The public have been asked to 'snoop' on shopkeepers who continue to sell traditional light bulbs banned by Europe. The Telegraph reports there is evidence of people hoarding the old fashioned bulbs around Europe and enforcement agencies are ready to crack down.
"Under this Government we begin to resemble East Germany in the 1980s where we snoop and report on local businesses," he said. "No doubt the next move will be to snoop on your parents if they continue to use old fashioned light bulbs."
From September 1, it will be illegal to import conventional pearl or frosted bulbs of any shape or wattage. Traditional incandescent bulbs of 100 watts will also be banned under European law aimed at reducing energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions.They will be replaced by energy saving lights, which usually use flourescent tubes, but it is thought some consumers will still prefer their 'traditional' bulbs, particularly for reading lamps.
There is evidence of people hoarding the old fashioned bulbs around Europe and enforcement agencies are ready to crack down on unscrupulous businessmen who continue to import the "illegal bulbs" from factories in China.In Britain, trading standards officers will be carrying out inspections and are asking members of the public to report any shop continuing to stock the illegal bulbs.
Any individual found importing the bulbs into the EU will face a £5,000 fine and it could be an unlimited amount for big companies.The Department for the Environment insisted it was necessary to use the law to ensure people buy energy efficient bulbs that will save them around £37 per annum on energy bills and save the UK one million tonnes of carbon every year.
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32 comments:
I hear there's a little incandescent bulb hiding out in an attic in Holland.
Yeah, it shined some light on a jihadi, I hear.
Poor little Fil, tearfully running from town to town under (ironically) cloak of darkness.
Yet another Left-created target of scorn.
Nickie,
there won't be any light bulbs soon or anything else for that matter.
The chinese factories will be gone, like Jarrow useful in another age.
However tallow from fat spy pigs....
Heads up.
Okay, I'm replacing our compact flurescent bulbs and seeing if it makes that big a difference on our power bill, because that's just silly and annoying and stupid and exactly the sort of thing that awakens my inner three-year-old who does things precisely because she's told not to, just to show you she can anyway!!!!!!!!!
(does any of that make sense?)
Save 27 pounds per year, eh? Maybe that would be true if those bulbs lasted as long as they claim. In my experience they burn out as often as the incandescent bulbs, but cost WAY more.
They can have my 60W Soft White when they unscrew it from my cold, dead socket!! Uh, that sounds kinda bad. Gotta think of a better slogan
Isn't this sad. What's next? "Hey kids, tell us if your mommy or daddy have a copy of the Constitution hidden under their mattress!"???
I think Obama can help with this problem. I hear he has a little unused server space at snitch@whitehouse dot gov.
I got one of those crap bulbs in the mail. I figured wtf, I may as well try it...and it's truly crap. So dim that I often have to turn on a SECOND light in order to have enough light to type by. Saving energy by burning a second bulb? Brilliant!
This is all a plot by countries like China to force US into using less energy so THEY can use more.
And laugh hysterically at us as we create an environmental disaster by tossing billions of these new bulbs - which each contain a small drop of mercury - into land fills across the country.
Like slapping a dog with its own tail then sit back and watch him chase it around for a couple hours.
Wake me up when some communist country signs on to stifle their growth and economy by pretending to believe some nonsense about man made climate change.
Yeah, these bulbs are great, alright. First of all, you can't see by them. Secondly, you can't throw them away! Here is the statement from EnergyStar about disposing of the bulbs:
"What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?
EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options."
Here is what you do if one breaks:
You must have people and pets leave the room, open the window and shut off the heating or air system. Clean up the mess including any dust or residue, but don't vacuum. You can't wash anything with residue on it - you might contaminate the water supply with mercury. Throw everything away in an outside receptacle, then "check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area." This info is from http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/lighting/cfls/downloads/CFL_Cleanup_and_Disposal.pdf.
Not worth any savings, I would say!
PS - It's very hard for someone like Ronald Reagan to make forward progress, but it is very easy for someone like Obama and the Democrats to turn this country into a hellhole in just a few short years..
An interesting thing to keep in mind.
The ban will also include candles and kerosene lamps. Additional anyone caught smuggling them items into the country will have their lights put out.
Oh...but what happens when the new light bulbs start leaking in landfills and filling the salmon and tuna with mercury? I love moonbat logic.
Is this fascism with light bulbs? How ridiculous can these environmental wackos be? These light bulbs are the most dangerous but economically safe light bulbs for people to own. Beware of breaking the bulb and letting the mercury spill onto you. What backwards thinking.
It won't matter with what they light their way after December 21,2012.
OMG, a whole £37 pounds a year savings, horrible green light that induces migraine and takes at least five minutes to get going properly, there's all that lovely mercury to play with AND we get to save a polar bear!
As the UK produces no more than one or two percent of the planet's CO2 emissions the whole exercise is pointless - except for whoever is making all the money out of it!!
The Kid said: "it is very easy for someone like Obama and the Democrats to turn this country into a hellhole in just a few short years.."
It's only taken them 8 months to unravel what it took 233 years to build...
"It won't matter with what they light their way after December 21,2012."
Got that right !
http://www.greatdreams.com/2012.htm
heheh
@Steve. They haven't unraveled it quite yet... If we can delay until 2010 November.
Wow, I wonder how well the lightbulb underground is doing there?
My husband bought CFL's ... ONCE !
Candles are better...
CFL's are no longer allowed in our house.
I only use lighting when I need it... and when I do, it better be amazing!
All the best, Maria
ooops... my husband was still signed in ;o)
Obama and Co. would like the West to be using torches. At least we could scare off Sleestaks.
Last January, our local supermarket had a sale on incandescent bulbs. I bought bushels of them.
I'll enjoy them until the neighbors turn me in for indirectly raping polar bears and burning baby harp seals for fuel.
Caeseria, It unfortunately does save money. I might join you in changing all of my cfl's to protest as well. Only changed to save money like a good capitalist in the first place.
When it comes to light bulbs, I remain pro-choice.
And I am pro-light.
Sad news. Redi Kilowat was executed for harboring little Fil.
Sleestaks?
Of course this all fitted nicely into the Brown Govt's legislation that forces people who wish to sell their own homes to pay out for a home information pack (HIP). This pointless additional tax isn't even `stealthy`, such is Brown's courage on such matters. You pay £300 for someone to come to your house, inspect it for `efficiency` and produce a chart that the real estate agent must make available to potential buyers. Our report included the following advice: "Efficiency would be improved if all light bulbs were energy-saving". We had ONE room that had a conventional bulb. Our estate agent told me that since the law was passed 18 months ago precisely NO ONE had ever asked him for it. I feel so well served and protected.
Hogman... Plan to make all your toast on a Labour-aproved Aga.
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