So I bought 456 light bulbs yesterday

[MichaelTampa]

Seriously, light sensitivity comes in a number of forms for those with lyme. Some, such as myself, are sensitive to fluorescent lights, which blink on and off 60 times per second whether you notice it or not. The brilliant politicians of 2007 managed to pass an "Energy Independence and Security Act" and, as of 1/1/2012, it will be illegal to purchase incandescent bulbs, with limited exceptions.

 

For anyone with sensitivities, I do believe the time to stock up is now or very soon. The last facility creating the incandescent bulbs shut down months ago, and stores are allocating less shelf space for them as they push the fluorescent bulbs. There may be great bargains coming in December, or they may be completely unavailable well before then.

 

There are other options, yes, halogen and LED lights, for example. I don't do too well with the halogens either, and have had mixed results with the LED. The LED may in the end work for me, though they are more expensive, but they are also very bright and my wife does not tolerate them very well. Or, of course, christmas tree lights, which will fall in the limited exceptions, or perhaps walking around with a miner's helmet with bulb...

[Iowadawn]

I started purchasing a few extra regular bulbs each shopping trip, too. Dawn

[susie]

Thanks Micheal. I didn't realize they weren't going to make them anymore. I'll stock up too.

 

Also, don't forget about the mercury. See this story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198

Doesn't seem like a very environmentally friendly alternative to me. I just simply leave lights off most of the time, and at night I usually only have a light on in the room I'm using. I see my neighbors houses at night lit up like a Christmas tree and wonder if someone is really in all those rooms.

[pixiesmommy]

My husband teaches environmental studies and relayed a news story to me the other day about how they are putting something in the new energy efficient ones now that will cause them to burn out so you have to buy news ones because the companies figured out that if they last a lifetime, then the companies would lose a ton of money. I think that is just disgusting, honestly.

 

But, of course, beside the point!

 

We're so far off the beam here, if we get sensitive to light bulbs, we'll just light a kerosene lamp or a candle. But yes, fluorescent lights make us nuts here too- totally headache inducing.

[MichaelTampa]

My husband teaches environmental studies and relayed a news story to me the other day about how they are putting something in the new energy efficient ones now that will cause them to burn out so you have to buy news ones because the companies figured out that if they last a lifetime, then the companies would lose a ton of money. I think that is just disgusting, honestly.

 

Say it isn't so! Yes, the capitalism can be a bit disgusting when taken to the extreme. I work in the insurance industry, and I know first-hand that companies do influence legislation, I am sure this is the case in essentially every industry. I was thinking the other day, yes, very good to sell these new bulbs for $6 each rather than the old ones for $1 each. Very nice to have a law requiring it. All the better if they brake and people need more...

[NancyD]

Oh geez...now we will all be light bulb hoarders!