Tuesday, May 17, 2011

New, federally-mandated light bulbs will cost $50 -- each

Two leading makers of lighting products are showcasing LED bulbs that are bright enough to replace energy-guzzling 100-watt light bulbs set to disappear from stores in January. Their demonstrations at the LightFair trade show in Philadelphia this week mean that brighter LED bulbs will likely go on sale next year, but after a government ban takes effect. The new bulbs will also be expensive — about $50 each — so the development may not prevent consumers from hoarding traditional bulbs. To encourage energy efficiency, Congress passed a law in 2007 mandating that bulbs producing 100 watts worth of light meet certain efficiency goals, starting in 2012. Conventional light bulbs don't meet those goals, so the law will prohibit making or importing them. The same rule will start apply to remaining bulbs 40 watts and above in 2014. Since January, California has already banned stores from restocking 100-watt incandescent bulbs...more

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those incandescent light bulbs produce enough heat to keep my pipes from freezing. I don't know about you but I can.t look at a heat tape and tell if it is working.

Anonymous said...

$50 light bulbs is just the start. Once they are the only bulbs on the market they will come with three federal employees to turn them into the light socket.....that's after 50 man-hours of training.