Robin O’Neill wants to leave the earth a healthy place for her three children. But what good is a thriving planet, the North Andover mother asks, if her kids are forced to live in a home lighted by bulbs that are energy efficient but ruin the look of the dining room chandelier, or take forever to get bright?
After years of looming as a distant threat, the federally mandated phaseout of some incandescent bulbs is about to become very real.
Many Americans have no idea that most traditional light bulbs are about to disappear, to be replaced by energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights, light-emitting diodes, and halogen incandescents.
For some of those in the know, the change means just one thing: It is time to start hoarding old-fashioned bulbs.
O’Neill keeps her stash under her basement stairs and figures she’s got a three-year supply. When that runs out? “Hopefully they’ll come up with a better technology that is more appealing.’’ The industry insists it already has, but traditionalists aren’t impressed.
There are signs that hoarders have been busy. Sales of standard incandescent bulbs are up by 10 to 20 percent over a year ago at The Home Depot, according to the chain’s chief bulb buyer. A 2010 survey by Osram Sylvania, the Danvers-based light bulb maker, found that 13 percent of consumers plan to stockpile. At Lucia Lighting & Design in Lynn, some customers are trying to figure out how many incandescents constitute a lifetime supply.
“People are used to that nice, warm, happy hug of an incandescent,’’ said store owner Lucy Dearborn.
The new law won’t ban all bulbs. Specialty products, including three-way bulbs, appliance bulbs, and those under 40 watts or over 150, are still OK. But not the bulbs that are most common in everyday use.
Some people don’t want the government messing with their bedside lamps.
Michele Bachmann and Rush Limbaugh, among others, have branded the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 an attack on individual liberty. But an attempted repeal of the ban failed, so, starting Jan. 1, manufacturers can no longer make the beloved traditional 100-watt bulbs, and following years will bring the elimination of the 75-, then the 60- and 40-watt bulbs as we know them.
Many critics hate the look of some energy-efficient bulbs - the spiral compact fluorescents are particularly loathed - or they dislike the coolness of the light they cast. There are complaints of fluorescent-induced headaches. And who wants to do the light bulb math required to figure out new wattage equivalents?
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