http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656 The government may soon tell us what kind of light bulb we can use. Under a bill that California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Los Angeles,&nbsp; plans to introduce, the electricity-wasting incandescent bulb would be banned and replaced by energy efficient compact flourescents. I like the flourescents bulbs and have been using them to replace incandescent bulbs in my home. I like it that that was my idea. I'm not sure I like it as much when it's a government requirement. I'm thinking the price might go up. Levine notes that incandescent light bulbs haven't changed much in 125 years. The alternative uses 1/4 the amount of electricity as the old ones. Are you cool with the government changing our light bulbs? Anything else, you'd like the government to help us out with? Posted by Steve E. Swenson The government may soon tell us what kind of light bulb we can use. Under a bill that California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Los Angeles,&nbsp; plans to introduce, the electricity-wasting incandescent bulb would be banned and replaced by energy efficient compact flourescents. I like the flourescents bulbs and have been using them to replace incandescent bulbs in my home. I like it that that was my idea. I'm not sure I like it as much when it's a government requirement. I'm thinking the price might go up. Levine notes that incandescent light bulbs haven't changed much in 125 years. The alternative uses 1/4 the amount of electricity as the old ones. Are you cool with the government changing our light bulbs? Anything else, you'd like the government to help us out with? Posted by Steve E. Swenson en-us Good thing Lloyd Levine is not banning Humvees and&nbsp;forcing everyone to drive a Prius. He'd get a visit from the Terminator. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54124 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54124 Good thing Lloyd Levine is not banning Humvees and&nbsp;forcing everyone to drive a Prius. He'd get a visit from the Terminator. Sure, why not? I don't like incandescent light bulbs anyway. Flourescent bulbs use less power, and that's fine by me. I was OK when CFC's got booted, too. Why continue using outdated technology that is needlessly wasteful ( or harmful even ) when newer alternatives are available? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54131 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54131 Sure, why not? I don't like incandescent light bulbs anyway. Flourescent bulbs use less power, and that's fine by me. I was OK when CFC's got booted, too. Why continue using outdated technology that is needlessly wasteful ( or harmful even ) when newer alternatives are available? I like fluorescent bulbs.&nbsp; I'm torn over whether to support this because I really don't like government getting in to this level of management.&nbsp; That said, it is time we all switched over and frankly I don't see that happening without government stepping in.&nbsp; The problem is that we'd have to make sure that there are lamps and fixtures available to accommodate the bulbs.&nbsp; Also, many old fixtures and lamps won't be able to make the switch and would end up in scrap heaps.&nbsp; If they would introduce the bill with a five year window and still allow some of the incandescents that fit in non-standard bases, I'd go along.<br /> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54133 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54133 I like fluorescent bulbs.&nbsp; I'm torn over whether to support this because I really don't like government getting in to this level of management.&nbsp; That said, it is time we all switched over and frankly I don't see that happening without government stepping in.&nbsp; The problem is that we'd have to make sure that there are lamps and fixtures available to accommodate the bulbs.&nbsp; Also, many old fixtures and lamps won't be able to make the switch and would end up in scrap heaps.&nbsp; If they would introduce the bill with a five year window and still allow some of the incandescents that fit in non-standard bases, I'd go along.<br /> I've got three incandescents in the house--a three-way reading lamp, and one each in the refrigerator and oven.  The florescents are quite often four for a dollar--I've already stocked up. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54134 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54134 I've got three incandescents in the house--a three-way reading lamp, and one each in the refrigerator and oven.  The florescents are quite often four for a dollar--I've already stocked up. <p>I was one of the first to buy compact fluorescents when they were still $10 each.</p> <p>I'm not so sure that legislation is even necessary, however.&nbsp; Compact fluorescents seem to be catching on fast enough on their own.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54144 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54144 <p>I was one of the first to buy compact fluorescents when they were still $10 each.</p> <p>I'm not so sure that legislation is even necessary, however.&nbsp; Compact fluorescents seem to be catching on fast enough on their own.</p> <div>They should just tax incandescents, like they do with gas (to pay for roads), bottles and cans (CRV), pesticides (to pay for poison control), and computer monitors (to pay for disposal). Or just give florescents out for free, to encourage use.</div> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54145 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54145 <div>They should just tax incandescents, like they do with gas (to pay for roads), bottles and cans (CRV), pesticides (to pay for poison control), and computer monitors (to pay for disposal). Or just give florescents out for free, to encourage use.</div> Mattloch, I thought about the disincentive tax.&nbsp; My concern there would be if that drove up the price (artificially) of fluorescents.&nbsp; Another way to go about it would be to ban the sale of regular base light fixtures and their use in new construction.&nbsp; There isn't a current standard for fluorescent bulbs though, so unless everyone adopted a 4 pin design or something, it would make that impossible as well. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54161 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54161 Mattloch, I thought about the disincentive tax.&nbsp; My concern there would be if that drove up the price (artificially) of fluorescents.&nbsp; Another way to go about it would be to ban the sale of regular base light fixtures and their use in new construction.&nbsp; There isn't a current standard for fluorescent bulbs though, so unless everyone adopted a 4 pin design or something, it would make that impossible as well. Not if they used the tax to make florescents free, <strong>Tom</strong>. Whatever it would cost the State, they'd more than make it up with energy and pollution savings.... http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54163 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54163 Not if they used the tax to make florescents free, <strong>Tom</strong>. Whatever it would cost the State, they'd more than make it up with energy and pollution savings.... Well, Mattloch, if you want to be a liberal about it and talk about true cost vs. balance books....&nbsp; :)<br /> <br /> If that was the plan, I'd support it.&nbsp; That way, people can still choose the other bulbs for legacy fixtures as well. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54173 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54173 Well, Mattloch, if you want to be a liberal about it and talk about true cost vs. balance books....&nbsp; :)<br /> <br /> If that was the plan, I'd support it.&nbsp; That way, people can still choose the other bulbs for legacy fixtures as well. Question about florescent bulbs. Since the wattage rating on the florescent bulbs don't mean the bulb has the same brightness, can you put higher rated bulbs in a lower rated fixture and not have problems? (ie a 100w bulb in a 60w fixture) http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54176 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54176 Question about florescent bulbs. Since the wattage rating on the florescent bulbs don't mean the bulb has the same brightness, can you put higher rated bulbs in a lower rated fixture and not have problems? (ie a 100w bulb in a 60w fixture) Sure can, Pete.&nbsp; As long as actual usage is below the rating, you're set. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54177 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54177 Sure can, Pete.&nbsp; As long as actual usage is below the rating, you're set. You sure about that Tom? This isn't a time to worry about (or even consider) watts v. amps? I know that florescents work at low wattages because they need transformers for the high amps it takes to fire those suckers up. You sure you aren't going to be melting the wiring up? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54186 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54186 You sure about that Tom? This isn't a time to worry about (or even consider) watts v. amps? I know that florescents work at low wattages because they need transformers for the high amps it takes to fire those suckers up. You sure you aren't going to be melting the wiring up? I don't mind flourescents, but it takes a 75 watt fl. to put out the same light as a 60 watt inc.&nbsp; Also, there is a big defference in the type of light it puts out. Fl. light is a much &quot;whiter&quot; shade and that seems to bug some people. My reading lamp in bed has been fl. for 15 years and I generally replace burnt out inc. with fl. I wish somebody would tell me when fl. bulbs go on sale 4 for a dollar! I usually pay a few bucks apiece for them! They also last much longer and the vibration from a bulb in a cieling fan doesnt affect them! B<strong>ut I STILL don't like the idea of the government telling me what type of anything to use!</strong> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54233 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54233 I don't mind flourescents, but it takes a 75 watt fl. to put out the same light as a 60 watt inc.&nbsp; Also, there is a big defference in the type of light it puts out. Fl. light is a much &quot;whiter&quot; shade and that seems to bug some people. My reading lamp in bed has been fl. for 15 years and I generally replace burnt out inc. with fl. I wish somebody would tell me when fl. bulbs go on sale 4 for a dollar! I usually pay a few bucks apiece for them! They also last much longer and the vibration from a bulb in a cieling fan doesnt affect them! B<strong>ut I STILL don't like the idea of the government telling me what type of anything to use!</strong> Nope, Matt.&nbsp; If I'm reading Pete correctly, he's asking if a 100w equivalent bulb can go in a 60 watt fixture.&nbsp; A 100 watt equivalent uses about 30 watts or so.&nbsp; They all run on the same voltage, so if the wattage is lower, the amperage is lower as well (volts x amps = watts)<br /> <br /> Motopoet, What you're looking at is the wattage equivalent listed on the bulb.&nbsp; The actual wattage is mush lower.&nbsp; That said, you do need to overshoot because fluorescents are rated by how much light they put out when they are on.&nbsp; The flash off and on 60 times per second in tune with the household electrical.&nbsp; This is also why fluorescents bother some people and not others.&nbsp; People's brains process the world at different rates per second.&nbsp; Some are slower, some are faster.&nbsp; I've never been tested myself, but I'm guessing I process pretty slowly, because all of the flickering stuff in the world like computer monitors, tv screens and fluorescent lights don't bother me at all. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54244 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54244 Nope, Matt.&nbsp; If I'm reading Pete correctly, he's asking if a 100w equivalent bulb can go in a 60 watt fixture.&nbsp; A 100 watt equivalent uses about 30 watts or so.&nbsp; They all run on the same voltage, so if the wattage is lower, the amperage is lower as well (volts x amps = watts)<br /> <br /> Motopoet, What you're looking at is the wattage equivalent listed on the bulb.&nbsp; The actual wattage is mush lower.&nbsp; That said, you do need to overshoot because fluorescents are rated by how much light they put out when they are on.&nbsp; The flash off and on 60 times per second in tune with the household electrical.&nbsp; This is also why fluorescents bother some people and not others.&nbsp; People's brains process the world at different rates per second.&nbsp; Some are slower, some are faster.&nbsp; I've never been tested myself, but I'm guessing I process pretty slowly, because all of the flickering stuff in the world like computer monitors, tv screens and fluorescent lights don't bother me at all. <p>Which *IS* an argument against florescent lights in the workshop.&nbsp; The flicker can make saw blades appear not to be turning.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54253 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54253 <p>Which *IS* an argument against florescent lights in the workshop.&nbsp; The flicker can make saw blades appear not to be turning.</p> Yeah, but the sound is a pretty good tip off.&nbsp; :) http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54262 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54262 Yeah, but the sound is a pretty good tip off.&nbsp; :) <p>Fluorine gas (the stuff in a fluorescent light bulb) is a Wicked Oxidizer. It's really nasty stuff. If you don't believe me, check it out for yourself. Just think about the polution that would be created by the old bulbs being broken and thrown away. </p> <p>This Politician must not be very smart..................................</p> <p>...... and Steve, it's FLUO, not FLOU....................... ;-)</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54276 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54276 <p>Fluorine gas (the stuff in a fluorescent light bulb) is a Wicked Oxidizer. It's really nasty stuff. If you don't believe me, check it out for yourself. Just think about the polution that would be created by the old bulbs being broken and thrown away. </p> <p>This Politician must not be very smart..................................</p> <p>...... and Steve, it's FLUO, not FLOU....................... ;-)</p> Tony, how does the fluorine inside compare with the reduced emissions from energy production, reduced manufacture and waste costs because of their longer lives?&nbsp; I don't know if anyone has studied these impacts. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54285 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54285 Tony, how does the fluorine inside compare with the reduced emissions from energy production, reduced manufacture and waste costs because of their longer lives?&nbsp; I don't know if anyone has studied these impacts. <p>Fluorine Gas is nasty stuff. If you figure the all incandescent light bulbs have a vacuum, and replacing them with fluorescent bulbs will contain Fluorine Gas, how much (by volume) fluorine gas will be released into the atmosphere? What kind of nasty stuff is caused by oxidizers now? Ine for sure is Acid Rain..............Think about this one for a minute.&nbsp;Before law is passed, don't you think that someone should do the math? I'm not even a Chemist, just a Mechanical Engineer, with an Electronice background.</p> <p>I think that we need to get some <em>smart people</em> involved before we let some Politicians go off half-cocked....</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54288 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54288 <p>Fluorine Gas is nasty stuff. If you figure the all incandescent light bulbs have a vacuum, and replacing them with fluorescent bulbs will contain Fluorine Gas, how much (by volume) fluorine gas will be released into the atmosphere? What kind of nasty stuff is caused by oxidizers now? Ine for sure is Acid Rain..............Think about this one for a minute.&nbsp;Before law is passed, don't you think that someone should do the math? I'm not even a Chemist, just a Mechanical Engineer, with an Electronice background.</p> <p>I think that we need to get some <em>smart people</em> involved before we let some Politicians go off half-cocked....</p> <p>Mark..they're selling fluorescent bulbs all over town right now for a dollar apiece.&nbsp; I bought about 8 of them at WM a few weeks ago and saw then at Rite Aid 4 in a pack for 4 bucks&nbsp; The ones I'm using are equivilant to 60 watters and I'm happy with them.&nbsp; I even got a flourescent flood light for the back yard.&nbsp; Like RF..I have a 3 way in my lv rm lamp but one by one I'll replace all of them.</p> <p>(edit) it just occured to me that you might be talking about the desk lamp tube typr.&nbsp; Right now their pushing the coil standard base bulbs.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54301 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54301 <p>Mark..they're selling fluorescent bulbs all over town right now for a dollar apiece.&nbsp; I bought about 8 of them at WM a few weeks ago and saw then at Rite Aid 4 in a pack for 4 bucks&nbsp; The ones I'm using are equivilant to 60 watters and I'm happy with them.&nbsp; I even got a flourescent flood light for the back yard.&nbsp; Like RF..I have a 3 way in my lv rm lamp but one by one I'll replace all of them.</p> <p>(edit) it just occured to me that you might be talking about the desk lamp tube typr.&nbsp; Right now their pushing the coil standard base bulbs.</p> I guess that explains most of it. I never, for any reason, go to 99 cent stores and Wal-Mart is just for emergencies. I guess I'll have to have Bev look for them! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54331 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54331 I guess that explains most of it. I never, for any reason, go to 99 cent stores and Wal-Mart is just for emergencies. I guess I'll have to have Bev look for them! Young's Market (Brundage Ln) had them&nbsp;at&nbsp;2 for a buck. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54342 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54342 Young's Market (Brundage Ln) had them&nbsp;at&nbsp;2 for a buck. <p>You can get them online for a million different uses also.  Two great things about them:</p> <p>1. Not nearly as expensive anymore- on par with incandescent for cost if you buy them on sale.  AND, they last for what seems like forever.  We have yet to ever change one of these and our lights are on a lot.</p> <p>2. Our energy costs were through the roof.  We changed ALL of our recessed lights, all of our lamps and put in fluorescents.  Yes, there was some initial cost involved, but really not that bad.  In the first month, we ran an experiment. We compared our electricity bill with the previous month. It was the same season and there were no other variables in our energy use.  Our electricity bill was down by 30%.  The new bulbs were paid for in one month.  And we are using so much less energy each month that when we look at the old monthly records compared to this year's records- it's amazing how much money we are saving each month.  We're using the extra money to take the kids to Disney.   And, as mentioned, I haven't had to replace a single one in over a year and supposedly they can last for years.  So, my replacement costs are non-existent now and will be low eventually.</p> <p>3. ok- a third I just came up with- if everyone was using these and there was that much LESS stress on the grid, it follows that there would likely be fewer of the beloved California power blackouts! </p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54348 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/2656/#c_54348 <p>You can get them online for a million different uses also.  Two great things about them:</p> <p>1. Not nearly as expensive anymore- on par with incandescent for cost if you buy them on sale.  AND, they last for what seems like forever.  We have yet to ever change one of these and our lights are on a lot.</p> <p>2. Our energy costs were through the roof.  We changed ALL of our recessed lights, all of our lamps and put in fluorescents.  Yes, there was some initial cost involved, but really not that bad.  In the first month, we ran an experiment. We compared our electricity bill with the previous month. It was the same season and there were no other variables in our energy use.  Our electricity bill was down by 30%.  The new bulbs were paid for in one month.  And we are using so much less energy each month that when we look at the old monthly records compared to this year's records- it's amazing how much money we are saving each month.  We're using the extra money to take the kids to Disney.   And, as mentioned, I haven't had to replace a single one in over a year and supposedly they can last for years.  So, my replacement costs are non-existent now and will be low eventually.</p> <p>3. ok- a third I just came up with- if everyone was using these and there was that much LESS stress on the grid, it follows that there would likely be fewer of the beloved California power blackouts! </p>