With the unexpected consternation about the new light bulb regulations, it feels that doing something positive for the country has denigrated into political fodder. I can understand from a Libertarian perspective these regulations enforce the notion that government is poking its head in the daily lives of its citizens. Along that train of thought, does the Libertarian POV also believe that the government should have never regulated the MPG that cars get? How about regulation & inspection of food and medicine? You get the point.

I can go on where the government makes recommendations to products and services that Americans use every day so that they become more efficient. Of course there are also plenty of regulations have have hindered growth, so let’s agree to disagree. But specifically about light bulbs, can someone please explain how using less energy is a bad thing?

This being an election year, certain members of Congress and state legislatures are pandering to their base by using this issue to rally the troops.  The latest one being Delegate Bob Marshall of Prince William County (VA).  He has proposed legislation that would allow the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs within Virginia’s borders.  First of all, what is the point? Does he really think that GE is going to start production anytime soon? How does this legislation benefit the people of Virginia? According to Delegate Marshall, “This is a 10th Amendment issue,” Marshall said, invoking the provision that reserves for states all powers not specifically given to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution.

If that answer was not based on a scintilla of fact it would be hysterical, but Marshall’s follow up is really funny…he said that it is a safety issue.  According to Marshall, the more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps contain high levels of mercury, which can be hazardous if bulbs break. He said a single CFL contains enough mercury to pollute 6,000 gallons of water.  “You need a small hazmat operation if you break one,” Marshall said. “I want Virginians to have safe lighting in their homes.”

Ok, let’s take a second and digest that one. Now let’s get some facts. The amount of mercury that is inside of a CFL is only 4-5 mg, which in volume is about the size of a period at the end of this sentence. (By comparison, old style thermometers contained 500 mg of mercury, which is equivalent to 125 CFL bulbs.) Now that we can put away the hazmat suits here is what the EPA says should be done if a CFL is broken:

(1) immediately open windows to reduce mercury concentrations inside your home; (2) do not touch the spilled mercury; (3) clean up the broken CFL glass carefully and immediately (but not with your hands or a vacuum cleaner), and (4) wipe the affected area with a paper towel to remove all glass fragments and mercury.

Now that we have disputed conjecture with facts, back to the original question. Can someone please explain how using less energy is a bad thing?