5 Feb
2015
5 Feb
'15
1:33 p.m.
On 02/05/2015 01:14 PM, Tothwolf wrote:
I don't have links to all the relevant documents
handy, but 100W, 75W,
60W and 40W are all banned from import or manufacture in the US (rough
service bulbs are exempt...for now at least). Stores are allowed to sell
off existing stocks and inventory, and many chains stocked up heavily
before the second half (60W/40W) of the light bulb ban took effect.
A quick tour of my local big-box store shows that halogen versions of
these standard incandescents are available. So a 72W halogen = 100W
standard; 43W halogen = 60W standard, etc.
T12 (1-1/2" diameter) fluorescent light tubes and
magnetic ballasts were
also similarly banned under the 'Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007', and like with 60W and 40W incandescents, many chain stores
stocked up heavily on T12 tubes. When they are gone though, they are
gone (unless the law changes and consumers force the manufacturers to
bring those product lines back).
There are LOTS of them left in stock; I can go to any big-box store and
buy them. The odd thing is that the more energy-efficient T8 lamps are
more expensive than the remaining T12s. Converting from T12 to T8 is
mostly a matter of changing out the ballast--which you may want to do
anyway, as the old iron ballasts weren't terribly efficient and did have
a tendency to develop an annoying hum.
--Chuck