Selected comments from the MicroBytes readers…
Do you agree that incandescent light bulbs should be outlawed?
Yes– 14%
No – 85%
“There is a tremendous hidden cost in using
incandescent bulbs. The energy needed to power
those bulbs results in increased pollution (acid
rain, mercury, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides,
fine particulates carbon dioxide) which directly
cause adverse health effects, decreases the life of
paints (good for the paint companies, bad for the
rest), adversely effects fresh water quality.”
“Absolutely not. This is one more example of
government overreaching its authority without
full consideration of the consequences, and on
the basis of marginal gain.”
“Outlaw compact fluorescent light bulbs also,
since they contain mercury. Go with LED’s.”
“The mercury content of the new style bulbs will
someday be considered a health and
environmental hazard.”
“Mandated improvements in energy efficiency
are the only solution addressing the vast
increases in demand driven by population surge.
Apparently "people" these days aren't very eager
or thoughtful enough to be good stewards of the
finite resources we have.”
“Incandescent bulbs are inefficient, hot, do not
last long. Fluorescent bulbs are dangerous due to
hazardous compounds incorporated in the
making of them. LED seems to be the answer,
although currently too expensive. Increased use
will lower costs.”
“While CFL’s do contain mercury the amounts
not released by fossil fuel plants because of
CFL's greater efficiency outweigh the amounts
that the CFL’s contribute to the environment.
Additionally CFL’s themselves will soon be
replaced by more efficient LED’s.”
“A century old technology that wastes almost all
of the energy it consumes. LED will be the
future, but not if incandescent bulbs can remain
dirt cheap.”
“Yes, and we have an environmental
responsibility to protect our children from the
CFL bulbs that we have to dispose.”
“No new incandescent bulbs should be sold.”
“Buy Hg free CFL’s already.”
“Until we have an efficient system for recycling
the toxic compact fluorescent bulbs, we should
not be outlawing the incandescent bulbs.”
“If I want to pay for the electricity required to
use "inefficient" incandescent bulbs, it should be
my right. Compact fluorescent bulbs emit ugly
light, don't last as long as claimed, and cannot
easily be disposed. What happens to those
companies that produce incandescent bulbs?
Will they be bailed out?!?”
“There are so many fixtures/lamps that can use
only incandescent bulbs. The CFL's are really
ugly in fancy fixtures. Also, disposing the CFL's
is a problem. Think this through before
implementing this!”
“There's nothing more fun than having the local
HazMat team over for dinner when you break a
light bulb!!”
“While CFL is a valuable and important change
for energy conservation there are still
applications where incandescent, halogen or
LED lighting makes absolute sense. Small
space lighting such as a storage room where
leaving the light on occurs is a good application
for fluorescent tubes or CFL. Occasional lights
can also benefit from CFL. Certain bathroom
fixtures still require an incandescent lamp to
work properly.”
“I hate the color of the CFL's. They give off a
hideous blue cold light. I buy the incandescent
bulbs for the warm yellow light they give off
alone.”
Do you agree that incandescent light bulbs should be outlawed?
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Yes– 14%
No – 85%
“Let people decide what they want to use, it is
their right. Government can educate people not
legislate their consumer behavior.”
“While a good idea in theory, the reality isn't
working in the home environment. The MUCH
more expensive, energy efficient florescent
bulbs do NOT last as advertised; my experience
is a lifespan similar to the incandescent bulbs.
The approved disposal locations in my area are
not obvious and the size of the bin suggests that
most of the burned out bulbs continue to be
illegally placed in the trash.”
“Unfortunately, prohibition has never worked.
Instead of outlawing the incandescent bulb, an
effort should be made to make them more
efficient.”
“The new mercury containing bulb sale is just a
cover up. The aim of the sale is to transfer the
highly toxic difficult to get rid of mercury from
one country to another. In this case the receiver
is the stupid one who is paying extra to get the
poison.”
“This is a silly mandate. We are simply
exchanging one bad for another. This really is a
money grab by light manufacturers.”
“Mercury contamination of our ground water
and sitting in landfills awaiting distribution is
not what I want to leave as a legacy for our
future generations. We should be forward
thinking and use more efficient LED and
continue to use incandescent lighting not the
CFL.”
“Besides being an environmental issue,
fluorescent light bulbs cannot replace all of the
functions that incandescent bulbs perform. For
instance, my silkworm incubator is heated by a
60W incandescent bulb. A fluorescent would
not produce the needed amount of heat.”
“Piece of unscientific nonsense. Here in the UK
we've been struggling with this silly idea for
about 5 years now. When will the bureaucrats
who dream up these silly ideas get real?”
Do you agree that incandescent light bulbs should be outlawed?
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