Europe has officially begun its ban on incandescent light bulbs, a ban that promises to save some $7 billion a year in energy costs. Stores are allowed to continue selling their current stock, but they can no longer buy any more bulbs to sell. And while the EcoGeeks rejoice, others have flung up their arms in despair and cannot imagine a world where we don't light our world with tiny little space heaters. So, with a ban looming in 2012 for the U.S., it's worth taking a look at how Europe is handing the switch.
Among the reasons that people are upset include:
It will be very expensive to change the lighting system on fair rides, so expensive that those beautiful spectacles may never again light up the night sky.
Lighting systems for galleries are very precisely tuned and artists and curators alike have very specific needs that (apparently) sometimes require incandescent lights.
People who suffer from "anxiety" believe that the bulbs harm them or their children.
None of these issues seem particularly difficult to deal with. If you're really worried about your bulbs, I'm sure there will be ways to get them in a somewhat legally-gray way. But for those people who just want to replace a light bulb and head to the nearest store (99% of people) the gains in efficiency will likely not be affected measurably by this.
I say, let the market provide incandescents for those who are angry enough to go to Russian websites and order the bulbs with a $10 shipping charge on top. And sure, folks will stockpile, but the change is being made and the energy will be saved. That's what matters, and I'm excited to see what the boom in the markets for LED and CFL bulbs will do for the technologies
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