Comments on: Those Bulbs Aren't Free http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/ A guide to living, working, and playing in Frederick, Maryland Mon, 21 May 2012 14:47:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: The Dude http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2936 The Dude Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:06:23 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2936 Imagine the huge black market for incandescent light bulbs. People meeting in DARK alleys, as they stock up on 60, 75, 100, and those highly prized 3-way bulbs. shhhhh! Imagine the huge black market for incandescent light bulbs. People meeting in DARK alleys, as they stock up on 60, 75, 100, and those highly prized 3-way bulbs.

shhhhh!

]]> By: K http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2935 K Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:45:13 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2935 Unfortunately, it will be illegal to sell incandescents beginning in 2012, so in effect, they will be banned: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119923837885161397.html?mod=googlenews_wsj I am worried about the mercury, too. Many people will not dispose of them properly and mercury poisoning will become a problem. Unfortunately, it will be illegal to sell incandescents beginning in 2012, so in effect, they will be banned:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119923837885161397.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

I am worried about the mercury, too. Many people will not dispose of them properly and mercury poisoning will become a problem.

]]> By: The Dude http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2934 The Dude Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:21:12 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2934 You've connected all but the last dot. People do not recycle, and will not recycle more than the smallest fraction of tens of millions of CFBs. Adding more neurotoxic mercury to the air, soil and water mix is bad public policy and brain-dead science. Let's not rely on textbook solutions in this highly imperfect world. Most landfills and certainly virtually all rural dumps are not lined. Mercury thus leaches from compacted trash into the soil and water. The multiplier effect is a nightmare. But here's another problem: CFBs bring mercury inside the home, where ignorance and indifference will combine to potentially hazardous effect. Kids like to break things. Breaking things with mercury in them is a very real possibility. In less than 5 years, manufacturers will likely introduce LED bulbs that will replace incandescent bulbs. Let's not jump on the wrong bandwagon. You’ve connected all but the last dot. People do not recycle, and will not recycle more than the smallest fraction of tens of millions of CFBs. Adding more neurotoxic mercury to the air, soil and water mix is bad public policy and brain-dead science. Let’s not rely on textbook solutions in this highly imperfect world. Most landfills and certainly virtually all rural dumps are not lined. Mercury thus leaches from compacted trash into the soil and water. The multiplier effect is a nightmare.

But here’s another problem: CFBs bring mercury inside the home, where ignorance and indifference will combine to potentially hazardous effect. Kids like to break things. Breaking things with mercury in them is a very real possibility. In less than 5 years, manufacturers will likely introduce LED bulbs that will replace incandescent bulbs. Let’s not jump on the wrong bandwagon.

]]> By: clark http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2933 clark Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:33:19 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2933 Im going to check my bill because I didn't receive any bulbs. I wonder if they charged everyone. As for the mercury - Even disregarding global warming concerns- I've read more mercury (neurotoxin) is released into the atmosphere through the extra burning coal at the power plants powering the regular bulbs (in addition to all the other contaminants from coal). Mercury within these bulbs can be recycled safely. Properly cleaned up and recycled and there seems to be barely any risk at all...but you're right - plan for worst case scenario and our landfills would be massively toxic and would run off into the water. Most people still dont recycle on their curbside, let alone the extra step for the bulbs. Im going to check my bill because I didn’t receive any bulbs. I wonder if they charged everyone.

As for the mercury – Even disregarding global warming concerns- I’ve read more mercury (neurotoxin) is released into the atmosphere through the extra burning coal at the power plants powering the regular bulbs (in addition to all the other contaminants from coal). Mercury within these bulbs can be recycled safely.

Properly cleaned up and recycled and there seems to be barely any risk at all…but you’re right – plan for worst case scenario and our landfills would be massively toxic and would run off into the water. Most people still dont recycle on their curbside, let alone the extra step for the bulbs.

]]> By: lizfrog http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2932 lizfrog Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:23:06 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2932 It looks like "public outcry" has been heard by the Public Service Commission: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=70008 It looks like “public outcry” has been heard by the Public Service Commission:

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=70008

]]> By: The Dude http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2931 The Dude Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:55:00 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2931 Ban incandescent bulbs? Save the planet for our children one CFL at a time? Let not be maudlin. You need to do some research about mercury as a neurotoxin, then extrapolate the risk across hundreds of landfills and millions of households nationally. Trading mercury contamination for a reduction of fossil fuels isn't sound public policy, especially when the science on global warming is still quite fuzzy, and the health effects of mercury exposure are far more compelling. Ban incandescent bulbs? Save the planet for our children one CFL at a time? Let not be maudlin. You need to do some research about mercury as a neurotoxin, then extrapolate the risk across hundreds of landfills and millions of households nationally. Trading mercury contamination for a reduction of fossil fuels isn’t sound public policy, especially when the science on global warming is still quite fuzzy, and the health effects of mercury exposure are far more compelling.

]]> By: Scott http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2930 Scott Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:08:36 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2930 OK - so what is the line item that shows this charge? Is it "Energy Conservation Surcharge"? I see a .93 cent charge on November's bill, .96 cents on December's bill and $1.15 on January's bill. Is this correct? or another line item? This line item did not appear on my bills prior to November. I too will begin to deduct this going forward if this is what the charge is for. Where is Lenny Thompson when you need him? OK – so what is the line item that shows this charge? Is it “Energy Conservation Surcharge”? I see a .93 cent charge on November’s bill, .96 cents on December’s bill and $1.15 on January’s bill. Is this correct? or another line item? This line item did not appear on my bills prior to November. I too will begin to deduct this going forward if this is what the charge is for. Where is Lenny Thompson when you need him?

]]> By: Mike Smith http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2929 Mike Smith Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:08:10 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2929 Allegheny’s way of “selling “us fluorescent bulbs was slimy, but the savings and moral necessity outweigh their sneaky business practice. We have used CFLs for about six years now at our house. So we have paid for the bulbs already and reap the benefits of a lower electric bill every month. I find it annoying to see friends, neighbors and co-workers (some of whom are in expensive new houses) burning regular bulbs. Ban incandescent bulbs. Save the planet for our children one CFL at a time. CFLs are clearly environmental and budgetary winners. Too bad we haven’t already switched, then Allegheny would have no reason to sell them to us in such an odd way. Allegheny’s way of “selling “us fluorescent bulbs was slimy, but the savings and moral necessity outweigh their sneaky business practice. We have used CFLs for about six years now at our house. So we have paid for the bulbs already and reap the benefits of a lower electric bill every month. I find it annoying to see friends, neighbors and co-workers (some of whom are in expensive new houses) burning regular bulbs. Ban incandescent bulbs. Save the planet for our children one CFL at a time. CFLs are clearly environmental and budgetary winners. Too bad we haven’t already switched, then Allegheny would have no reason to sell them to us in such an odd way.

]]> By: FredRocks http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2928 FredRocks Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:53:16 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2928 FNP FINALLY got around to reporting on this issue, and even then barely covered the real issue of the legality of this program. Check it out at http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_Comments.htm?section=a1&storyID=69972#postComments FNP FINALLY got around to reporting on this issue, and even then barely covered the real issue of the legality of this program. Check it out at http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_Comments.htm?section=a1&storyID=69972#postComments

]]> By: The Dude http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2927 The Dude Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:56:19 +0000 http://frederickmarylandonline.com/2008/01/12/those-bulbs-arent-free/#comment-2927 If Marylanders howl loud enough, political muscle in Annapolis will pressure Allegheny to rescind the charge, thus incurring a huge operating loss on their books, thus prompting Allegheny to get approval from the Maryland Services Commission to raise rates to offset this loss, which it will eventually get. In short, Allegheny will recover the money, one way of another, but will first have to waddle through a muddy PR fight. Ultimately, the overcharge for the bulbs was just a way for Allegheny to get an indirect, if short-term, rate hike, and be able to wrap it up as a gift to the public. I guess they didn't expect the media to run with the story--and the public to see through their ruse. Idiots. If Marylanders howl loud enough, political muscle in Annapolis will pressure Allegheny to rescind the charge, thus incurring a huge operating loss on their books, thus prompting Allegheny to get approval from the Maryland Services Commission to raise rates to offset this loss, which it will eventually get. In short, Allegheny will recover the money, one way of another, but will first have to waddle through a muddy PR fight. Ultimately, the overcharge for the bulbs was just a way for Allegheny to get an indirect, if short-term, rate hike, and be able to wrap it up as a gift to the public. I guess they didn’t expect the media to run with the story–and the public to see through their ruse. Idiots.

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