How many Energy secretaries does it take to change a light bulb?
By Peter Grier | 06.29.09
In the Obama administration, the job of secretary of Energy may include responsibility for changing the light bulbs in the White House.
That was President Obama’s implication, in any case, as he announced new federal lamp and lighting standards on Monday.
New federal efficiency standards for fluorescent and incandescent lighting could save US consumers up to $4 billion a year, said Mr. Obama, and eliminate the need for as many as 14 new coal-fired power plants.
Then the nation’s chief executive nodded toward Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who was standing next to him behind the podium.
“And by the way, we’re going to start here at the White House,” said Obama. “Secretary Chu’s already started to take a look at our light bulbs, and we’re going to see what we need to replace them with energy-efficient light bulbs.”
This remark appeared to be slightly jocular. Secretary Chu is a prominent physicist whose awards include a Nobel Prize. That makes him overqualified, in terms of deciding whether a particular East Room lamp needs the equivalent of 60 or 40 watts.
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2. Brad Smith | 06.30.09
Lets all run out and get us some Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs that contain Mercury. Of course they are safe just ask the government, of course they also claim that depleated uranium is safe as well. Thanks but no thanks.
Peace!
3. Duane Burghard | 06.30.09
Great … ANOTHER neocon writer without a sense of humor. Give Mr. Grier some credit though (evidently the Monitor’s heavily biased neo-conservatives are still significantly sharper (and decidedly less hate filled) than those found outside its halls) … at least he identified the remark as something that at least could be a joke. How about we cut the President some MUCH needed slack? The man has inherited the worst economic crisis in my FATHER’S lifetime (much less mine), an environment on the brink of catastrophe, no coherent energy policy since the CARTER Administration … and TWO wars, only one of which had anything to do with 9/11 … I’d say the man has a LOT to deal with and is entitled to make, well, light of the situation whenever he can (and yes, just to clarify, that too, was intended to be a joke).
4. Thomas Atkins | 06.30.09
Brilliant
I am sure that Secretary Chu will have no trouble spending a day at the White House overseeing the change in bulbs.
Then I hope that he rapidly heads up a research program to mass-manufacture inexpensive LED lighting, so, by the next election, the White House and the entire US can use 1/10 of the electricity that we now use on lighting our homes and businesses.
Great first step!
Tom Atkins
5. Dan Knudsen | 07.01.09
Am I the only one who’s noticed that these new saving light bulbs don’t last as long as the old, soon-to-be-illegal bulbs, and that they cost many times as much? I started using them soon after they came out, and not one has lasted the 5 or 7 years they were supposed to (I now date them when replacing them). I found that a more expensive bulb at WalMart had a better light (I loved it!), but it only lasted close to a year, and was not to be found after it died–where’s that 5 to 7-year life span?
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Daniel Bingamon | 06.29.09
Every CFL bulb has a ballast in it like any other fluorescent bulb. In additional to filling dumps with Mercury, an amount of precious copper and Iron core of the ballast goes into the waste dump.
A lot of energy went into making the bulb just to be disposed.
CFL’s don’t work well in the cold. I tried one once as a porch light and in the workshop. It takes forever for it to be bright in a cold room, I have on occasions whisked the torch across the bulb to brighten it quicker.
Last I heard, all CFL’s are made in China. More lost jobs for Americans?
Politicians, stop this insane picking at things. They very little knowledge of reality - they just shoot from the hip with little thought - just like the Energy bill that they wanted to pass in five hours without reading it.
Mr. Obama, stop knitpicking and doing something constructive.