Some People Refuse To Change (Even If Change Is Better)

Back in 2007, a law was passed that said the inefficient incandescent light bulbs must be phased out by this year. Manufacturers are no longer allowed to make these bulbs, and retailers may not import them from other countries. The reason for this is their inefficiency. They use much more energy than the newer style bulbs (and don't last near as long). The change will help this nation to cut down on energy use.

The truth is that the United States is late to this change. Some other countries, like Australia, phased out these old style bulbs five years ago. But some people just hate change, and they are busy trying to buy up all the old incandescent bulbs while they are still available (with some stockpiling hundreds of them). Some of these people think they are saving money, since the new bulbs cost more. They are wrong. The new bulbs are not just more efficient, they will last several times longer than the incandescent bulbs (and when you add up the cost of all the old bulbs to last as long as one of the new bulbs, you actually save money buying the more expensive new bulbs).

Others are trying to turn this into something political -- claiming that President Obama is taking away their "freedom of choice". And there are Republicans in Congress trying to take advantage of these dimwits -- by introducing bills to allow production of the old bulbs again. Of course, this is just silly. President Obama had nothing to do with this law, since it was signed into existence by President Bush. But the Obama-haters are not above inventing excuses to dislike the president.

Personally, I think this law makes sense. It will save energy for the country, and it will save money for consumers in the long run. I have been using the new bulbs for years now, and I love them. It's a rare occasion when I have to change a light bulb these days (and I like that). In fact, I can't remember the last time I had to buy any light bulbs, but I know it was well over two years now.

But there are people who resist any kind of change -- even a change that is better for them (and their country). These people will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the new reality, but they'll eventually learn (just like they eventually accepted past changes).

A New Kind Of Light Is Invented

The new fluorescent light bulbs are becoming very popular, because they are much more efficient than regular light bulbs and last a lot longer. But Dr. David Carroll, a physics professor at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, believes he has invented a new light source that is twice as efficient as the fluorescent bulbs, last a long time, and produces a better light.

His new technology is called "field-induced polymer electroluminescent technology" or Fipel. The light is made from three layers of white-emitting polymer and a small amount of nanomaterials (which glow when electricity is passed through them). The light can be made into any shape that is wanted. And Carroll believes his light is superior to the light produced by a fluorescent bulb. He says:

"They have a bluish, harsh tint to them. It is not really accommodating to the human eye; people complain of headaches and the reason is the spectral content of that light doesn't match the Sun - our device can match the solar spectrum perfectly."

"I'm saying we are brighter than one of these curlicue bulbs and I can give you any tint to that white light that you want."

"What we've found is a way of creating light rather than heat. Our devices contain no mercury, they contain no caustic chemicals and they don't break as they are not made of glass."

Carroll says he has a manufacturer interested in producing the new light, and believes production will start in 2013. I hope he is right about that. I would love to give the new light a try.

New LED Light Bulb Goes On Sale Here

The picture above shows the new light bulb that will go on sale in the United States today. The U.S. government had challenged companies to come up with a bulb that gave out the same amount of warm light as an incandescent bulb, but was much more efficient. This bulb is Philips Electronics (from the Netherlands) answer to the challenge.

The one drawback which may inhibit sales is the price. The new bulb will sell for about $60 (although the company says it has arranged for some retailers to get a discount, lowering the price to $20 -- at least for a while). But the bulb may actually be worth the price. It will not only save electricity because it is much more efficient, but it also will last for more than 100,000 hours (about 20 years). The increase in length of service is because the bulb uses LEDs to emit the light instead of a filament (which burns out after a short time).

Will consumers pay $60 for a light bulb that lasts 20 years (about $3 a year)? We're fixing to find out.

Bush Administration And The Light Bulb

I shamelessly stole this joke from the blog A Gentleman's Domain. But it was just too funny to pass up.

Question: How many members of the Bush Administration does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer: TEN.

1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed;

2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed;

3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb;

4. One to tell the nations of the world that they are either for changing the light bulb or for eternal darkness;

5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for a new light bulb;

6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor and standing on a step ladder, under the banner "Bulb Accomplished";

7. One administration insider to resign and in detail reveal how Bush was literally "in the dark" the whole time;

8. Another one to viciously smear # 7;

9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light bulb-changing policy all along;

10. And finally, one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing in a light bulb and screwing the country.

And after all is said and done, no one will notice that they never actually managed to change the light bulb.