Congress Saves the 100W Light Bulb with Paper Lifepreserver

Recently an add on to federal spending legislation has led us to a false sense of victory for saving the 100w light bulb and incandescent light bulbs in the future.

The recent bill passed by both the House and Senate removes funding for the Energy Department’s standards for traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient.  What this means is that all the policies from the 2007 energy mandate are still in place but there is no money assigned to enforce them.   That’s like the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for the military.  We see where that went.

What does it mean for us?  If you love incandescent light bulbs you better buy what you can now.  Don’t think that this “stop gap” will mean an influx of 100w incandescent light bulbs will be on store shelves anytime soon.  No “Buy One Get One” deals are coming to your local hardware store.  Manufacturers have already committed to different technologies.  Tons of marketing money is being spent to make us aware of the benefits of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and LED technology.   Importers still won’t be able to bring incandescent lamps in to the country because guidelines have already been put in place to keep them from passing customs.

In order for manufacturers to produce incandescent light bulbs, assurance from the government will have to be in place to not penalize these producers for supplying lamps.  That is just not gonna happen.  We are getting used to promises not kept and rugs being pulled out from under.  Why take the risk?  Remember the legislation didn’t go away, it just ran out of money to be enforced.  For now.