Those spirally energy-saving light bulbs could be hazardous, says the News and Observer. Undoubtedly, the threat of danger from the mercury is exaggerated (they have 1/100 of the amount in mercury thermometers). As the numbers of these little lamps grow, however, look for tightening regulations.
These bulbs illustrate an irony about most environmentalists. They typically talk in terms of ecosystems, the ?web of life,? and the interconnectedness of all parts of the earth. Yet they pursue their goals with blinders on. Worried about energy? Force manufacturers to make long-lived light bulbs?whatever the environmental impacts may be.
Environmentalists did a similar number on homebuilders, pestering them to reduce the use of energy. So our newly built home doesn?t have a hot water tank. Tanks wastes energy because the water must be kept hot all day, even when no one is using it. Instead, we have two heaters that warm up our water ?on demand.?
But there?s an environmental cost?streams of water go by as we wait for the water to heat up. And right now, water shortages are more pressing than energy ones. The environmentalists didn?t happen to think about that.
