Originally Posted by dc_dux

The federal government has removed that choice from you as well. Last year's energy bill phases-out incandescent light bulbs starting in 2012 and completly by 2020.

Australia is ahead of us and has baned incandescent bulbs by 2010.
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I'm with you on the carbon credits and I'm with you on everyone conserving across the board...even with something that might appear to be as insignificant as light bulbs.

And I wouldnt be surprised if CFL bulbs lose out in the process (issues with disposal) and by 2012, some entrepreneurs develop brighter and less costly LED bulbs than those currently available (now they are expensive and have a small "light circle") and that are 70% more energy efficient than incandescent and 30% more energy efficient than CFLs. (I may be off on the percentages).

That is one byproduct of regulation...it stimulates innovation to meet compliance.

Originally Posted by Willravel

You're arguing for your right to poison people, though. I don't get to choose not to breathe air. Cigarette smoke really only effects the smoker and the immediate area around the smoker. The cumulative effect of automobiles, power plants, manufacturing facilities, etc. all contribute to a toxic environment that's substantially large. Entire metropolitan areas often are accompanied by moderate to severe air pollution. Even moving out of major metro areas, one is still exposed to metro pollution and pollution from more local sources. The north San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys get pollution blown in from the Bay Area. Mojave gets pollution from LA.

Is it egotistical for me to take action to demonstrate that there are alternatives to our polluting ways that could be just as useful but wouldn't put anyone at risk for asthma (or climate change, for that matter)?

That's how I go about doing what I do, usually. I've found that most people don't have the same Christ-complex I have, they need further motivation than "it will help the world". When I talk about replacing light bulbs, I talk about the money people will save. When I talk about alternative fuel cars, I tout "150 miles per gallon". When I talk about solar, I explain "we won't run out of sun power for billions of years". There are more altruistic explanations for each of these, of course, but many people are a little self centered when it comes to decisions in their life. I'm not going to berate them for it, just factor it in when I make my pitch. It's really not even my place to judge them, unless they're actively hurting others or themselves (which isn't the case).

Language like "egotistical" isn't pragmatic because people tend to stop listening when you insult them. It's just a part of being a sympathetic, social species, I guess.