire that can only handle such low wattage has to be pretty crappy. Are the other materials unable to handle the heat of a normal light bulb?
I had never even considered that.
Dustin (cb3719) — 12/16/2011 @ 10:24 amOnly racist rednecks would use the good light bulbs
/Sarcasm off
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/16/2011 @ 10:26 amComment by happyfeet — 12/16/2011 @ 7:51 am
feets, this Congress can only restrict the expenditure of funds in this Fiscal Year in this CR.
FY-2013 will be fought out next Spring.
What to do with your stash?
Use them, as required.
Can’t find 100’s at HD in CA, get online with Amazon (just bought 2, 24-pks of Sylvania 100W-130V, for $30.28 + S&H).
Plus, save your CFL’s to sub for rotten veggies at political demonstrations – they’ll have to call every HazMat Unit in the State to clean-up the mess.
AD-RtR/OS! (1f61b8) — 12/16/2011 @ 10:30 amI believe GE supported the ban on incandescents. They make them in Monterrey, Mexico and other places overseas now, following a trend of GE moving jobs out of the U.S.
Republicans in Congress overwhelmingly voted against the ban.
Gaia is doomed.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/16/2011 @ 10:56 amI had never even considered that.
Neither had I until I went lamp shopping and got rather depressed. Lowe’s same as HD.
Kevin M (563f77) — 12/16/2011 @ 11:31 amAmazon, Sylvania 12709!
AD-RtR/OS! (1f61b8) — 12/16/2011 @ 11:55 amThe light bulb reprieve isn’t all good news.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 12/16/2011 @ 12:08 pmBut wait! The Dems have had it in for fluorescent tubes, too.
Seems they didn’t like magnetic ballasts for the tubes and banned their manufacture in 2009 as I recall. Next they decided that T-12 type tubes waste too much electricity.
So, as I researched replacing a few bad ballasts in my kitchen light fixtures I learned that I must buy more expensive electronic ballasts and as of July 14, 2012 the T-12 fluorescent tubes will be banned. Buying replacement T-12 ballasts doesn’t make sense if you won’t find T-12 tubes after next July.
What started out as a minor task is now costing much more in time and money to replace ALL the fixtures with the “anointed” T-8 fixtures and toss my cache of T-12 tubes and buy replacement T-8 ones. All because of the energy geniuses in Sacto and DC. Grrrr!
in_awe (44fed5) — 12/16/2011 @ 12:38 pmSince repeal of the “Light Bulb Lunacy Act” will not happen with this President, if is just another campaign argument FOR his replacement, and moving both houses of Congress further towards the Red end of the light scale.
AD-RtR/OS! (1f61b8) — 12/16/2011 @ 2:05 pmDRJ, I don’t see anything in that Atlantic article that would raise Red Flags.
AD-RtR/OS! (1f61b8) — 12/16/2011 @ 2:12 pmYes, it is only a reprieve, and Yes, some retailers might not want to jump back on the stock bandwagon (but that is something that happens all the time and is amendable to consumer persuasion).
My only hesitation is that not knowing how that provision of non-funding is written, I would be concerned that it might not prevent some …hole at Customs from saying “No, you can’t import these, because…” when the clear legislative intent of THIS Congress is to maintain the availability of incandescent bulbs of 100w and greater for the American consumer.
instead of light bulbs it should have been the Keystone XL pipeline that they forced down their throats…
Rorschach (c5574d) — 12/16/2011 @ 2:36 pmKeystone is in another “must pass/must sign” bill.
One step at a time.
AD-RtR/OS! (1f61b8) — 12/16/2011 @ 3:31 pmCan’t find 100′s at HD in CA, get online with Amazon (just bought 2, 24-pks of Sylvania 100W-130V, for $30.28 + S&H).
Comment by AD-RtR/OS! — 12/16/2011 @ 10:30 am
I have been stockpiling 100 watt bulbs from the Dollar Tree store. 4 pack of bulbs cost a total of $1.07 tax included. 48 bulbs would only be $12.84 total.
peedoffamerican (ee1de0) — 12/16/2011 @ 4:38 pmthis Congress can only restrict the expenditure of funds in this Fiscal Year in this CR.
oh see no one tells me anything
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 12/16/2011 @ 6:00 pmOf course, the last factory in the US that make light bulbs closed last year.
The socialist greens still got their trophy and more jobs went overseas. Just as they planned.
tyree (84087f) — 12/16/2011 @ 6:41 pmyou won’t find T-12 tubes after next July.
So, I either have to junk my F40 4-foot T12 fixtures in my kitchen and garage, or stock up on F40 bulbs? These are very busy people. Why don’t they go regulate telephone sales calls or something useful.
Kevin M (563f77) — 12/16/2011 @ 6:57 pmhttp://www.nationalreview.com/corner/285980/fudging-numbers-mona-charen
narciso (87e966) — 12/16/2011 @ 6:58 pmThe socialist greens still got their trophy and more jobs went overseas. Just as they planned.
Then, they can complain that these evil corporations are sending jobs overseas and use that to micromanage further.
Kevin M (563f77) — 12/16/2011 @ 6:59 pmObama has done nothing wrong?
Really useful idiots I mean honestly If Obama gets a 2nd term after the economy collapses you useful idiots deserve doom.
Raising the deficit is wrong leftys.
Forcing Catholics to violate their religion is wrong.
Pissing off our allies is wrong.
Allowing the open borders to remain open is wrong especially when it was Bush.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/16/2011 @ 7:03 pmwhere the same cowardly incompetent government what can’t pass a budget or requisition a refueling tanker or put a man in space gets off telling me what light bulbs to use is very befuddling to me
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 12/16/2011 @ 7:30 pmI can’t help thinking we could have had it all
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 12/16/2011 @ 7:34 pmbut America went wrong something awful
it’s pitiful.
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 12/16/2011 @ 7:34 pmBloomberg supports Gun Control because he wants people to be at the mercy of criminals.
Dohbiden (ef98f0) — 12/16/2011 @ 8:08 pmhttp://www.elightbulbs.com/library/f40t12_fluorescent_light_bulbs_from_service_lighting.cfm
,i> Because it’s still very pervasive in many office environments across the country, we make the F40T12 fluorescent light bulbs a substantial part of our offering. There will probably never be a time when these will not be in use. Remember that there are many types of fluorescent lighting, we describe some of the most common used in commercial lighting here. The F40T12 fluorescent light bulb is the old standard for fluorescent lighting.
Just what exactly did they do with florescent lights? What’s affected?
sammy Finkelman (b17872) — 12/17/2011 @ 5:19 pmThe standard round kitchen ones, what happens to them?
Sammy Finkelman (b17872) — 12/17/2011 @ 5:21 pmI have not encountered CFL lag, and my whole house is on CFLs. Are you sure you aren’t buying bad bulbs, Patterico?
OmegaPaladin (a63d4d) — 12/19/2011 @ 12:51 pm