As someone mentioned somewhere on this big old interweb, one of the US states is planning on banning the olde incandescent lightbulb for general distribution. Users will instead have to make use of those nifty energy saving bulbs.

What do people think of this? Good idea? Bad idea?

Personally, I moved into my home 4 months ago and the first thing I did was replace all the bulbs with energy efficient ones. Ok, the outlay was £25 but considering they cost 1/9th of the amount of an old bulb to run, it is worth it. Also, I don't have to worry about one going pop whilst i'm wandering about.

Now... just need to replace this old fridge...

It would be interesting to know how much more energy (assuming it's more) is used to make the energy saving bulbs. Also they do burn out eventually and it would be nice if the components are fairly environmentally friendly, I heard there is mercury in some of them.

I think that it would be great they would have to lower the prices of some so that way the people that dont have as much money can buy them

You can pick them up for £1.99 now, which, considering they should last 6 years is cheaper than incandescent bulbs...

No, governments should not ban those light bulbs.

People choose whatever light bulbs cost less as the original poster did. If people do not choose energy-efficient one, then it means that the cost saving from its efficiency is cancelled out by its higher production costs.

In addition, light bulbs might be different in aspects other than energy consumption like durability. Some energy-inefficient, but long-lasting, bulbs can be the best choice in a certain situation. Total ban doesn't make sense here. Let people choose one that suits them best.

If this seems anti-environment, then raise tax on electricity. That's it.

Stupid idea. By what right does the government substitute its judgement for mine?

There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.---- Robert A. Heinlein

One of those energy efficent bulbs being pushed on consumers here in the US is the flourescent bulb. But one thing thats not being talked about is that when these flourescent bulbs burn out they have to be disposed of as hazzardous waste because they contain mercury. They also put out UV light and they don't last as long as the incandescent.

Between these choices, where would you rather spend your money?

Here's one for all you tree huggers out there..... Hg content rising in public landfills.

Consumer fluorescent bulbs are not under any disposal regulations. Chuck 'em in the weekly garbage pickup. That's all you gotta do. So lets go ahead and replace all the incandescent bulbs out there because that is the current political wind. 20 mg Hg per bulb adds up folks. A few grams leeched in to the water table and kiss that water (and your neuro system) goodbye.

I don't get it JLB. In the firsrt sentence you use a disparaging remark (tree huggers) and then you go on to advocate an environmental agrument....Whats the deal?

Well.... would weekend environmentalists be more appropriate? Arm chair environmentalists?
Maybe I should be more specific.... Lloyd Levine and the rest of the California raisins.

What gets me is the reason people got behind the idea of promoting the banning of incandescent lighting --> reduce energy consumption. This is typical California fruit and nuts politics. I'll do it because it "they" say so and not note the ramifications of a total switchover to fluorescent lighting.

Which is better? less energy consumption or being poisoned? I can live without a light much longer than I can without good water. As my wife can attest to ( professionally ) , heavy metal poisoning in no treat.

Blame it on the music... Typical republican...

(Yes, I was only joking)

Lol

It is only a matter of time & the incandescent light bulbs won't even exist anymore.

The laser technology of the LEDs will zoom into our life, cheaper to make, cheaper to run, & more reliable.

Surely the answer to that problem is to enact stricter disposal of them? In the UK we have road side collection of waste for recycling in many places now, with more areas doing it all the time - and the same can be said of many European countries. The disposal of fluorescent bulbs could easily be added to these collections.

The other question is, what materials can be recycled from these bulbs? People spoke of mecury, couldn't this be extracted and re-used? I think introducing a tax on incandescent bulbs is a good way forward, whilst also introducing other environmental schemes - such as road side collection, free compost bins, etc... (Personally, in my house there are 2 adults and we only fill a single black sack with rubbish each week. The rest is recycled.)

They probably should be banned. I've never heard of a black market effect on lightbulbs, but that would be interesting...

The future looks dim (pun intended)
From posts in this thread it looks like they will also be able to find good reasons to ban florescent bulbs as an alternative.

How efficient are LED's nowadays?

LED's are very efficient. I think the next form of bulb will be based on OLED's actually, as they are organic compound based so therefore are easier to dispose of.

Also, the life expectancy of an LED is in excess of 12 years as far as I know...

I like the idea of LED's but the current crop of energy savers and screw-in flourescents aren't a viable altenative. I work in a healthcare facility that switched to the energy saver bulbs 4 years ago and none lived to their life expectency. The administrator actually considered hiring someone to just replace bulbs because they were lasting only 3 to 6 months. Inventory reports showed that every energy saver bulb in the facility had been replaced at least twice in the first year. We are now back to incandescents. In case you're wondering, this is an historic building built in 1917 which is why it has so many incandescent fixtures.

I have been using low wattage lamps for years. 13 years now, I have only had to replace 2 in that time. So the bulk of the 15 or so lamps that are in my home are doing just fine. 13 years ago saving the planet wasn't at the front of my mind, saving cash was!

I do believe that we are responsible for global warming, but even if you don't save some cash by going green.

As for banning them that will be fact right across EU in the next few years. The decision has been made it's just down to the national governments to put it in to law.

PS. LED are rubbish for general lighting, they look nice but are far too dim.

Not quite accurate anymore.
All flouresent tubes are now classed as hazardous waste in the uk (If the binman sees them in the bin they won't take it and you get a warning sticker threatening legal action if you do it again)
there are now specialist areas for flouresent lights at waste disposal sites in the uk (there is at my local dump it site) And for my commercial work i have to pay my local electrical wholesaler for disposal (And it's not cheap)
If you want more info look here.

Fluorescent Tube Disposal, Fluorescent Tube Recycling, Disposal / Recycling Fluorescent Lamps UK: Envirogreen UK

And a nice horror story of what can happen.

WorldNetDaily: Consumers in dark over risks of new light bulbs

I Still think that they are much better than the incandescent lamps, I just wish that the recycling is sorted out and putting into landfill is made illegal.
And that there was more information on the packaging and in the press about the dangers of mercury.

NB;- saying that i must have a ton in my mouth what with the number of fillings i have.