Should the old style, cheap light bulb be phased out?

Gandalf (St Heliers)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 These eco bulbs are simply miniature flourescent tubes. We have had flourescent lighting for more than 50 years throughout our offices, shops, etc. No complaints in the media. No damning scientific studies. The only reason people are complaining is because the Labour government and the greens are promoting them. Clueless nonsense and fear of change.

Ctase (Kingsland)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 I see many complaints about the mercury levels in eco bulbs, which is true they do contain mercury. However, the amount is so miniscule . in fact there is less mercury in these bulbs than what is in the teeth of much of NZ's population. Where is the outcry about that I ask? Get with the program people, there are worse things to be worried about than being told what light bulb to use.

Maybe if the government had tried reverse psychology that would have worked in eco bulbs favour. The problem with the proposal to phase out incandescents was that we don't like being told what to do and so rebelled.

Odette (Kohimarama)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 The whole thing was nonsense right from the outset.

Once upon a time it was known as a white wash - green wash is closer to the truth.

The thing that really get on my nerves are the greens who come across as holier than thou - never once considering the broader issues of mandated energy saving initiatives. They have to be amongst the most narrow, lineal thinkers out there.

It's clear from research the bulbs are a hazard waiting for somewhere to happen! However the greens have never been known for any kind of analytical thinking, if it sounds good and looks good I guess you can get even the thickest people buying into it.

I think there political campaign is testimony to that and all the hard work Saatchi's put into understanding just how mentally incompetent the target market for the greens actually is! Ask why people vote green - it's usually to save the world for future generations (see green party bill board propaganda). Somehow if you wear sandals and wash infrequently you somehow have creditability as a forward thinker when almost all the evidence points to the contrary. Eco bulbs case in point!

Littlejohnnypoopon (New South Wales)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 I think most of you have missed the point! No one is claiming these bulbs are perfect, yes they contain mercury, plastics etc and sure the light spectrum is different but the reasoning behind switching is to reduce power consumption and therefore carbon emmisions (among other polluting outputs from the power generation industry). Does this result in a net positive outcome? I my opinion yes. Whether or not there should be an outright ban is a different story but if you switch you will save money. Why not subsidise CFLs or tax incandescents?

RJ (Waitakere)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 I thought that everyone knew not to use a CFL on a dimmer circuit. Duh. Oh well!

The CFLs I have tried don't last very long. CFLs should not be used in any room, pantry etc. where they are only on for a few minutes.
They do indeed wreak havoc on peak loading due to their poor power factor and resultant interference with the grid.
They are full of mercury.

This was a case of hiding the downside while trumping the upside from Green-Labour. The upside seems to pale a bit in comparison now doesn't it? I can only imagine the number of people who just chuck the mercury-laden time bombs into their household rubbish.

I'd be quite happy to use any green technology (like low-flow shower heads) that actually works.

mark baker (Papakura)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 Well thank You john Key. Have to be honest, this was one of several Labour/Green arrogance exemplars that finally pushed me over to voting for Big Blue.
Lesson to a dictatorial political machine and its envirnmental bedfellow: never, ever try to force Kiwis to do something like this.
Educate, encourage, but hold legislation as a last resort. If the change is so desirable, do something to take cost out of the equation, price the two products identically, and let people decide.
All-up, I just got sick of being told what to do by the Government - and apparently there were a few more Kiwis who found themselves in the same mood on polling day.

Bushpig (Auckland)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 Ah the old bulb wars again. I pesonally dont like the power savers as they (like all flouresent lights) conflict with my computer monitors. the whole not dimming thing is a problem as well.
Need I say anything about colour tempretures?
If people want to use them, that should be entirely up to them. I dont think the goverment should ever be forcing us to do things like this - its not thier job.

Richard Brooks (Grafton)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 steve s (Geraldine)
You say that that eco bulbs and flow control shower heads will save you money? Well guess what, so does not showering for 20 minutes, and not leaving lights on when they're not needed etc etc.
This is our choice, and ultimately, only our choice. When it comes down to it, energy and water savings are effected far greater by people's choices rather than eco bulbs and flow control shower heads.

lets_get_real (Herne Bay)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 I replaced every light I could with the eco bulbs. My power bill went down and 2.5 years on, none have failed. They last so much longer. They take a wee while to warm up but that is good when I go to the toilet in the middle of the night as I don't get blinded. It's not that much of a bother (there are more important things to get wound up about in my view). I understand anyway the new generation of bulbs will be better in this regard any way. I also read that LED lights will have even better brightness and efficiency.

What is the big deal here? If swapping to more efficient lights helps stop next year's power crisis I am for it.

People have become too obsessed with the compulsion aspect of this initiative and blinded to the benefits. Kiwis are more paranoid, bloody minded and insecure than I thought.

Perhaps a better way is to subsidise the energy efficient bulbs or make them tax free or tax the inefficient ones. Then those who will not change can pay for the pleasure and feel likwe they are once again kings of their own castle.

Han Solo (Auckland Int'l Airport)
Wednesday December 3, 2008 Great News from Gerry Brownlee!

I support having my rights to choose upheld by this government. Labour and the Greens wanted to remove choice from the consumer - they really were a communist lot.

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