Light bulbs

There is a marvellous debunking of the EU's proposed ban on incandescent light bulbs over at EU Referendum.

• Something like 50% of light fittings in the UK will have to be thrown on a scrap heap and replaced because they can't be used with the "long-life" CFL lightbulbs that are to replace the incandescents.
• CFLs can't be used with security lights or dimmer switches. These will have to be scrapped too.
• They use much more power to make, in a process which uses toxic materials including mercury vapour.
• If they are switched on and off as required, they don't last as long as claimed.
• If you don't switch them on and off as required but leave them on, the proclaimed energy saving is largely lost.

The similarity between this and the recycling scam is remarkable. A vast and expensive gesture turns out to be a waste. A pattern looks to be establishing itself: environmentalism is bad for the environment.