Let’s be very clear about one thing: I’m not a huge fan of energy-saving light bulbs. In fact, when we moved into our current apartment, the bathroom light was filled with the ugliest version of these things, and they’re still there because who has the cash to get the prettier ones?
I hate composting, too, but I freakin’ do it because I don’t want the earth to be taken over by giant landfills any sooner than it has to. No-brainer, right?
Except some knucklehead politicians actually put their time and energy into overturning a law creating new energy standards for light bulbs. Instead of, I dunno, creating jobs or figuring out healthcare. Light bulbs. They were fighting about light bulbs. And they finally have lost their fight, thank goodness.
Open letter to Washington: I want safe, efficient stuff in my home, and I want it to be as cheap and easy to find as possible. So stop fighting for energy-wasting home accessories.
Listen, there are various things the government makes sure are up to standards in our homes, and there’s a reason for that. It makes the world safer. Some of the things we have to keep a handle on, by law:
- Car emissions, so that your neighbor can’t choke you with the rumbling stink of his busted-up ’96 Chevy Caprice.
- Toxic pollutants, because hello, Erin Brockovich, safe drinking water coming out of your taps.
- Electric codes, because if we aren’t forced to update our electricity every once in a while, boom: house fire.
- Appliance efficiency, because if we have access to refrigerators and air-conditioners that cost less to run, we all come out ahead.
- Seatbelts and car-seats, and I’m not even going to dignify that with an explanation, because if you don’t understand why those things are important ... just ugh.
In short, there is nothing wrong with saying “light bulbs have to be up to this standard.” Requiring manufacturers to not make crappy bulbs doesn’t impinge on anyone’s freedom, unless you’re worried about the freedom of corporations to pump out crap that doesn’t work as well as it could.
Note to the easily insulted: Nobody's saying you're not smart enough to choose your own light bulbs. This is about increasing the production of more efficient appliances. It's about getting us all up to a standard that's safe and livable for everyone.
Those who opposed this regulation said it was too much big-government, accusing Washington of dictating what light bulbs we can buy. And? So? We already aren’t allowed to drive on bald tires or live in firetrap homes. Are these the freedoms we need to fight for?
And for the record, these reforms were originally signed into law by George W. Bush.
Go ahead! Make my home safer, more energy-efficient, and cheaper to run in the long run, Washington!
Do you think incandescent bulbs are worth fighting for?
Image via terren in Virginia/Flickr
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Comments 17
Uhmm... you DO realize that those wonderful, energy saving CFL's contain TOXIC mercury??? What happens in 50 years when we find out that all that mercury has ended up in our landfills and is contaminating our earth? Yea, sure they *say* not to throw them away... but I certainly don't have the time, nor energy, to find a "safe toxic drop location" just for a single light bulb.... not to mention the wasted gas? 6 of one, half dozen of the other, the government needs to butt out. Bravo to the guys standing up to such regulations!
Ditto Leanne's sentiment, and I'll add that there's nothing quite like having to freak the hell out when your kid knocks the lamp off the table, and the toxic CFL explodes. Did we mention toxic? TOXIC. The title of your piece should be I Support Toxic Light Bulbs and The Dispshits Who Tell Me They're Better.
I have to agree with the above posters. Mercury in the household = bad idea. People won't recycle them. I mean, I will, but many won't. And the old bulbs have other uses as well. Tell my 17-year-old kitty why the light she sleeps under no longer warms her old bones. And I also used them to heat my outdoor rabbit hutches in the winter. I don't like fluroscent light, either. It bothers my eyes. We will be hoarding regular light bulbs for as long as we can.
And I want to add, I do support better energy usage. I drive a Prius. I recycle and compost. But I want no additional toxins in the household. I'm still trying to purge the junk I still have.
Also... Not sure when this legislation was brought up, but didn't those rep's have something better to worry about than light bulbs? PLUS, banning incandescents in favor of CFL's will take a product that is made in the USA, creating jobs, saving tansportation, etc... and make us buy a product that is made in China (don't we owe them enough money?!) and then add the wasted fossil fuels to get them here. Really, I don't see how anyone would think this was a good idea.
I totally agree with the first couple of commenter's. I HATE those bulbs and have been stocking up for the last 3 years so I'll never be "forced" to use them. Also, I live out in the country and would have to travel 28 miles ONE WAY to a place that recycles these. So I'm not going for one bulb so I'll have an old bag of burned out light bulbs sitting around. But I would also recycle them but what about people who don't? No thanks. Leave my old light bulbs alone.
the mercury, the higher EMF emissions, and the fact that they don't last like they say they do drive me nuts. I am very into the whole green movement(even a member of my local chapter of HMN Holistic Moms Network) but not there w/ the bulbs.
So, what you're saying is: it's up to the gods in Washington to decide what risks we can and cannot take with ourselves and our personal property? Makes it sound like we don't own ourselves--they do. It is not, and never was, the government's job to keep us safe. The government's job is to keep us FREE, and they're doing a shit job of it, in my opinion.