Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/37174
Friday, July 22, 2011 – Daily News 3B Future for incandescent light bulbs looking dim MIAMI (MCT) — So, how many members of Congress does it take to screw up a light bulb? It only sounds like a joke. The fate of the incandescent bulb, the oldest and most common of household electrical devices, has morphed into a political litmus test, one championed by conserv- ative leaders from Rush Limbaugh to Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann. In a vote along party lines, the House last week blocked a GOP effort to repeal efficiency stan- dards that will begin phasing out the worst watt-wasters next year. But backers like Rep. Bill Posey who sees the notion of regulating bulbs as evidence of a "nanny state" run amok, haven't aban- doned the right to light fight. "This is a sore spot with peo- ple," said the Florida Republican. "My constituents overwhelmingly don't want the government to decide what kind of light bulb they want." Whichever way the Washing- ton debate goes, the future is dim- ming for cheap, old-school fila- ment bulbs, which haven't changed much since Thomas Edi- son patented his design more than 130 years ago. Along with now-common compact florescent bulbs, a new generation of light emitting diode (LED) bulbs claiming up to 23 years of life has begun showing up on store shelves and their eye-pop- ping initial prices of $50-plus have started to drop. Both kinds last years longer and sip roughly a quarter of the juice of their prede- cessors. David Schuellerman, a manag- er for General Electric Lighting, said demand for standard bulbs has dropped by half over the last five years, a trend he expects to continue as homeowners begin following the LED lead of busi- ness, which has already put the technology in everything from refrigerator cases to traffic signals. Maintenance and energy sav- ing easily justify higher initial costs, he said. "It's compelling when you think that these large companies that have the capacity to crunch the numbers _ Star- bucks, Walmart, Target _ like LED for their stores," At Light Bulbs Unlimited in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., purchasing agent Marek Luce has seen increasing interest in LEDs, which are fully dimmable, burn much cooler and are so versatile they come in rope or tape strips now popular under kitchen cabinets. But he's also noted some runs on incandescents by customers wor- ried about "bulb ban" rumors. "At times, if they need one, they'll buy 10. It's not like they're buying 200 or 300," said Luce, who believes consumer education will ease concerns. "Nobody feels like anybody's opinion was asked. A lot of people are afraid of not being left with a choice." The backlash has flummoxed environmentalists and energy effi- ciency advocates. "Because the light bulb is so iconic, it's being used a poster need for 33 power plants nation- wide. The rules, which match stan- dards already in place in Europe, have support from lighting manu- facturers, trade associations and the Obama administration. Last week, U.S. Energy Secre- MCT photo Marek Luce, manager at Lightbulbs Unlimited, looks at dis- play of old and new light bulbs with incandescent bulbs in front row and CFL's are the back two rows at the store's showroom in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. child for a political debate about how much government should regulate," said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose members include 150 major corporations and orga- nizations. "To me, it's mind-bog- gling that we would try to take a step backwards from what we've been doing on a regular basis." The standards — produced with bipartisan congressional sup- port and signed by President George W. Bush in 2007 — were drawn up with the goal of reduc- ing national energy demands and pollution. They mirror regulations that have been applied to appli- ances from refrigerators to water heaters since the 1970s. Supporters insist the standards will save consumers billions of dollars over the long haul. By 2020, when all bulbs will have to be about 28 percent more efficient than current standard bulbs, the average household bill is expected to drop by 7 percent, or $85 a year, according to an analysis by the National Resources Defense Council. Another study by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy put overall savings for Americans at $12.5 billion a year. The study also claims the new standards would eliminate the tary Steven Chu dismissed claims by critics that the standards amounted to a de facto ban of incandescents. They do effectively phase out the cheapest standard bulbs by 2014, starting with 100-watt ones that are supposed to be off store shelves by January, although the House of Representatives on Fri- day approved an amendment to delay a ban on sales of the incan- descent bulb for nine months, from Jan. 1 to the end of the fiscal year. Manufacturers say they already have halogen-based incandescents available that offer similar quality light and dimming options but will cost a bit more. "The only difference is they help American consumers save more money," Chu said. But to some conservatives, the bulb regulations have become a lightning rod. Limbaugh, on his radio show, called them an assault on personal choice, proclaiming, "Let there be incandescent light and freedom." Bachmann, the Minnesota repre- sentative and tea party favorite who has strong poll numbers among GOP presidential hope- fuls, proposed one bill to repeal the standard. 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