Community | November 28, 2011 | 1 comment

Right-Wing Media Continue To Mislead On Nonexistent Light Bulb "Ban"

source: http://mediamatters.org/research/201111280004

WakeUpPeople
With some provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 scheduled to go into effect on January 1, right-wing media have revived the false claim that the government is "ban[ning]" incandescent light bulbs. In fact, the law simply restricts the sale of inefficient bulbs and has led companies to develop numerous alternatives, including energy-efficient incandescents.

(VIDEO)

RIGHT-WING MEDIA REVIVE LIGHT BULB "BAN" CLAIM

- Doocy: "[T]he Government Is ... Essentially Getting Rid Of Incandescent Light Bulbs." On the November 28 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy said: (Text at link)

- Wash. Times: "They're Coming For Our Light Bulbs." In a November 26 editorial titled, "Time to stock up on light bulbs: Government ban on mercury-free fixtures takes effect Jan. 1," The Washington Times wrote: (Text at link)

IN FACT, THE LAW DOES NOT BAN ALL INCANDESCENT BULBS -- ONLY INEFFICIENT ONES

- The Energy Independence And Security Act Sets "Energy Efficiency Standards" For Incandescent Bulbs, Doesn't Ban Them. From Title III of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: (Text at link)

- Philips Electronics Executive: "There Has Been No Ban On The Incandescent Light Bulb." From a December 9, 2010, NPR interview with Philips Electronics Vice President Randy Moorhead: (Text at link)

- PolitiFact: "Current Law Does Not Ban Incandescents, But Rather Says Most Light Bulbs Must Meet Increased Efficiency Standards By 2012." PolitiFact has stated of the Energy Independence and Security Act signed by George W. Bush in 2007: (Text at link)

AND MANUFACTURERS ARE OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF BULBS, INCLUDING ENERGY-EFFICIENT INCANDESCENTS

- 2007 Energy Bill Reportedly Spurring "Tremendous Amount Of Development." From a January 24 Philadelphia Inquirer column: (Text at link)

- GE Offers Incandescent Halogen Bulb Which "Operates Up To 22 Percent More Efficiently" Than The Traditional Incandescent Bulb. From a February 14 General Electric press release: (Text at link)
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1 comment // Right-Wing Media Continue To Mislead On Nonexistent Light Bulb "Ban"

  • lighthouse10
    • 0
      lighthouse10  

    • OK, there is some panic whipped up about it.....

      Still,
      it is a BAN:

      Obviously not allowing products that don't meet a certain standard is
      the same as banning them - but that is not all.

      It is also effectively a ban on Incandescent Technology including a
      ban on the touted Halogen replacements....

      U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA):
      "The second tier of efficiency improvements becomes effective in 2020,
      essentially requiring general service bulbs to be as efficient as today's CFLs".

      This is because of the Backstop Agreement in the 2007 EISA legislation.
      " Backstop Requirement— if the final rule [not later than January 1,
      2017] does not produce savings that are greater than or equal to the
      savings from a minimum efficacy standard of 45 lumens per watt,
      effective beginning January 1, 2020, the Secretary shall prohibit the
      sale of any general service lamp that does not meet a minimum efficacy
      standard of 45 lumens per watt "

      -- which no marketed incandescent light bulb replacement can reach,
      and would be unlikely to reach anyway, given the CFL/LED profit-motive
      for the ban, as manufacturers admit
      ( http://ceolas.net/#li12ax )

      Of course the temporarily allowed Halogen-type incandescents are
      different in light quality etc anyway,
      and not popular due to marginal savings for a much higher price...

    • 6 months ago
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