Business Leaders Say 'No' To BULB Act Repealing Light Bulb Energy-Saving Law

GreenTracker| Americans are hoarding incendescent light bulbs as new Federal legislation kicks in beginning in 2012, designed to reduce energy consumption — whether Americans want it or not. Republicans are focused on repealing the order, sponsoring the BULB (Better Use of Light Bulbs) act.

Sen Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky argues that Americans cannot be mandated to do any energy savings and that improved energy standards on appliances have sent jobs overseas.

Appliance and lighting industry representatives and efficiency experts, however, testified that tougher energy-efficiency standards had prompted an industrywide retooling. That retooling, they said, created many thousands of new jobs in the US and increased consumer choice of light bulbs.

“We are proud that our industry is one of the very few US industries that enjoys an over $2 billion positive balance of trade,” said Stephen Yurek, president of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, a trade association. “We build equipment here in North America and export it to nations around the world.” The manufacturing side of the industry, he said, accounts for 250,000 American jobs, plus 1 million more maintainance, distribution, and installation jobs. via Christian Science Monitor

The National Electric Manufacturers Association doesn’t want BULB passed. They’ve upgraded factories and say that it’s not true that the new legislation bans incandescent light bulbs. Consumers will still be able to purchase an incandescent light bulb, one that is 28 percent more efficient.

As for jobs lost to the new federal regulations, Stephen Yurek, president of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, a trade association says Rand’s argument is totally inaccurate.

“We are proud that our industry is one of the very few US industries that enjoys an over $2 billion positive balance of trade. We build equipment here in North America and export it to nations around the world.” The manufacturing side of the industry, he said, accounts for 250,000 American jobs, plus 1 million more maintainance, distribution, and installation jobs.

It seems that business is on President Obama’s side, in terms of mandates that ‘force’ Americans to consider new ideas and ways of saving energy. You can rest assured that none of the industry positions are being discussed on talk radio, which tends to be well — close-minded.

Being urban-minded, damn liberal (although Anne is definitely a moderate), women libbers entrepreneurs at AOC, we think the folks at Solvyo Design could give each member of Congress their new energy-efficient brain lamp. For the sponsors of the BULB act, we request two — one for their office and another for the night stand.

Perhaps the infinite wisdom of of these amazing ‘Insight’ brain bulbs will light up the minds in Washington. Remember vast numbers of Congress could care less about green energy. They don’t even believe the world has an energy crisis.

There is no doubt in our minds that Americans will not reduce our energy consumption unless new legislation is forced down our throats. We believe we are top dog and have the right of dominion over the world’s resources. God gave us that right and people should learn to accept it.

With all the Republican focus on regulating women’s bodies on behalf of the sperm and eggs headed for a collision or unification — depending on personal circumstances — Republicans could care less if precious, limited resources exist in 2035 to insure a high-quality, sustainable lifestyle for the unborn they profess to protect.

God will wave his magic wand and save us from ourselves, when the going gets tough. The fact that God might just as easily say “You stupid idiots, I gave you great brains; why didn’t you use them on behalf of all of humankind?” doesn’t penetrate the brain circuits.

Comments

[uncmom59]

The authors of this and other articles promoting CFLs as the green solution are missing a couple of facts. I am writing this as a female environmentalist who has suffered the adverse effects of misuse of the environment, so I am not biased on the other side.

However, these bulbs have been found in studies, reported by medical charities and physicians, as well as numerous patients, including Temple Grandin on CSPAN Book TV to cause deliterious effects to their photosensitive medical conditions. These include lupus, Xerostema pigmentosum (UVA/UVB light), traumatic brain injury, photosensitive epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, migraines (Critical Flicker Frequency rate causes neurological complications).

This ban would, therefore, violate the Americans with Disabilities Act equal access, further shrink the circumference of their world, much like that of no access for wheelchairs. They already have diminished work, shopping, worship and other access under the growing push for this well-intentioned, but wrong solution. LED bulbs would be the better solution and more green, less toxic for the environment, longer lasting.

As a JD mediator suffering from this disability, I have been reduced to home office using sunlight mostly and stockpiling incandescents. I can go to few restaurants, and must tailor
my small area of indoor function.

This is "another" inconvenient truth, just like the natural gas solution of fractilzation that is causing groundwater pollution, illness, and earthquakes off the charts in the Arizona concentrated site.

We need to stop, look and listen; and not make the mistakes of the Rush Limbaugh types who rush ahead where angels fear to tread.

Thanks for allowing me to share this perspective.

M.H.Baird, Esq.

[Anne]

Thanks for introducing this additional aspect to the conversation.

I don't think equating people supporting American initiatives to get something done on energy conservation -- that would be me -- to 'Rush Limbaugh types who rush ahead where angels dare not tread' is appropriate. What your point tells me more than anything is how difficult it is to move any responsible environmental initiative ahead in America. Hence we masturbate and move nowhere.