100 Watt Incandescent Bulbs Get the Heave-ho in Cali
Green Chip Stocks
In December, I reported on the United Nations Environment Programme’s en.lighten initiative’sfindings that the United States could save $9 billion by replacingincandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient ones.
California is among the first states to move toward this goal.
At the beginning of the month, the Golden State began phasing out certain energy-guzzling bulbs.
Manufacturers will no longer make thetraditional 100-watt bulb and when stores eventually run out of theirsupplies, consumers will have to choose from more efficient bulbs thatuse no more than 72 watts.
Energy efficient bulbs include halogen incandescents, compact fluorescents, and LEDs.
"These standards will help cut ournation’s electric bill by over $10 billion a year and will save theequivalent electricity as 30 large power plants," said Noah Horowitz, asenior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council.
"That translates into a whole lot less global warming pollution being emitted."
Incandescents create light by passing an electric current through a tungsten wire filament, but waste 90 percent of the electricity they use as heat instead of light.
Fluorescents apply an electrical current to different types of phosphors to produce light and produce less heat.
The change is part of the federal EnergyIndependence and Security Act that President George Bush signed in 2007to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
The rest of the country will follow suit and enact these changes next year.
Beginning with the 100 watt bulb, the act requires new bulbs to use 25 to 30 percent less energy beginning in 2012 nationally.
By 2014, the 75-, 60- and 40-watt bulbs will also be phased out.
Taking a quick survey of the blogosphereon this topic, I found many people voicing their opposition of theseenergy efficient bulbs for various reasons…
One reason is that they provide a softer, more natural light and turn on more quickly.
President of GE Lighting Michael Petrassaid the industry is aware of the shortcomings, and is working to refine the technology…
"We’ve got compact fluorescents that look like incandescents… We have a product coming out this spring that’s a hybrid of compact fluorescent and halogen that will provide energysavings and a better start up time."
I think it will be interesting to see ifthe ban in California, and the looming ban for rest of the country, will make those opposed start to hoard their precious bulbs…
Until Next Time,
Angela Guss
California Begins Phasing Out 100 Watt Incandescent Bulb originally appeared in Green Chip Stocks. Green Chip Review is a free 2x-per-week newsletter, is the firstadvisory to focus exclusively on investments in alternative andrenewable energies.
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