Why ban all incandescent bulbs?

Question

In the year of 2014 there will be full implementation. Then what can be used for chandlers & long stem light fixtures that use small base delicate looking bulbs? Must congress force us to throw out millions of light fixtures for some polluting mercury filled light bulb which the light itself destroys photos it comes in contact with?

Answer 1

Let's hope Congress sees what a ridiculous thing that they've done and changes the law (or gets rid of it entirely).  If they don't do that, then hopefully someone will sue and the courts will rule that Congress has endangered the American people with that mercury filled light.

If anyone thinks that this light is okay, I suggest that they read how a person is supposed to clean up this type of light if it gets broken.  The clean-up process will shock you!

Answer 2

This is just one more example of the government sticking their nose in where they don't belong.  

Have you seen or heard of the ridiculous regulations regarding the "safe" disposal of these energy-efficient bulbs.  It's obscene, and totally unrealistic.  Due to their mercury content, it takes an act of congress to dispose of them.  

I personally have replaced several of my incandescent bulbs with the energy-efficient ones, and will enjoy the savings.  However, when they do burn out after the proposed 5 years, they will find a new home in my trash.  God help!  By that time, we might have the "lightbulb police" checking from door-to-door for violators such as I.    Should I just surrender now in advance or what?

Answer 3

Because they are idiots. Just imagine how many of em it would take to actually change a light bulb. And how long they would debate the procedure to do it.  One of em would probably stick a finger in the socket while the switch was on  and then they would have to fall back and pass all kinda legislation to child proof it, add about a hundred safety features and warning labels.

Answer 4

You are absolutely correct. It is a stupid policy and totally anti-capitalism. And how anyone can consider the minuscule savings in energy as a fair trade-off to having the personal ( and financial) risk of mercury breakage in your home is beyond me. Once again... political correctness run amok.

Answer 5

Incandescent bulbs use alot more energy and creates a large amount of heat.  In fact light is actually a byproduct, it produces more heat than light.  

There already are bulbs for chandeliers and they are dim-able, although I myself would prefer incandescent in this case.  .  I saw them for sale at Lowes.  CFLs use only a minute amount of mercury, some do not use any.   The dangers of mercury in CFLs has been overblown, see http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl...  My bet is that they will set up more collection points for CFL bulbs (they already have them but are rare at the moment).  As for the light damaging photos, I am an amateur photographer and I haven't heard of this.  I do know that taking pictures in fluorescent lighting has an ugly greenish-yellow shift which can be corrected with a flash or filters.  

The LED bulbs, which are even more efficient than CFLs (10w = 100w incandescent, and lasts 10 years) will be available soon.  They tend to have a light blue hue to them.

I don't know where you live but check with your local power company.  Here in southern California, the major power company, Southern California Edison, is subsidizing the price of CFL bulbs at Wal-Mart to about 80 cents apiece.  They also have free lamp exchange events.  

See article:

http://www.laweekly.com/stage/theater/ba...