The editors of the New York Post write today on the demise of the incandescent light bulb:
In six short months, a new dark age will begin to descend on America. Starting on Jan. 1, 2012, federal law begins a phased ban on Edison’s gift to mankind: the long-lived and long-loved incandescent light bulb.
The feds demand that they be replaced with Compact Fluorescent Lamps — squiggly bulbs full of mercury and other mysterious stuff that are supposed to save cash and energy.
But at what cost?
Congress appears not to have pressed the issue before banning the old bulb. So let’s take a long look at the dubious efficacy of the new one.
The 100-watt-equivalent CFLs run about $4 a pop — five times the price of incandescents — and that cost doubles for special bulbs that work with dimmers and three-way lamps.
The federal Department of Energy claims a houseful could save the average consumer $50 a year. This almost offsets the $60 you’ll spend equipping an average house with CFLs that first year.
The feds say that CFLs last for 10,000 hours, or 4.5 years, in controlled circumstances, or 10 times longer than incandescents.
But consumers live in the real world, where cold air, humidity, and just flipping the light-switch all take a toll — so no one really knows how long they’ll last in less-than-laboratory conditions.
But once the bulbs die (prematurely or otherwise), you mustn’t just throw them in the garbage.
That’s because CFLs contain mercury, a toxic pollutant. And that’s why the city Department of Sanitation wants consumers to deposit dead bulbs in one of five “Special Waste” dropoff sites located around the city.
But they are only open four days a month — so New Yorkers should plan ahead.
And they should bring their driver’s licenses to the dropoff — where Sanitation Department employees record their name, address and vehicle-registration numbers while taking careful note of the type of trash being tossed.
I have to show ID to throw away a light bulb but not to vote? The rest here.