On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:08:19 +0100, David Hansen
wrote:

How does this compare with the mercury emitted producing the extra
electricity needed to power incandescent bulbs?

I should also mention that incandescent bulbs, contrary to popular
propaganda, will not be taken off the market by the EU Directive
(Wedgie Benn's son doesn't get a say in the matter). What will be
taken off are the cheap incandescent bulbs all of which are long out
of patent and which Osram and Philips can no longer sell at a profit.
Replacing them will be the new greenwashed EU approved not
incandescent (Osram patent) lamp which looks the same as an
incandescent bulb but has a halogen capsule built in and is between
10% and 50% more energy efficient than the bulb it replaces. It also
looks as if its going to cost 10 times as much as a standard
incandescent.

The EU isn't doing to badly out of the short term expedient of
forcing CFL's on everyone either. It is so concerned about energy
saving it sticks a 66% import duty on nearly all imported CFL's.
--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/