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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
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From:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4630508.stm

Quote
The government is considering an extra tax on energy inefficient light bulbs.

Costlier compact fluorescent bulbs use a fifth of the energy of incandescent ones, those with a filament, and last much longer.

Chairman of the all-party group on climate change, Colin Challen, is asking the Treasury to gradually raise the tax until they both cost the same.

Making people switch would save them money in the long run and cut carbon dioxide emissions, Mr Challen argues.

The Treasury have said they will look at the Labour MP's proposal carefully.

Are they kidding? Isn't the 17.5% sales tax plus the 5% tax added to the electric bills enough?

Note the part about increasing tax until an incandescent bulb is the same price as a fluoro. They want a 25-pence filament bulb to go up to several pounds just by heaping tax on it? That would make our light bulbs even more heavily taxed than our gasoline. [Linked Image]

If they wanted to introduce an incentive, why not make the compact fluoros tax-free instead? I guess that would reduce the government's income though, and we can't have that, can we? [Linked Image]

STAND AND DELIVER!

[Linked Image]

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,691
S
Member
Quote
If they wanted to introduce an incentive, why not make the compact fluoros tax-free instead?

That would be the smartest proposal. I know here in the 'States, some the electric companies also offer rebates to home-owners using fluorescent lights.

They've even GIVEN OUT the blasted things to get people to use them.

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 869
Likes: 4
R
Member
That's typical politicians. Tax grabs where ever they can. [Linked Image] [Linked Image]
It should be up to the user to decide what type of bulb they use.
If they want the standard bulb, they use more power and pay already through the roof for over inflated powerprices anyway.
These so called high efficiency bulbs are too expensive, and it's better to remove the tax on them as already suggested.
I have my doubt over the so claimed hours on them. I have 2 at home, which I meter with hour meters. They have done about 8000 hrs and there is considerable blackening at the ends. ( these were supposed to last at least 15000 hrs ) see if they make it [Linked Image]


The product of rotation, excitation and flux produces electricty.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
Not to worry! Just one more thing to smuggle in with the tobacco, cigarettes, beer, whiskey, wine and a tankfull of French gasoline/diesel on return from our vacations!
Holland for the 'bulb' festival anyone?
[Nudge, nudge, say n'more!]


Alan


Wood work but can't!
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
Quote
Just one more thing to smuggle in

That thought occurred to me too after I posted. Those folks who live in Kent and go on regular shopping expeditions to Calais will just add another cargo to the list!

There shouldn't be any need to smuggle though. It's all supposed to be duty-free between EU countries now, isn't it? But we all know what H.M.C.E. (Her Majesty's Criminal Extortionists) thinks about that when it comes to folks loading up with cheap French wine........ [Linked Image]

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
Funny how quickly we have accepted 'cross border' buying freedoms since 1992- I well remember getting stopped at Pompey one wet night in late 1991. Customs guy approaches trailer in a downpour and lifts a corner of the tarp.
"'Ello, What we got in 'ere then Sir?"
"Domestic stuff for the house in France."
"'Ere!", he staggers back, "You've got a ruddy Dumper Truck under there!"
"Gulp! Yes, we need it to move rocks and concrete and stuff about on the site- er, it's not a new one."
"You should have gone through the proper chan... Ere! I'm getting blinkin' soaked out here- Clear off out of it! I ain't seen nothing- best of luck the other side!"
[ We were well away before the Douaniers had finished their breakfasts!]

My mate John and I still use it occasionally! Its a pig to drive, the steering wheels are at the back. Here's a pic of one.
http://www.redletterdays.co.uk/experiences/experience_details.asp?ExpRef=XDUMQ

Of course, we don't need no stinkin' anti-roll cage on ours!

Alan


Wood work but can't!
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 558
R
Member
They still make incandescents?? haha
Really I like the idea of at least pulling the tax on the compacts.. They seem to give off MORE light and for less power and last a long time usually..
I would not be surprised if these compacts get replaced with LED in the near future, but in the meantime those are all I use and they tend to work well as long as you do not put them where they are turned on and off all the time, or in a completely enclosed fixture and left on for hours at a time... That seems to kill 'em!

A.D

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3
F
Junior Member
Remember socialists do not want you to have any money to spend as you like, but rather as they like.

Hence new stealth taxes under the guise of
saving the planet/cooling down the planet/cancelling corrupt regimes [mainly in Africa] unsustainable loans.

Saw in press today that 25% of local Rates Bill is purely to pay for the gloated public sector in local government's generous pensions. This at 60 of course on a generous scheme that those of us in private sctor can't aspire to even at 65 or older.

And who knows what the % is for those in National/Regional Government.


[This message has been edited by fires (edited 01-22-2006).]


Learning everyday from the web; some of it relevant!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,253
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djk Offline
Member
Just give a VAT (sales tax) break on CFLs...

Stealth taxes are just regressive, nasty and hurt the poor. Rich people don't notice them, poor people get hurt. They're anything but socialist!

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 223
A
Member
A couple of years ago I could see something like this would happen. As a result I hoarded away about 2,000 light bulbs just after the Elma plant in Newcastle (the factory where every Australian light bulb was produced)closed down. I did this so I wouldn't have to use inferior 3rd world lamps or compact fluoros. I can see incandescent lamps going the way of dial telephones and black and white televisions, so I got in now before they become collectors items. Besides, I collect unusual and old light bulbs anyway.
You'll all think I'm nuts for doing that, but
I've gone right off compact fluoros and have been putting incandescents back as the CFL's have died...the RFI is appalling from some of them and the delicate solid state components can't take a voltage spike on the mains that an incandescent can. I also have a biassed opinion of course, favouring ancient technology. Modern compact fluoros look way out of place in a bakelight light socket hanging from cloth covered flex in a 100yr old house. So, no I won't be giving up on my 100+ year old method of lighting. Even all my solar/wind lighting is incandescent...12V GLS B22 & E27 lamps, some in porcelain and brass light sockets.
The thing with incandescent lamps is to use them sensibly. When I moved into my house, there were 75 and 100W bulbs in most sockets where 15, 25 & 40W would have been quite sufficient. The 'short life' aspect of incandescents has been a non issue for me. One lamp gave me 10yrs, three I put in over 10yrs ago still haven't blown, and the rest of the lamps in the house have only been changed 2 or 3 times over 10yrs....bit less than some of the CFL's I used to use!
Having said that I will be keeping a CFL in a hand held lead lamp...it survives being constantly dropped unlike a filament bulb.
As for LED lighting, the colour is just awful.

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