Hoarding may be taking on a whole new aspect as the phase-out of 100-watt incandescent light bulbs begins.
As of Jan. 1, manufacturers had to stop selling the "old-fashioned" 100-watt incandescent bulbs in the United States.
And by Jan. 1, 2014, the sale of 40-, 60- and 75-watt bulbs has to stop. Congress could stop the law, but federal lawmakers have more important matters to consider - if they decide to, that is.
There are numerous replacements for the incandescent bulb, such as the compact fluorescents, halogens and LEDs.
All of those are longer-lasting and more energy-efficient than regular incandescents.
Still, a lot of people are said to be stocking up on the old bulbs.
One can just imagine an episode of American Pickers in 50 or 100 years, in which the "pickers" searching for antiques discover a barn stuffed to the roof with incandescents.
Also, some people have safety concerns about CFLs, and the new types of bulbs are more expensive than conventional bulbs - though, as noted, they last longer and are more efficient.
And, if you want to get technical, incandescents aren't actually being banned, because halogen bulbs are really incandescents with the filament in inert gases and some halogen to make them more efficient.
Change isn't always easy, but with increasing emphasis on energy efficiency, conservation and generation methods, change is inevitable.
El Paso Times
