environmental levy - energy-saving light bulbs

[psc]

The tax is on buying the bulb, so you pay R3 extra on the bulb, you dont get charged R3 for every existing bulb you have.

Well at least R3 on a 500W halogen lamp is not too much extra

Why not rather add a energy tax to your electricty bill (much like the tax on fuel to build toll roads)

 

[BCO]

Well at least R3 on a 500W halogen lamp is not too much extra

Why not rather add a energy tax to your electricty bill (much like the tax on fuel to build toll roads)

AFAIK, Halogens aren't the same as incandescents.

@Paulr - that's the thing, many "green" technologies make a lot of sense financially whether or not you're particularly concerned about environmental issues. A lot of the time they're a win/win kinda thing.

 

[Arthur]

As I've just said in the GW thread. You do the maths. Is ONE CFL bulb more expensive than 10 incandescents? Because CFL lasts 8-15 times longer than an incandescent. And that's not even factoring in the extra little saving on electricity costs.

Anyway, yes, we'll just materialize more power stations in the next couple of months and avert the crisis. Whew. No need to try and be energy efficient.

Please understand I'm not arguing the economics of a technology that's cheaper in the long run. I also use the new CFL globes.

What I am objecting to is the State interfering in the economics by adding a tax. I object to it for much the same reason that I object to the extra dhimmi tax levied on non-muslims in many Islamic countries. As Caesar's revenues decline from ever-reducing incandescent bulbs, he will ineluctably switch the tax to new the new stuff. Grant the principle and in degree we move inexorably to the maximum.

 

[psc]

AFAIK, Halogens aren't the same as incandescents.

Incandescence is the emission of light (visible electromagnetic radiation) from a hot body due to its temperature

Halogen, only refers to the gas inside the lamp (which enables the filament to run at a higher temperature)

 

[Paulr]

Halogen, only refers to the gas inside the lamp (which enables the filament to run at a higher temperature)

Pretty much, a halogen globe is an incadescant on steroids!

 

[BCO]

Halogen, only refers to the gas inside the lamp (which enables the filament to run at a higher temperature)

Ah ok, I thought it was halogen gas that lit up like in a flourescent.

 

[PeterCH]

Terrible idea. Yet another small step to the New Tyranny.

1) It's not the job of governments to regulate these sorts of issues.
2) Yet again the taxpayer is bled, and the poorest suffer most. Besides, this tax goes into general coffers, not into new energy plants.
3) Anthropogenic global warming is a nonsense and a scam. The planet's heating up and there's absolutely zip anyone can do about it, even if every human being disappeared in an instant. We didn't cause it and we can't affect it in any way.

As LONG as ESKOM doesn't correct their meters to measure in VA instead of Watt hours, because with CCFL power factor of 0.5, they draw double the power that's written on the box, of course the meter can only pick up the lower value, but ESKOM has to generate more power. Wonder if they compensate for this or figure there is enough industry on the grid to compensate for it (electric motors have a power factor approaching 1).