Is it smart to ban a light bulb?

Question

I was reading an article regarding the old style incadessant light bulbs and, their ultimate demise. Is this a wise move? I have the energy efficient ones outside and they take forever to light up in the cold. I also put one in my fridge, I might as well have nothing. With all this environmental friendly bs are we taking a step backwards?

isn't it energy inefficient to have to leave the fridge door open for several minutes waiting for the bulb to warm up? I mean with the several amp compressor firing up and the blower fans all to save on the light bulb.

Answer 1

Most regulations are rediculous. Let the market dictate which products succeed.

Mercury contamination - Compact florescents contain mercury. The idiots have decided to ban incandescent light bulbs though after compact florescent light bulb use increases they'll have to ban these because they'll contaminate the recycling facilities, garbage dumps and water supplies in these areas.

Energy Savings - If a product saves electricity and therefore money people will start to purchase these products for the uses where they are appropriate. I have these in a lot of area in my home though I hate the color they give off and the wavelength when it comes to reading so I'm happy to spend the extra money in electricity for incandescent bulbs where I read, cold environments and the some room lights where I want to light to come on immediately instead of waiting. Let people decide not the government.

Answer 2

Light bulbs are as good a place to start as anything. Creeping incrementalism works that way. Start by making an almost insignificant sacrifice because it's easier than fighting. You don't have to believe the crisis you are helping to solve is real. Just go along. It's only a light bulb.

When the sacrifice has been made on a wide scale voluntary basis, the crisis mongers will use those statistics as part of the reason a ban wouldn't hurt. Then the push starts for another sacrifice, and so on. Before you know it you will be a felon for driving the same car you drove yesterday.

There are tons of examples right in front of you. In 1934, the government decided to "fine" people for not "registering" machine guns and short-barrelled shotguns. Nobody was told of this new law. In fact, as people found out about it they were told it was a "revenue tool" and registration would never lead to anything else. The truth was that prohibition had just been overturned and thousands of revenue agents would need something to do. Those revenue agents are now known as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosives.

The point is, an almost insignificant sacrifice on the part of America's gun owners eventually led to Waco, Ruby Ridge, the Brady Bill, the Clinton Assault Weapons ban, the Black Powder ban and a growing movement toward the repeal of the 2nd amendment altogether.

Look at the persecution of tobacco users as another example. The list is endless.

Answer 3

Well think about it,

The Clinton administration banned high flo toilets and mandated lo flo toilets,

Before lo flo toilets were ever invented.

They just assumed the industry knew how to make them, when they didn't.

Result: Millions of homes, had lo flo toilets installed, that didn't work properly and had to be flushed two otr three times, thus using 2 1/2 times more water, than the regular high flo toilets that worked.

Or look at high defination TV, Congress mandated that the TV stations start broadcasting in high defination.

The cost of the TV's would come down way before the law took effect, they said.

Well have you looked at the price of a reasonable sized high defination TV lately ?

You could buy 5 regular TV's that were huge, for the price of a small high def TV.

.
Have you seem any 100 watt energy efficent light bulbs ??

All they offer is weak 40 watt bulbs.

Good way to ban reading in america I guess, make it impossible for people to actually see the pages in a book at night.

Answer 4

There were articles in the newspapers a hundred years ago suggesting that we not get rid of gas lights in favor of the new fangled electric light bulbs. Those whale oil lamps were great too. One could carry them around, no cord to worry about. Yes, change is difficult but it comes as mankind progresses and improves so in a few years most people won't care one way or another. Now go back to listening to your new fangled 8 track tapes and let the rest of the world move on.

Answer 5

The problem is, the energy efficient bulbs just prolong our dependence on our current energy sources. As long as there is no acute need to develop a new source, it won't happen.

Plus, whenever this first wave of bulbs burns out, the landfills will suddenly have an ungodly amount of mercury in them.

Answer 6

Putting one inside the frig is just a waste. If it doesn't stay on for at least 15 minutes, it shortens its lifespan dramatically. An LED light might be a better option. I've had one a lamp for 7 years.

Yes, it's a good idea. Congress passes legislation to reduce energy consumption all the time--think automobiles. Unless you like sending money to terrorists that is.

Answer 7

It will never work, they can only ban an extremely limited range of incandescents. Most cannot be replaced with fluorescent.

Answer 8

I use a lantern!


is it that necessary to even have a light in your refrigerator? I don't have one in the freezer and I do ok!!!

Answer 9

I think the light bulb should have rights.

Answer 10

I think we have bigger fish to fry in this country than worrying about the phasing out of a light bulb.

We live in a "me-based" society. We have to have everything we want, exactly when we want it.

So it takes a couple of minutes for the lights to warm up in cold weather. So what? Turn them on a couple of minutes earlier.