What do you think about the ban on light bulbs

[CowboyCO]

I buy CFL's when I can find them super cheap. So far, I've gone through a couple. I threw them in the garbage. If the government is requiring them, then there should be no reason I can't just throw them away. After all, if they were truly hazardous, they wouldn't have made them mandatory without also making it illegal to throw them away. That would would be stupid.

 

[CowboyCO]

Mercury is not dangerous unless its inhaled or ingested.

Or leached into groundwater...

 

[shellybaxter]

I actually have little problem with the ban on incandesent bulbs - however, I just asked my husband if this would be a problem. He said it would only be a problem for us in three places - oven, fridge, and microwave. He doesn't think they make alternate bulbs for these devices

 

[KPeveler]

I cannot use the new lightbulbs - florescents cause migraines and even seizures in me (yes, this sucks for when i leave the house - I have many illnesses and disabilities, so I dont get out much anyway).

I am going to have to stock up, because I cannot have the new ones for medical reasons. I wonder if congress took THAT into account...

Also, florescent light can cause flares in lupus and MS in some people - so congress may be saving the environment (which i dont believe is true) but they are causing pain to many of us living with chronic illness...

it's just one more thing to make live difficult.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Not that thrilled about OUR Government telling us WHAT kind of Light bulbs we can use....next they will be telling us what kind of underwear to wear!

No kidding! Next, they'll start telling two consenting adults who can and cannot get married! How dare they!

The low water use toilets worked out real well for conservationists. They get flushed more than once quite often because they don't flush the first or second time.

TMI, Dawn...TMI...

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Or leached into groundwater...

Um...wouldn't that then be ingested?

 

[C.Ann]

I have an eye condition that requires the brightest light possible for me to see just about anything and then I still sometimes need a lighted magnifier. This will become a quality of life issue for me. I didn't know about it but this will not be good news for me. I am sick of the government running my life but you get what you vote for. I would never bother to recycle the lights just like I don't bother recycling anything else. It's just not a priotity for me to be honest. I guess I will start stocking up on lights too.

You should skip the florescent bulbs and move into the LED bulbs. I think you will be VERY happy with those. They are very bright lights.

We have the CF bulbs in most of our fixtures but we have dimmer lights and we can't use them in those. We have one outdoor fixture that burns out the CF bulbs in about 3 days but our regular old inside lightbulbs have been working just fine in there for over a year (it is a flood light but we have some 60 watt bulbs in there because the CF flood lights burnt out and since the 60 watts are working fine, why spend $10 on a flood light).

I too have eye problems that require extremely bright lights - along with white walls and ceilings - (even white furniture - if at all possible).. Anything other than that and I feel like I'm trying to do things in the dark.. Very, very annoying!

I have tried every kind of "new" light bulb out there - in every wattage - and they are absolutely horrible!! I ended up giving them away to others who wanted to "try" them.. (Some kept them, some didn't..)

Count me in with the "hoarders".. I'll be buying all of the good old-fashioned light bulbs I can get my hands on..

I wonder if they even gave a passing thought to people with eye issues; migraines; etc. when they came up with this ridiculous idea? I'm betting "not"..

 

[mhsjax]

Ya know......I bet you pool hop when you're at Disney too! You
rebel you....


_______________________________

LOL. No I don't pool hop, I have one in my backyard so a pool really doesn't interest me, but I have been known to bring back a mug.

 

[KPeveler]

I too have eye problems that require extremely bright lights - along with white walls and ceilings - (even white furniture - if at all possible).. Anything other than that and I feel like I'm trying to do things in the dark.. Very, very annoying!

I have tried every kind of "new" light bulb out there - in every wattage - and they are absolutely horrible!! I ended up giving them away to others who wanted to "try" them.. (Some kept them, some didn't..)

Count me in with the "hoarders".. I'll be buying all of the good old-fashioned light bulbs I can get my hands on..

I wonder if they even gave a passing thought to people with eye issues; migraines; etc. when they came up with this ridiculous idea? I'm betting "not"..

Of course they did not think of that - If it does not affect them, they would not think of it... I, too, cannot have new light bulbs, so I will be stock piling!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I too have eye problems that require extremely bright lights - along with white walls and ceilings - (even white furniture - if at all possible).. Anything other than that and I feel like I'm trying to do things in the dark.. Very, very annoying!

I have tried every kind of "new" light bulb out there - in every wattage - and they are absolutely horrible!! I ended up giving them away to others who wanted to "try" them.. (Some kept them, some didn't..)

Count me in with the "hoarders".. I'll be buying all of the good old-fashioned light bulbs I can get my hands on..

I wonder if they even gave a passing thought to people with eye issues; migraines; etc. when they came up with this ridiculous idea? I'm betting "not"..

some of the places that I found that sell LED replacement bulbs now have several different versions of each.

it seems to be "bright" white, "soft" white and "cool" white

the others have a blue tinge to them, or yellow.

I have used the soft white in some table lamps and we cannot tell the difference.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I'm really not feeling this, they worry me, I have to say that I'm someone that really believes and tries to go along with the "Green movement". I try to eat organic when possible, hormone free milk, etc., etc., always recycle, etc. That being said, I don't really like this. Being green is not just about saving energy, but being safe and healthy. I don't like that they contain mercury. There are even studies that say they give some people headaches, I for one do get aura migraines and lights can bring these on. Also, they say they can deplete vitamins I've heard also after sitting under them for a long time.

 

[bicker]

No mercury is used in the manufacturing of LEDs. That's a problem for CFLs, not LEDs. If you are concerned about mercury in CFLs, then buy LEDs instead.

 

[yoopermom]

They also can cause problems for kids with sensory processing disorders (one reason I have lamps and Christmas lights all over my classroom instead of using the overheads).

Oh my gosh, I thought I was the only one who did this in my classroom! I teach spec. ed., and my kids HATE the overhead lights. They flock to the sunlight from the windows, and the ugly Goodwill lights I've brought from home.

Another hate of the new bulbs!
Terri

 

[Colleen27]

I don't like the idea for the mercury factor. Yes, LEDs are an alternative but they are very pricey so most people will go with CFLs if/when incandescents become unavailable, and particularly in areas like mine where you have a 20min drive to the closest place that accepts florescents for recycling, you'll find a lot of people just tossing them in the trash. Over time I think it is a policy that is bound to increase environmental mercury exposure, so in essence we're just reducing one type of pollution by creating another.

 

[bicker]

LEDs are expected to eventually get down to $30 each, at which time they'll represent a financial savings over CFLs.

Regarding mercury: Electricity use is the main source of mercury emissions in the U.S. CFLs use less electricity than incandescent lights, meaning CFLs reduce the amount of mercury into the environment. And that reduction is so significant that even if every CFL was improperly disposed of, and just thrown away like trash, it would still mean less mercury emissions than with incandescent bulbs. [Source: EPA]

So, essentially, incandescent bulbs cause more mercury emissions than CFLs could.

 

[disney1990]

Apparently not a lot of people know about this but a couple of years ago congress passed the bill that would ban incandescent light bulbs by 2014. I heard about it about a year ago and started hoarding light bulbs. I don't like the new ones for one reason because I am being forced to use them. Also, I don't like the light but most importantly they contain mercury. Not a good thing at all. The EPA website says you should recycle them. That is a good idea but honestly how many people are going to do that? Most people will simply throw them in the trash like they do now. That means they will make it into landfills. That means they will break in the landfills. That means the mercury will get into the environment.

I am so stinking mad about this I could scream. But I do have quite a store of incandescent light bulbs. I buy a pack of them everytime I go to the store. I shouldn't need to pollute the environment for quite some time.

There are so many products used in the home that contain mercury. Most of these contain far more mercury than CFL bulbs. Who knows how many pairs of blinking tennis shows have been thrown away -- I never even knew they contained mercury.

Products containing mercury

Mercury is used in a wide variety of household products. Some examples are listed below:
Thermometers—Mercury is used in thermometers because it expands and contracts evenly with temperature changes.

Household switches and thermostats—Mercury conducts electricity and is used in many household and appliance switches, including switches found inside appliances. Examples of appliances that have mercury switches are thermostats, clothing irons and top-loading freezers and washing machines.

Household bulbs—Fluorescent, high-intensity discharge (HID) and neon lamps contain mercury, often in vaporform.

HID bulbs are often used in settings that require high amounts of light, such as gymnasiums and shopping centers. Fluorescent lamps are good energy savers, using up to 50 percent less electricity than incandescent lights. This energy savings reduces mercury emissions from power plants.

Batteries—Current mercury batteries are "button" shaped and are used in hearing aids, watches and other items requiring a small battery.

Old chemistry sets and toys—Children's chemistry sets were once sold with liquid mercury. Some toys contain a drop of mercury that is moved through a maze, called a mercury maze.

Athletic shoes—Some athletic shoes with flashing lights in the soles contain mercury.

Clothing irons—Some irons have an automatic shut-off switch containing mercury.

Medical products—Mercurochrome is a skin antiseptic used to treat cuts and abrasions.

Thimerosal (about 48% mercury) has been used in antiseptic creams and as preservatives in pharmaceutical solutions including contact lens solutions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers a list of drug and biologic products containing mercury.

Blood pressure gauges—Home blood pressure gauges contain almost 1.5 pounds of mercury. An aneroid blood-pressure unit is a mercury-free option.

Microwave Ovens—Mercury vapor bulbs were used in older microwave ovens.

Automotive headlamps (ONLY the ones with the blue tint when lit)

Pilot light sensors - in SOME gas appliances such as stoves, ovens, clothes dryers, water heaters, furnaces and space heaters

 

[Colleen27]

LEDs are expected to eventually get down to $30 each, at which time they'll represent a financial savings over CFLs.

Regarding mercury: Electricity use is the main source of mercury emissions in the U.S. CFLs use less electricity than incandescent lights, meaning CFLs reduce the amount of mercury into the environment. And that reduction is so significant that even if every CFL was improperly disposed of, and just thrown away like trash, it would still mean less mercury emissions than with incandescent bulbs. [Source: EPA]

So, essentially, incandescent bulbs cause more mercury emissions than CFLs could.

Interesting. I had no idea that incandescents contribute to mercury pollution. I just know about the florescents because of the special disposal rules; dropping off CFLs at Home Depot isn't a big deal but taking burnt-out tubes from my grow-light setup to the county collection center is kind of a pain.

I love the LED bulbs and I'm really looking forward to the price coming down a little more. Right now, I'm only using them in hard-to-change overhead fixtures and nightlights, but the light quality is so much nicer than CFLs and the profile so much more attractive that I'm switching over bit by bit as things burn out.

 

[C.Ann]

Still stock piling the "old" light bulbs - and will for as long as I can get my hands on them..

Hopefully they will one day have a HUGE "clearance sale" on them..

 

[Katie Dawn]

I don't care for it either, but the mandates have been and continue to be ongoing....

low water usage toilets
low flow showerheads
lightbulbs
changes to washing machines (you can no longer buy a machine that lets you set the water levels to low-med-high)
no more freon

hope that water heaters aren't the next to go; not a fan of those instant ones

What would be the advantage of not being able to set the washing machine size to low-med-high? I assume a large load is more efficient than a small load (if you compare it to washing that same amount of clothes in separate small sized loads) ... but if I am forced to wash a small sized load of, for instance, delicates, on a "large" setting... THAT would be really energy inefficient.

Also, does anyone have a web link that states these are all going into effect, and when? I had never heard of any of this, including the light bulb thing. Would it be on a government website?

Thanks!

 

[Lassie Lynne]

I suffer from migraines and light shades and brightness do matter. I deal with it at work, but at home I like my regular bulbs. Have not heard about this so I will keep my ear to the ground and my stock up on my fav light bulbs.