Gallery of Lights
Lamps => News about Lamps => Topic started by: rjluna2 on May 31, 2011, 12:17:50 PM
-
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Living Section, page D5
Fears over light bulb phase-out
Confusion about new law has décor devotees hoarding.
By Penelope Green
New York Times
Bunny Williams, the no-nonsense decorator known for her lush English-style rooms, is laying in light bulbs like canned goods, incandescent bulbs, that is - 60 and 75 watters - because she likes a double-cluster lamp with a high- and low-watt bulb, one for reading, one for mood.
"Every time I go to Costco, I buy more wattage," Williams said last week.
She is aware that there is legislation that is going to affect the manufacture of incandescent bulbs, but she's not clear on the details, and she wants to make sure she has what she needs when she needs it.
Darren Henault, a Manhattan decorator, has already splurged on light fixtures in his Millbrook, N.Y., farmhouse, which dates from the early 19th century, and he is fearful that the bulbs sold in the future won't be up to snuff.
He has filled the basement with antique-style Edison bulbs - the clear bulbs with the fuzzy filaments that restaurant designers are so fond of - as well as silver-bottomed incandescent bulbs, which throw light on the ceiling in an appealing way, both of which he buys in bulk at Gracious Home. (The former cost $19 each; Gracious Home is no Costco.)
"My electrician said they were being phased out," he said. "If he's wrong, I'm going to kill him."
As it happens, Henault's electrician is wrong.
(http://www.galleryoflights.org/mb/gallery/albums/userpics/ajc20110531a.jpg)
(http://www.galleryoflights.org/mb/gallery/albums/userpics/ajc20110531b.jpg)
Late in his second term, George W. Bush sighed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires light bulb makers to improve the efficiency of incandescent bulbs by 25 percent. The details of the law dictated a phase-out of the manufacture of certain bulbs in their current incarnation, starting with 100-watt bulbs next January.
The law does not ban the use of manufacture of all incandescent bulbs, nor does it mandate the use of compact fluorescent ones. It simply requires that companies make some of their incandescent bulbs work a bit better, meeting a series of rolling deadlines between 2012 and 2014.
Furthermore, all sorts of exemptions are written into the law, which means that all sorts of bulbs are getting a free pass and can keep their energy-guzzling ways indefinitely, including "specialty bulbs" like the Edison bulb favored by Henault, as well as three-way bulbs, silver-bottomed bulbs, chandelier bulbs, refrigerator bulbs, plant lights and many, many others.
Nonetheless, as the deadline for the first phase of the legislation looms, light bulb confusion - even profound light bulb anxiety - is rolling the minds of many.
Joseph Higbee, a spokesman for the electrical manufacturers association, offered his take on the situation: "Unfortunately people do not yet understand this lighting transition, and mistakenly think they won't be able to buy incandescent light bulbs. This misinformation has been promoted by a number of media outlets. Incandescent light bulbs are not being banned, and the new federal energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs do not mandate the use of CFLs. My hope is that the media can help the American people understand the energy-efficient lighting options available, as opposed to furthering misconceptions."
One thing is true: It's a good moment to be in the light bulb business. Big-box stores like Home Depot are selling more bulbs because they have more to sell: Incandescents are up "in double digits over last year," said Brad Paulsen, the company's light bulb buyer.
But so are compact fluorescents, he said: "People are moving to different product types at a higher rate than I anticipated."
Even so, he noted: "I understand that four out of five people still don't know about the regulations. The ones that do, you're going to get reactions across the spectrum. Folks that think it's a good thing in order to save money and energy. Others who have an affection for incandescents are a little disappointed."
You wonder why there will be disappointment if light bulb makers are selling a new, improved incandescent.
-
Thanks for this information. This is sure a useful one here!