California Assemblyman sheds "light" on greenhouse gas emissions
By George Gardner
California Assemblyman, Lloyd Levin, wants to set the trend for the nation by introducing the How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb Act. The act will impose a ban on the sale of incandescent light bulbs in California by the year 2012.
Incandescent bulbs haven’t changed drastically since Edison’s model; but they are extremely inefficient and give off the majority of their energy in the form of heat-carrying infrared light. Nearly ten percent of the light that is emitted from these bulbs are actually visible.
The fluorescent bulb is a sealed glass tube that is coated with phosphor powder, contains a small amount of mercury, and an inert gas that is kept under extremely low pressure. The phosphor powder is used to convert the invisible light to visible light; thereby, making it more efficient.
Levin claims that, “It’s time to take a step forward – energy-efficient bulbs are easy to use, require less electricity to do the same job, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and save consumers money.”
Doing a quick inventory, I counted 43 incandescent bulbs in my home. At over $5 dollars a piece, It would cost me around $215 to replace those incandescent bulbs with energy efficient fluorescent bulbs; money that I don’t care to spend. I have no problems with helping the environment; just not by force.
It should be noted, however, that in 2006 Levin voted “Yes” on a bill that would limit the available power sources to meet California’s energy demands while substantially increasing the price of electricity to consumers and businesses. That’s a good start; increase electricity costs and they will come. It’s a sick, sick world.
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February 5th, 2007
Energy efficient fluorescent bulbs, are very dangerous to the environment and should be banned as fire hazards and toxic health dangers to humans and the environment. They are Mercury containing and are listed as toxic waste. The latest supply of (Made in China) bulbs are of such low quality that they have been known to vent heated mercury vapor almost as soon as they are screwed in. This is either due to poor quality control or intentional national terrorist attack activity. These bulbs can heat up to extreme temperatures as mercury vapor is vented. They need to be made illegal not required. Where is Homeland security when we are under attack by such dangerous devices? Children are effected by mercury in severe degrees. Try and find a safe place to dispose of these things!!!