On Apr 28, 9:23*am, Jim Redelfs wrote:
In article ,
(Don Klipstein) wrote:
I give low odds of its energy efficiency exceeding that of a
230 volt incandescent being powered by 120 volts
Do you believe that 130V-rated (commercial?) incandescent lamps,
operating at ~120VAC, are longer-lasting enough to be worth the hassle
of getting them (wholesaler) and price, compared to an everyday bulb?
I recall that, some 30-years ago, I acquired one or more 130V-rated
incandescent lamps from one of the local, "city sales" wholesaler. *I
don't remember following-up on the lamp's lifespan, but it was an
attempt to increase the operating life of a hard-to-reach lamp.
My biggest road block to converting to compact fluorescent lamps is that
all but one of my most-used light fixtures is controlled by a dimmer
switch that gets USED.
I need FILAMENTS to illuminate my home. *A governmental mandate -
un-funded, I might add - to force me to convert to CFLs (beginning in a
couple years) *is unconstitutional.
The federal government may NOT legislate the forced conversion to a
replacement technology unless it can be PROVEN that it is a superior
technology in ALL ways but, most importantly, retrofit CO$T.
This is the twenty-first century! *We can (and should) no longer avoid
harvesting our own energy resources within our own lands.
Our air and water are cleaner than they have EVER been, yet, during that
same time, we've been growing and prospering as a society. *We've
learned from our mistakes in the past. *When we have an oil spill, it's
often reported by the gallon instead of the barrel to prop-up the all
important NUMBER.
A modern oil drilling operation has a surprisingly small footprint. *
When they are done at that location, they restore the site to
before-drilling conditions.
We need to build more oil refineries domestically then go get more of
OUR OWN oil. *This would certainly slow the RISE in the price of
gasoline.
We also need to start building more nuclear-powered, electricity
generating stations. *No thanks to prohibitive legislative and
environmental enactments, it takes YEARS just to do the paperwork for a
new nuke. *That needs to be whittled-down to a couple of years at most.
It's only 2008 and we apparently can't WAIT to forget about 9/11. *(2001
for those of you that forgot.)
Next March 28, it will be thirty YEARS since the TMI2 (Three Mile Island
Unit 2) "accident" and we can apparently NEVER forget.
Which event killed more people?
Carbon footprint? *When compared to a nuclear power station, an
equivalent coal-fired operation has a *HUGE* footprint. *It's fuel is
delivered 2-3 times a week by the 100-car TRAINLOAD. *It adds to the
MOUNTAIN of coal that a station keeps on hand.
Omaha has such an operation along the Nebraska side of the Missouri
river. *The railroad tracks bisect the city.
We also benefit from Fort Calhoun (nuclear) Generating Station somewhat
further north upriver from OPPD's North Omaha (coal-fired) Station.
My utility is currently building a second, coal-fired unit outside
Nebraska City - about 60 miles south of Omaha along the Missouri river.
I would LOVE another nuke.
But, I digress. *Back to Thomas Alva Edison's most earth-changing
invention: *The light bulb.
The federal mandate to phase-out the common incandescent lamp is an
unconstitutional encroachment on the private sector.
I agree with most of the rest of your post. But I'd like to see on
what basis you think this is unconstitutional. There are vast
numbers of laws on the federal books that ban all kinds of things.
The ban not too long ago on freon is probably the closest example.
Back in the 30's they even banned private possession of gold, which is
extreme, and no one successfully challenged that on any constitutional
grounds.
Banning ourselves (huh?) from harvesting huge fuel resources within our
own lands is absurd at least. *Considering the price of gas, it's become
stupid, too. *
We really need to grow a BRAIN and a backbone about energy: *The BRAIN
to build it (refinery, drill site or nuke power station) and the
BACKBONE to OVERCOME all the hand-wringing and shrieks of anguish from
the crybaby left while it happens - clean, safe and quite overdue.
--
* * * * * * 
JR