Ready the $40 Million Publicity Train to Educate You
The 2007 Energy Bill provides $40 million to various groups and "interested parties" to help convince you to make "energy efficient" choices (that they allow) and to learn how to read labels. Wal-Mart is one of the largest sellers of Chinese made CFL's. Would they be an "interested party?"
Unfortunately the $40 million is not intended to make you aware of the mercury hazards of the CFL or the need for recycling or how to clean up a toxic CFL when it breaks in your home.
(c) Market Assessments and Consumer Awareness ProgramDid they say energy efficient lighting “choices?” I find it odd that the money is for you to understand how to make “make energy-efficient lighting choices” when the only affordable general service lamp available meeting the law’s energy hurdle is the mercury-containing CFL. I thought choice involved more than one option.
“in cooperation with industry trade associations, lighting industry members, utilities, and other interested parties, carry out a proactive national program of consumer awareness, information, and education that broadly uses the media and other effective communication techniques over an extended period of time to help consumers understand the lamp labels and make energy-efficient lighting choices that meet the needs of consumers.
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized...$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012.”
So Why This Law?
A dim witted idea? An example of over-reaching government intrusion into our lives? A bold step of political courage necessary to save the planet of “catastrophic global warming” or “catastrophic global cooling” or “catastrophic global climate change?”
You decide (see, I gave you options…). But at the end of the day, we need a better, greener answer than the CFL.
