Bill aims to swap out old light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs

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There's a bill in the US Senate right now aimed at aiming out old-style incandescent light bulb and replacing them with energy efficient bulbs. It looks like it has a good chance of passing.

If the bill passes and Americans gradually switch out bulbs over the next seven years, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee estimated annual energy savings would reach $6 billion.

Energy-efficient bulbs could save more than 65 billion kilowatt hours of electricity a year, said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., a House of Representatives co-sponsor of the bill. That's the equivalent of 80 coal-fired power plants, Upton said.

"This is more than just one light bulb at a time," he said at a Senate energy committee hearing Wednesday.

The legislation requires that light bulbs be 300 percent more efficient by 2020, said Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., another House sponsor of the legislation. The bill's sponsors also would like light-bulb manufacturers to find a way to keep mercury from being released in the manufacture and disposal of the new energy-efficient bulbs.

They're also working on encouraging manufacturers to make the newer bulbs in the United States, Harman said, and would like to see the federal government, the world's biggest buyer of light bulbs, switch to more efficient lighting.

The legislation would require that 40-, 60-, 75- and 100-watt incandescent light bulbs be phased out by 2014. They would be replaced with the "curlicue" compact fluorescent light bulbs and other, more energy-efficient forms of lighting being developed.

If it does pass, it will have a significant impact on the sum total of energy consumed by light bulbs worldwide. The article say that the US is the single-largest market for incandescent bulbs and accounts for nearly a third of the global market.

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Comments

[stan]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pwlOw7iCNrI

you wanna talk about a real breakthrough!!! check this out!!! dont let this get swept under the rug!!! true change is around the corner... this has been available for over 2 years!!!!! try and google Aqueon fireplaces...

just today (9-13-07) press release

Erie, Pennsylvania Scientists discovered a way to burn saltwater!!!! at 3000 DEGREES F

!!!!!!!

[EspLighting.com]

I think we are still a long way from true alternative energy sources. The latest reports actually indicate that it takes more energy to produce alternatives! Our best bet is conservation...

Take for example lighting. On average, Lighting consumes about 20% of all electricty produced. In addition to looking toward higher efficiency alternatives, out salvation lies in conservation. I like Energy Efficient CFLs. CFLs do, in fact, have much greater advantages than other forms of lighting. According to the US Energy information commission, by replacing twenty bulbs with CFLs in your home, over the course of a year you’ll eliminate nearly a ton of carbon dioxide emissions.
Check out our findings at:
http://www.esplighting.com/saveenergy.html

Thanks!

Ike

[PM]

Everybody should learn about electric cars as a solution. It’s amazing how far the technology has come. One of the main electric car companies, Zap, has delivered over 100,000 EV’s. (source: zapworld.com). EV’s cost 1 to 3 cents per mile to run, compare that to regular cars!

[PM]

Everybody should learn about electric cars as a solution. It’s amazing how far the technology has come. One of the main electric car companies, Zap, has delivered over 100,000 EV’s. (source: zapworld.com). EV’s cost 1 to 3 cents per mile to run, compare that to regular cars!

[John T]

I read the comments, and one said we are a long ways away from alternative energy. This was dated about a year ago. What a difference a year makes, wind turbines are going up all over the place. Spain for instance makes 27% of it's energy from wind, Denmark 20%, Germany 15%. This is more than a start, it is a major move.

As for the article on lighting and CFL's, I wonder if the CFL bulb manufactures have considered putting a thin layer of plastic over the bulbs so if the buld breaks, the pieces are contained within the plastic. Some of the long tube florescent bulbs are sold this way now. The big issue with releasing mercury is if the bulb is shattered. If a bulb burns out, drop it off at Home Depot or IKEA, and other places. They recycle them. Yes, a bit of a pain, but the right thing to do, just like batteries.

[Efficient Planet]

About time bush.

Forget the economy crisis...

http://www.efficient-planet.com

launches on monday and is advertised to cut 80% off your electricity bill.

[Industrial LEDs]

LEDs can replace almost any other type of bulb and they really offer great energy savings.

[Rick L.]

I agree. I have tons of LED's and they are amazing. Thanks a bunch, Rick Lanese

[oilfield equipment]

bush is always late on whatever he does. Thats why he is not the president anymore.