Light bulb ban to take effect

[tangent4ronpaul]

But it must be more than just manufacturing, otherwise Lowe's and Home Depot wouldn't be talking about stock eventually running out. It has to be a ban on sales too, right? And if it is sales, is it just a ban on American retailers selling them (which would be a pain, but manageable) or is it a ban on me being able to order them through Ebay direct from Mexico or China? From a liberty standpoint, I know it sucks either way, but for folks like me who need access to cheap bulbs, the distinction has important real life financial implications.

The agency responsible for enforcing the ban on sales was forbidden from doing so by Congress. They changed the law, or at least blocked funding in the Agencies budget for that task. Meaning nothing will get done.

There are exceptions like 3 way bulbs 40/60/80 and specialty bulbs. Like AG heating bulbs for winter water bowls or easy bake ovens or specifically made for ceiling fans. One guy in the UK started selling them as "heating" bulbs, completely neglecting to mention that they gave off light in his ads - and sales took off!

I don't think this is the end of incandescent bulbs, I think it's the end of cheap and easily accessed bulbs. So stock up while you can!

-t

 

[mad cow]

I stocked up on 100w last year,they are all I use.If they last as long as they normally do,I have a ~10 year supply,at least.

However,they are a cheap mass manufactured good that relies on a partial vacuum to function.
Will they be any good in ten years?

 

[DamianTV]

There are going to be a lot of people that didnt stock up. Then they'll be paying $60 bucks plus for a 10 watt light bulb, as opposed to 60 cents.

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

I stocked up on 100w last year,they are all I use.If they last as long as they normally do,I have a ~10 year supply,at least.

However,they are a cheap mass manufactured good that relies on a partial vacuum to function.
Will they be any good in ten years?

There is a good thread on that topic here:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/house/1400676-how-long-can-you-store-incandescent.html

The short answer appears to be - no, they don't have a shelf life, unless you are thinking centuries... like a multi-generational space mission to someplace far away.

The greatest risk is breakage. Someone suggested apple crates as the best way to store them.

-t

 

[eduardo89]

Is mexico banning them? hope not that way you will always be able to at least get it on craigslist/ebay

I don't think Mexico is banning them, but I know all new constructions must be 100% LED lit, at least in Mexico City.

 

[eduardo89]

There are going to be a lot of people that didnt stock up. Then they'll be paying $60 bucks plus for a 10 watt light bulb, as opposed to 60 cents.

That's absurd, no one will pay more for incandescent if the price goes above that of LED lights, which use only 80% the energy, last 100,000 hours, and give off basically the same light effect as incandescent.

I think people stocking up on incandescent bulbs are just stubborn and trying to make a statement. There is no reason to stay on incandescent bulbs, unless you like to waste money on power.

 

[DamianTV]

That's absurd, no one will pay more for incandescent if the price goes above that of LED lights, which use only 80% the energy, last 100,000 hours, and give off basically the same light effect as incandescent.

I think people stocking up on incandescent bulbs are just stubborn and trying to make a statement. There is no reason to stay on incandescent bulbs, unless you like to waste money on power.

Yeah, cuz I can afford $60 bucks everytime a 60 cent lightbulb burns out in my house. Sure it will add up and cut down on total power costs, but those savings are offset by the assinine prices of the newer lightbulbs. If they were more affordable, I wouldnt have such an issue with it. Just another indication of extreme corporate greed.

 

[eduardo89]

Yeah, cuz I can afford $60 bucks everytime a 60 cent lightbulb burns out in my house. Sure it will add up and cut down on total power costs, but those savings are offset by the assinine prices of the newer lightbulbs. If they were more affordable, I wouldnt have such an issue with it. Just another indication of extreme corporate greed.

[mod delete] The high initial price of LEDs has nothing to do with "extreme corporate greed" and everything to do with the technology being relatively new (for consumer applications) and the expense in manufacturing. The price isn't $60 per bulb, btw. Yes, it was around that a few years ago, but it is about 1/10th that price these days.

 

[DamianTV]

You're an idiot. The high initial price of LEDs has nothing to do with "extreme corporate greed" and everything to do with the technology being relatively new (for consumer applications) and the expense in manufacturing. The price isn't $60 per bulb, btw. Yes, it was around that a few years ago, but it is about 1/10th that price these days.

Negative rep for that? Seriously? I can return that favor just as easily.

 

[eduardo89]

Negative rep for that? Seriously? I can return that favor just as easily.

Yes, neg rep for the ignorant "corporate greed" comment.

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

Yes, neg rep for the ignorant "corporate greed" comment.

I'm going to go with corporate greed. It was, after all the light bulb manufacturing trade groups that were pushing for this ban and the new, more expensive bulbs. I am quite sure, they will always cost more than a basic incandescent. They wouldn't have paid money to lobby if there wasn't a payday at the end for them.

-t

 

[eduardo89]

The price of light bulbs has nothing to do with "corporate greed."

 

[mad cow]

You're an idiot. The high initial price of LEDs has nothing to do with "extreme corporate greed" and everything to do with the technology being relatively new (for consumer applications) and the expense in manufacturing. The price isn't $60 per bulb, btw. Yes, it was around that a few years ago, but it is about 1/10th that price these days.

All of the 100 watt equivalent LED bulbs I see at Amazon are ~$30 and none of them put out the 1400 lumens of the $0.50 100w incandescents stored in my linen closet and they are floodlight shaped to boot,not suitable for most of my applications.

I live by myself in a 1350 sq/ft house and pay ~$0.11/kWh for electricity and don't average three lights burning for 10 hours/day,or roughly $0.33/day.

The bulbs last much more than a year on average,the one in my laundry room is at least 15 years old.

And most importantly,I don't like authoritarian assholes trying to save the planet dictating to me what type of lightbulb (for pity's sake) I am allowed to purchase and use with my own hard earned money in my own freaking house!

 

[DamianTV]

The price of light bulbs has nothing to do with "corporate greed."

Ha ha ha ha ha! And Corporations are never greedy at all, or overprice anything. Sure they have R&D costs, but we're talking LEDs, a tech thats been around for several years before the ban on incandescents was proposed. We're not talking about Super Computers, Space Flight to Mars and beyond or DNA Mapping. It is as BS as the US spending millions to invent a pen that can write in zero gravity when the Russians just used a pencil.

Material costs are also a factor, and I cant imagine that the material costs or R&D of a lightbulb costing more than a Microwave oven or DVD player, both of which use both lightbulbs and LEDs respectively. So I guess the price of Microwaves is also going to skyrocket to also afford their LED Lightbulbs. As well as ANY product that uses any sort of LED period.

 

[Christian Liberty]

Yes, neg rep for the ignorant "corporate greed" comment.

If you get in bed with government, you should expect to catch the disease it spreads

(Ron Paul)

 

[Henry Rogue]

I would be willing to part with my stockpile of bulbs for silver. Doubt I'll get any takers though. I need to take inventory, not sure what I have.

 

[donnay]

Yeah, cuz I can afford $60 bucks everytime a 60 cent lightbulb burns out in my house. Sure it will add up and cut down on total power costs, but those savings are offset by the assinine prices of the newer lightbulbs. If they were more affordable, I wouldnt have such an issue with it. Just another indication of extreme corporate greed.

 

[Ender]

That's absurd, no one will pay more for incandescent if the price goes above that of LED lights, which use only 80% the energy, last 100,000 hours, and give off basically the same light effect as incandescent.

I think people stocking up on incandescent bulbs are just stubborn and trying to make a statement. There is no reason to stay on incandescent bulbs, unless you like to waste money on power.

For me it is health issues.


Do 'environmentally friendly' LED lights cause BLINDNESS?
Spanish research has shown that blue LED light can irreparably damage the cells in the eye's retina
This is not the first time energy-saving bulbs have been criticised - fluorescent bulbs emit dangerous UV light


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2324325/Do-environmentally-friendly-LED-lights-cause-

 

[DamianTV]

For me it is health issues.


Do 'environmentally friendly' LED lights cause BLINDNESS?
Spanish research has shown that blue LED light can irreparably damage the cells in the eye's retina
This is not the first time energy-saving bulbs have been criticised - fluorescent bulbs emit dangerous UV light


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2324325/Do-environmentally-friendly-LED-lights-cause-

Theres more to this in regards to health than just the type of light. One of the types of new lightbulbs thats been promoted has been fluorescents that have Mercury in them. Not the superbright LED lightbulbs. Breaking one of those fluorescents would be a total violation of EPA regulations due to the mercury contamination. Of course, there are probably those out there that believe Mercury is totally safe for human consumption in mass quantities.

/awaits next negative rep

 

[donnay]

Theres more to this in regards to health than just the type of light. One of the types of new lightbulbs thats been promoted has been fluorescents that have Mercury in them. Not the superbright LED lightbulbs. Breaking one of those fluorescents would be a total violation of EPA regulations due to the mercury contamination. Of course, there are probably those out there that believe Mercury is totally safe for human consumption in mass quantities.

/awaits next negative rep

I agree. One of the other warnings is, if you break one of those lovely CFL lights never vacuum them up or your will blow the mercury around. Isn't it great that we need Hazmat team to come to our house if we break a bulb.

Also CFL's emit a lot of EMF's. That in of itself can be detrimental to your health.