Canada to ban incandescent light bulbs

MrBrian

Wed Apr 25, 12:03 PM ET

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will ban the sale of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012 as part of a plan to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn said on Wednesday.

Canada is the second country in the world to announce such a ban. Australia said in February it would get rid of all incandescent bulbs by 2009.

"Making the switch to more efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most effective things we can do to reduce energy use and harmful emissions," Lunn told a news conference.

If households installed compact fluorescent bulbs -- which use about 75 percent less electricity than old-style bulbs -- they could save C$50 ($44) a year, he said.

"By banning inefficient lighting, we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 6 million tonnes per year," Lunn said

onelongsong

MrBrian wrote:

Wed Apr 25, 12:03 PM ET

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will ban the sale of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012 as part of a plan to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn said on Wednesday.

Canada is the second country in the world to announce such a ban. Australia said in February it would get rid of all incandescent bulbs by 2009.

"Making the switch to more efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most effective things we can do to reduce energy use and harmful emissions," Lunn told a news conference.

If households installed compact fluorescent bulbs -- which use about 75 percent less electricity than old-style bulbs -- they could save C$50 ($44) a year, he said.

"By banning inefficient lighting, we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 6 million tonnes per year," Lunn said

smart people don't use incandescent lightbulbs anyway so it shouldn't effect too many people. they are a good source of heat for chicks and other small animals though.

polaris

what do canada and australia have in common? ... two countries who are doing squat about climate change ...

these token PR moves are pathetic ... this gov't has shown it to be two-faced beyond belief ... they are incapable of leading and governing ...

although i really don't know who can ...

MrBrian

polaris wrote:

what do canada and australia have in common? ... two countries who are doing squat about climate change ...

these token PR moves are pathetic ... this gov't has shown it to be two-faced beyond belief ... they are incapable of leading and governing ...

although i really don't know who can ...

100% agree.

know1

When are they going to ban snowmobiles. Heck, why not just make everyone turn off their lights at 10PM and not back on until 6AM?

This ban is just ridiculous.

brain of c

walmart already did in the usa

MrBrian

edit, double post....

MrBrian

know1 wrote:

When are they going to ban snowmobiles. Heck, why not just make everyone turn off their lights at 10PM and not back on until 6AM?

This ban is just ridiculous.

I think in the same line of thought as polaris, it's just easier this way, a small move to try and make themselves look good. anything more would be too much of a step forward. and politics don't tend to move forward, just round and round.

tara

i thought the ban was ridiculous too until i read that banning the use of incandescents (except for specialized use, such as medical equipment) is equivalent to taking hundreds of thousands of cars of the road each year (can't remember the exact #, but it was high), so i think that this is a good idea. several companies are already trying to work on making compact fluorescents that are dimable. they're thinking that the next revolution will be l.e.d lights, which use less energy than fluorescents, are dimable, and can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. my only problem is why can't we do this faster, why 2012?

even flow?

If and when I break one of the new bulbs, can I sue for the mercury that will come out of it? WTF are they thinking about not putting that there is mercury in the bulb or the clean up instructions that come along with a break on the package. Step in the right direction? Not! How about just not having to need every single light on in the house at the same time. Changing a light bulb weighed against the other factors of "global warming" is pretty petty in my eyes. Way to go Canada. Have a fat headed tool stand up in parliament to tell the public that there is really nothing they can do to get to the Kyoto agreement and then come up with a light bulb as the fix. Idiots!

polaris

tara wrote:

i thought the ban was ridiculous too until i read that banning the use of incandescents (except for specialized use, such as medical equipment) is equivalent to taking hundreds of thousands of cars of the road each year (can't remember the exact #, but it was high), so i think that this is a good idea. several companies are already trying to work on making compact fluorescents that are dimable. they're thinking that the next revolution will be l.e.d lights, which use less energy than fluorescents, are dimable, and can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. my only problem is why can't we do this faster, why 2012?

this is the cdn gov't here ... they are setting emissions targets for 2020 ... and using 2006 levels no doubt ... their first plan didn't call for any reductions until 2050 ... it is so sad - it's laughable ...

at the end of the day - we are pooched here in canada unless we do something about the oil sands - they are looking at a 5 fold increase in extraction there with little regulations - biggest environmental disaster in canada ... combine that with the fact most of the profits from that will go to american companies - it is beyond comprehension ...

thankyougrandma

It's so great, i believe and have faith in this govt. when it comes down to environment.

Baird and Harper (and the lobby supporting them) are right, you should believe them, they told us that gas price would go up 60% if we'd try to achieve the Kyoto accord targets, damn Canada will lose thousands of jobs, it would be hell and major recession for the country...

haha, they make me laugh so hard, bunch of ignorant idiots that are in charge right now... i can't believe people will still vote for the Cons, but hey, i thought nobody would still vote for Charest in Quebec, and he's still the PM here, the way people vote right now is really... interesting.

rebornFixer

polaris wrote:

although i really don't know who can ...

Dude, quit blowing shit completely out of proportion. A move to ban light bulbs means the government is incapable of leading?

At least you added this last comment in. No other previous government in recent memory has done any better.

rebornFixer

thankyougrandma wrote:

It's so great, i believe and have faith in this govt. when it comes down to environment.

Baird and Harper (and the lobby supporting them) are right, you should believe them, they told us that gas price would go up 60% if we'd try to achieve the Kyoto accord targets, damn Canada will lose thousands of jobs, it would be hell and major recession for the country...

haha, they make me laugh so hard, bunch of ignorant idiots that are in charge right now... i can't believe people will still vote for the Cons, but hey, i thought nobody would still vote for Charest in Quebec, and he's still the PM here, the way people vote right now is really... interesting.

People would still vote for the Cons because no one else looks any better. You guys just bitch about Harper no matter what he does ... But you do have any concrete suggestions for improvement.

polaris

reborncareerist wrote:

Dude, quit blowing shit completely out of proportion. A move to ban light bulbs means the government is incapable of leading?

At least you added this last comment in. No other previous government in recent memory has done any better.

dude ... we've been on this board for years ... what have i said from day 1? ... that climate change and the environment are the biggest issues facing the world today ... then, now and the future ...

it's not just the light bulbs ... i could go on and on about the ineptitude and the hypocrisy that is this gov't ... it would be one thing if they just did things i didn't agree with - but they are every bit the liars the liberals were ... so, the only thing they had going for them (supposed integrity) they have lost ...

polaris

reborncareerist wrote:

People would still vote for the Cons because no one else looks any better. You guys just bitch about Harper no matter what he does ... But you do have any concrete suggestions for improvement.

everybody looks better ... check out the latest scandal coming out of bev oda's office - same shit, different colour ... and the prisoner exchange ... only way we can hold these hosers accountable is to vote them out and keep voting them out until they do something ...

rebornFixer

polaris wrote:

everybody looks better ... check out the latest scandal coming out of bev oda's office - same shit, different colour ... and the prisoner exchange ... only way we can hold these hosers accountable is to vote them out and keep voting them out until they do something ...

Whatever you say. Doesn't seem any worse that the last guys. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

One is tempted to vote Green. If the party had a serious mandate to govern, I'd be seriously tempted.

thankyougrandma

reborncareerist wrote:

People would still vote for the Cons because no one else looks any better. You guys just bitch about Harper no matter what he does ... But you do have any concrete suggestions for improvement.

... and you bitch about us bitching Harper, no matter what he does, always come down with the same catchphrase. It's called an opinion that we have on him, maybe you should come down defending them if you agree, instead of pointing out the fact that we have an opinion on them. I'm sure you have one too.

Improvement? Just try to meet the Kyoto accord is one, and stop the fear campaign over this environment plan proposed by the opposition, they sound so dumb, i can't believe what they said about it, it's such a shame to hear all that from the Canadian govt., it sound like a private biased "study" but it's from the govt.. About the lightbulb story it's so great, what a great accomplishment for Canada... hehe.

How about supporting this Afghan govt., you agree with this i guess, no problem supporting and helping with ALL our national efforts a govt. that is questionable at best, torturing prisoners, violating international convention... but hey, it's all about spreading Canadian values and showing the world that we're big guys, a real big united nation, Vimy fame alike. No matter what he does, there are good chances that i will disagree with him, it's true, but it's not personal, it's what he does that i disagree with, when he does something i agree with, i say it, don't worry.

rebornFixer

polaris wrote:

dude ... we've been on this board for years ... what have i said from day 1? ... that climate change and the environment are the biggest issues facing the world today ... then, now and the future ...

it's not just the light bulbs ... i could go on and on about the ineptitude and the hypocrisy that is this gov't ... it would be one thing if they just did things i didn't agree with - but they are every bit the liars the liberals were ... so, the only thing they had going for them (supposed integrity) they have lost ...

For sure. What bothers me is that the criticism is totally selective. You're blowing a gasket about this government, but in reality, they ALL ignore climate change. No one in the political mainstream wants to touch it, probably because there ARE economic repurcussions. Are they as bad as Baird says? Hard to say, but any government who actually does what needs to be done (tackle climate change) is going to pay the political price and unfortunately no one has the fortitude to do this. Both major parties have big business ties ... Thus both are not going to do anything substantive.

rebornFixer

thankyougrandma wrote:

... and you bitch about us bitching Harper, no matter what he does, always come down with the same catchphrase. It's called an opinion that we have on him, maybe you should come down defending them if you agree, instead of pointing out the fact that we have an opinion on them. I'm sure you have one too.

Improvement? Just try to meet the Kyoto accord is one, and stop the fear campaign over this environment plan proposed by the opposition, they sound so dumb, i can't believe what they said about it, it's such a shame to hear all that from the Canadian govt., it sound like a private biased "study" but it's from the govt.. About the lightbulb story it's so great, what a great accomplishment for Canada... hehe.

How about supporting this Afghan govt., you agree with this i guess, no problem supporting and helping with ALL our national efforts a govt. that is questionable at best, torturing prisoners, violating international convention... but hey, it's all about spreading Canadian values and showing the world that we're big guys, a real big united nation, Vimy fame alike. No matter what he does, there are good chances that i will disagree with him, it's true, but it's not personal, it's what he does that i disagree with, when he does something i agree with, i say it, don't worry.

I have said enough about Kyoto on the board, and I am not going to repeat it.

Afghanistan ... I agree with the ideology behind the mission but I am forced to admit that such a battle is probably unwinnable, and the combat mission should not be renewed. Actually, I have my doubts about ANY Canadian troop presence there. Personally, I think that Taliban militants should expect nothing less from the new government ... The Taliban probably shot their prisoners in the head back when they ran the show and payback is a motherfucker. Of course this sort of thing is morally wrong, and Canadians should not condone or participate in it. So yeah ... We actually agree on Afghanistan. Where we disagree seems to be the way in which you hold Harper's government responsible for the mission. He didn't sign us up for it.
And no government should renege on our commitment to be there.

polaris

reborncareerist wrote:

Whatever you say. Doesn't seem any worse that the last guys. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

One is tempted to vote Green. If the party had a serious mandate to govern, I'd be seriously tempted.

well ... does that make it excusable??