Aussies Make Incandescents Illegal

(Sydney, Australia) Australia is banning incandescent light bulbs because they are, apparently, significant contributors to global warming.

Australia announced plans on Tuesday to ban traditional light bulbs in a move Prime Minister John Howard called a practical step toward slowing climate change.

Claiming a world first for a national government, Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull said incandescent lightbulbs would be phased out by 2010 in favour of the more fuel-efficent compact fluorescent bulbs.

He said replacing the traditional coiled filament bulbs invented by Thomas Edison in the 19th century would cut Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by four million tonnes a year by 2015.

I predict that this action will create some nagging, unintended consequences. Typically, when a product is banned and still in demand, which I suspect will happen, a black market will emerge.

Additionally, many applications using incandescent bulbs will have to be addressed in legislation separately. Examples include unique purpose lighting in refrigerators, stoves and other appliances, and ornamental lighting such as holiday lights and chandeliers.

Furthermore, since compact fluorescent bulbs cost considerably more than incandescent bulbs, last considerably longer, and burn cool, theft is virtually guaranteed. Watch Australia give birth to a new class of criminal, light bulb thieves, with all the associated headaches of law enforcement and legal proceedings.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.