Requiem for the 100w bulb

[Redskins8588]

This is a issue for a factory in my home town who at one time was the largest incandescent light bulb manufacture in the world. My dad retired from there and my mother worked there for sometime. I worked there for a summer and for a town that only has about 14,000 people it was/is one of the larger employers.

I hate to see them close their doors due to the compact florescent lights, but as a consumer I must say the compact florescent lights last much, much, much longer. I mean I bought my first compact florescent light 9 years ago and it still lights in my children's bathroom as a night light. I mean I do not believe any incandescent light would last 6 months let alone a year but to get 9 years out of a light is well worth the $8 investment I spent in 2003!!!

Thoughts...

[SolidSnake84]

Originally Posted by Redskins8588

This is a issue for a factory in my home town who at one time was the largest incandescent light bulb manufacture in the world. My dad retired from there and my mother worked there for sometime. I worked there for a summer and for a town that only has about 14,000 people it was/is one of the larger employers.

I hate to see them close their doors due to the compact florescent lights, but as a consumer I must say the compact florescent lights last much, much, much longer. I mean I bought my first compact florescent light 9 years ago and it still lights in my children's bathroom as a night light. I mean I do not believe any incandescent light would last 6 months let alone a year but to get 9 years out of a light is well worth the $8 investment I spent in 2003!!!

Thoughts...

This was our issue too. My dad lost his job in September 2010 after working at General Electric for 30 years. The impact on our town was tremendous. GE was the largest company to work for, they took care of their workers, good wages, etc...

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

This was our issue too. My dad lost his job in September 2010 after working at General Electric for 30 years. The impact on our town was tremendous. GE was the largest company to work for, they took care of their workers, good wages, etc...

Sorry about that. But somewhere folks are rejoicing about the new CFL plant in their neighborhood.

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Sorry about that. But somewhere folks are rejoicing about the new CFL plant in their neighborhood.

Sure, you may be right about folks rejoicing about a CFL plant in there neighborhood, but where is that? I highly doubt that it is anywhere in America... I mean lets face facts its cheaper for manufacturing to put jobs in Mexico. And in no way am I trying to bring race in to this conversation, so please don't anyone think that or assume that.

The point I think that SolidSnake and I are trying to make is that by the U.S. government making certain things "fade out" could be hurting the U.S. more than helping...

SolidSnake, I am not trying to talk for you if I am wrong I apologize...

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Sorry about that. But somewhere folks are rejoicing about the new CFL plant in their neighborhood.

The "celebrators" are probably in China, although I doubt they are really celebrating. While I'm more ok with offshoring, I am really not fond expanding CFL production since they contribute to mercury pollution. Since Chinese-made products are made with crappy quality control, that means more "duds", which means more mercury being tossed into landfills(most people are too lazy to do proper disposal).

And the Chinese workers themselves are at risk for mercury poisoning. It's a job that not many would covet.

[SolidSnake84]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

The "celebrators" are probably in China, although I doubt they are really celebrating. While I'm more ok with offshoring, I am really not fond expanding CFL production since they contribute to mercury pollution. Since Chinese-made products are made with crappy quality control, that means more "duds", which means more mercury being tossed into landfills(most people are too lazy to do proper disposal).

And the Chinese workers themselves are at risk for mercury poisoning. It's a job that not many would covet.

It's interesting you posted this because there are actually now a few senators calling for a ban of CFL's because of the landfill problems. The bulbs have no real safe way to dispose of them. There is a handful of chemicals used in making them that do not biodegrade, unlike the old incandescent lamp. Besides CFL's are dim and they just aren't the same as the old light bulb. I think they will return eventually

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Redskins8588

This is a issue for a factory in my home town who at one time was the largest incandescent light bulb manufacture in the world. My dad retired from there and my mother worked there for sometime. I worked there for a summer and for a town that only has about 14,000 people it was/is one of the larger employers.

I hate to see them close their doors due to the compact florescent lights, but as a consumer I must say the compact florescent lights last much, much, much longer. I mean I bought my first compact florescent light 9 years ago and it still lights in my children's bathroom as a night light. I mean I do not believe any incandescent light would last 6 months let alone a year but to get 9 years out of a light is well worth the $8 investment I spent in 2003!!!

Thoughts...

So the factory cannot switch over to making the new bulbs.

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by firstdown

So the factory cannot switch over to making the new bulbs.

No the factory cannot switch over, it would cost too much money to bring in the equipment and technology for the CFL bulbs...

[SolidSnake84]

Originally Posted by Redskins8588

No the factory cannot switch over, it would cost too much money to bring in the equipment and technology for the CFL bulbs...

It was looked at at least for General Electric in Winchester. They ultimatley decided it was not cost efficient to retro-fit the plant to produce CFL's.

Also, the company had been wanting to put jobs in Mexico, like every other "american" company.

Our community was outraged. Alot of folks worked at the plant, my great grandmother, grandfather, and father all worked there. My uncle did too. If the plant would have stayed, i for sure would have worked there.

My dad was one of their senior employees there. He and a few other folks were some of the very first people hired when the plant opened in 1975. He was also interviewed in the paper in September 2010 when it closed down.