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I Have The Power!Welcome to the alternative energy and sustainable power blog written by an engineer for engineers! Here we cover alternative energy and fuel technologies buzzing through the media including solar, wind, fuel cells, hydro, nuclear, ethanol, natural gas, hydrogen, bio-diesel, and more. Topics in conservation, sustainable development, and distributed generation will also be covered as will emerging energy technologies including nuclear fusion, nanotechnology, and bio-power systems. ProfileRSS Feed
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BlogMonday, December 3, 2007
How Many Texans does it Take to Screw in a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb?Dec 3 2007 9:09PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (8) | I live in Texas. To maintain my sanity, I have capitulated to enduring all the unsophisticated quirks that make Texas unique. However, just when I thought I had seen it all, Texans outdid themselves by attempting to designate compact fluorescent lamps as the State Bulb.
Maybe I think this move is odd because I am a foreigner here. I used to be a proud bi-coastal American. I was raised and educated in California in eyeshot of the Pacific coast. I was then refined in Massachusetts within a stone’s throw of the Atlantic. So, maybe I am the only person who thinks designating a state light bulb is strange.
By moving to the Dallas Metroplex, I voluntarily relegated myself to a lifetime of cowboy hats instead of baseball caps, people “hollerin” at each other instead of telephoning, and continuous agitation from locals who feel that the Texas flag should be flown above the American flag because Texas is actually an independent county.
Nonetheless, when I read “Mayors promote fluorescents as 'state bulb'” on Yahoo! News, I thought it was a joke: how many Texans does it take to screw in a light bulb? However, this initiative is no joke. It is a serious attempt by the mayors of the major cities in Texas, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, and Austin, to promote compact fluorescents as a means to fight pollution and cut public expenditures for new power plants.
So, although it is quirky, naming the compact fluorescent the State Bulb is one Texas oddity I think I may come to love. Related entries in: Design News | Electronics/Test | at 12/4/2007 3:20:29 PM, George Evanick said: Watt a waste of time. When are the "concerned citizens" going to set a real example by giving up frivolous carbon emitting luxuries like private boats, private planes, snow mobiles, excessive square footage of living space, less leisurely and business travel, smaller wardrobes, hot tubs, etc. at 12/8/2007 1:22:25 AM, Concerned Reader said: It's the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. at 12/12/2007 5:42:59 PM, puterman said: come on george, excessive spare footage of living space? I am sooo tired of hearing people talk about moving to the "City" and live in your proscribed cardboard box. If you can find ways to be energy efficient then, I think, you shouldn''t be herassed about the large home you pay for. at 12/22/2007 10:25:37 PM, Bill Dale said: Yes, CFs (compact fluorescent) having official status is quirky, and yes, I agree with you that it''s something Texas should be proud of, but there''s a caveat: CFs contain hazardous mercury and must be disposed of properly at 1/3/2008 12:24:32 PM, Unsophisticated Quirk said: I bet you can find a stagecoach that will get you back to some coast more desirable without much trouble. Do you really think it is such a bad thing for us retarded rednecks to be a little more energy efficient? Spare us your patronizing attitude and you might be more warmly received. at 1/25/2008 9:32:34 AM, David M Myles said: Your tax dollars at work? Are we really spenfding tax dollars on this sort of tripe? at 2/1/2008 8:43:34 AM, Len said: Mr Myles: How stingy do you have to be to complain about one zero-cost (and likely zero-effect) resolution by a council or assembly? Man! It's not like they're actually going to make anyone use tha bulbs or anything realistic, such as California or Ontario. at 4/3/2008 7:15:14 PM, Hawaii Guy said: Politicians have strange ways in promoting the common good. Post a comment
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