New bulbs? What would Edison say?
If my great-grandfather, Thomas Edison, were alive today, I have no doubt he’d view Congress as most Americans do — with anger and disgust. His reasons would be personal, however. the House Republicans’ effort to stifle lighting innovation flies in the face of everything this great American innovator and path-breaking businessman stood for.
So what’s the light bulb kerfuffle about? Starting Jan. 1, the bulbs you buy must be more efficient and use less electricity, under a 2007 law signed by President George W. Bush.
Continue Reading Text Size
- -
- +
- reset
This would have thrilled my great-grandfather. Edison was one of history’s most prolific inventors, with nearly 1,100 patents involving electricity, the phonograph, one of the first ticker tapes and much more.
Many, if not most, of his inventions involved making things work better and more efficiently. he would have been at the forefront of efforts to do the same with his light bulb. after all, innovation and invention defined him.
Somehow, though, this new efficiency law is being demonized and misrepresented by a small group of political ideologues in and out of Congress. They have spun a fear-mongering tale that has left some Americans confused and frightened. There are crazy claims that incandescent light bulbs will be banned, and that Big Brother government is running your life.
This is nonsense. the new standards don’t outlaw the incandescent bulb. instead, they have spurred much needed innovation and improvements — the kind Edison loved. you are still able to buy incandescent bulbs. the difference is they will use less electricity and cut energy costs.
Luckily, House Republicans’ latest effort to derail this with a legislative rider that defunds enforcement for a few months amounts to little more than a speed bump on the road to the light bulb revolution.
Starting last Sunday, the new standards required manufacturers to make new 100-watt bulbs that use at least 28 percent less energy. the same goes for 75-watt bulbs in 2013 and 40- and 60-watt bulbs in 2014. This can save consumers real money; an estimated $100 to $200 per household each year — or $12 billion annually for the nation.
