Today’s Shopping List — Twenty Years Worth Of Incandescent Bulbs!

Light bulb socialism has spread rampantly across Europe. European consumers are not exactly embracing the light bulb legislation that has been imposed upon them. In Germany, citizens are flocking to hardware stores to buy traditional light bulbs, and not compact flourescent bulbs. 

The Der Spiegel (July 27, 2009) article says it all — Germans Hoarding Traditional Light Bulbs. Traditional light bulb sales have increased 27% from a year ago. Some companies have increased sales from 40% – 120%, and some stores even 150%!

The Brits have also revolted against the decisions made by the European Union. Britons are also stockpiling traditional bulbs.

A Daily Mail (Jan 7, 2009) story reveals that a reporter was stockpiling light bulbs, and she says that she was not alone.

Here are issues addressed in the Daily Mail:

“The low-energy fluorescent bulbs can trigger skin rashes, migraines and epilepsy. There is also concern because the fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which makes them dangerous to get rid of.”

“Concerns about the poor quality light of low energy bulbs – and the fact that most don’t work with dimmer switches – has led to tens of thousands of people stockpiling supplies.”

The article in Der Spiegel elaborates:
CFL bulbs are higher priced, and justified because they are supposed to last longer than regular bulbs, at least in theory.

“A recent test found that 16 of the 32 bulb types tested gave up the ghost after 6,000 hours of use — or much earlier than their manufacturers had promised.”

The sentimentality in the United States reads ditto. Today’s shopping list: twenty years worth of incandescent bulbs!