Brits Stockpiling Incandescents to Beat Bulb Ban

May 1, 2009
With 75W and 100W incandescent bulbs banned from stores' shelves as of Jan. 1 because of a British law, some residents of the United Kingdom are starting

With 75W and 100W incandescent bulbs banned from stores' shelves as of Jan. 1 because of a British law, some residents of the United Kingdom are starting to hoard the bulbs, according to a recent article in The New York Times. Brits apparently don't like the light they see from compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The article said one merchant in toney Tunbridge Wells, England is selling the bulbs at a 50 percent premium compared to his pricing last year and has had to institute a 10-bulb-per -customers limit. A sign outside his store says, “100W Bulbs in Stock (For How Long We Do Not Know)” The European Union has banned the sale of the bulbs as of 2012, but Great Britain decided to start its ban early.

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