How many Australians does it take to change all the light bulbs?

[arenean]

From today's Independent:


Q. How many Australians does it take to change all the light bulbs?
A. One - Prime Minister John Howard, who banned incandescent light bulbs yesterday, making Australia the first country to take such direct action to stop global warming

After almost a decade as a pariah in the battle against global warming because of its refusal to join the Kyoto Protocol, Australia scored an environmental first yesterday by becoming the only large economy to ban the traditional incandescent lightbulb.

In a move that environmentalists hope will spark a similar move in Britain, the government Down Under said the sale of all incandescent bulbs will be phased out by 2010 and replaced with low-energy versions to cut greenhouse gas emissions.


more below!

How many Australians does it take to change all the light bulbs?

[krispos42]

1. This is the wrong way to do it

They should just charge a $2-per-bulb tax on incandescents and use the revenue to fund either alternative-energy research or the creation of non-polluting power plants.

Let's face it, there are certain applications that need incandescents. Some lighting fixures are just shaped too weird and tight for a compact fluorescents, and some applications just need the more natural light spectrum. Like artists, for example, or for doing make-up. Or the old die-hards that still use a typewriter and a rotary phone.

The extra price will push people into buying the CF lights while leaving the option open for those that really really want it. But when a four-pack of bulbs goes from $1 to $9... well, then you'll see some change.

[I_Will]

2. It's part of the war on Christmas...lights (grin)