# Obama wants to ban Lava Lites! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019 "2011-07-14T15:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/41 "2011-07-15T14:46:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Bizarre to think that in some applications a light bulb is a heat generating device that produces a lot of waste light. When airports started replacing runway and taxiway lights with LEDs they discovered that they no longer melted the snow that landed on them. The companies that supply the lights have started offering add-on thermostatically controlled heaters. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/42 "2011-07-15T15:47:36Z")
I think I heard somewhere that Obama is banning incandescent lights so that it will be too dark to see when he orders ATF to come and take away our guns. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/43 "2011-07-15T15:57:35Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > My daughter received an easy-bake oven for Christmas that cooked things with _ice_. You mixed the cake mix with warm water and then pit it in the oven which was first stocked with ice cubes. The chilled air caused the “cake” mix to solidify into a cold, sweet, vaguely cake-like flavored piece of foam-like material. As good as it sounds. “Marge, can you set the oven to cold?” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/44 "2011-07-15T15:57:53Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > My Rabid Republican sister goes through periods where she hounds the hell out of me to stockpile incandescent bulbs as they have been or are about to be banned by Obama. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll send her your post. If she’s a rabid Republican, do you think it would do any good? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/45 "2011-07-15T17:10:42Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > If it takes an appliance bulb 40W or under you may be OK, as those are allowed. This indicates that some of them do take bulbs of that sort: > > [Instruction Manual | LAVA® Lamp](http://www.lavalamp.com/resources/use-and-care/) This by yabob is the actual answer to the question. See here and many other places for further info: [http://energystar.supportportal.com/link/portal/23002/23018/Article/24835/Why-are-incandescent-light-bulbs-being-phased-out-I-hear-CFLs-will-be-required-by-2012-Is-that-true](http://energystar.supportportal.com/link/portal/23002/23018/Article/24835/Why-are-incandescent-light-bulbs-being-phased-out-I-hear-CFLs-will-be-required-by-2012-Is-that-true) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/46 "2011-07-15T17:18:18Z")
Some say the oven will bake with fire Some say with ice From what I’ve tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to be prepared twice I think I know enough of cake To say that for desserts ice Is also great, and would suffice. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/47 "2011-07-15T17:42:18Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I assume that’s just from the racecars. If you factor in all the fuel consumed by the spectators (who mostly drive SUVs, pickups, and RVs), you would save several times that. You could save even more by banning football. Not that I’m advocating banning either sport. But even if you did, people would just find other forms of entertainment so there’d probably be very little fuel saved. > > I have no idea why this was brought up. Requiring more efficient lightbulbs will save electrical energy, but virtually none of that is produced by burning petroleum products. Blame it on a possible whoosh. But I tread lightly on energy issues when **Una Perrson** is around. 😉 You are correct about my number (and I did not include the multiplicative effect from the NASCAR fans because the scope becomes too squishy). **lukeinva** was wondering out loud about how much energy is used by incandescent light bulbs compared to NASCAR. I would argue that energy consumption by NASCAR would be in the noise (but I couldn’t find a cite for just how much energy is used by incandescent lighting in the US). BTW, there are still oil-fired power plants in the US, but AFAIK appear to be a dying breed. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/48 "2011-07-15T17:42:58Z")
> [@chronos](#): > > Some say the oven will bake with fire > Some say with ice > From what I’ve tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire. > But if it had to be prepared twice > I think I know enough of cake > To say that for desserts ice > Is also great, and would suffice. _golf clap_ ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/49 "2011-07-15T17:45:24Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > When airports started replacing runway and taxiway lights with LEDs they discovered that they no longer melted the snow that landed on them. The companies that supply the lights have started offering add-on thermostatically controlled heaters. Same thing with stop lights. I remember the first (windy) snowstorm after a lot of lights had been switched over to LED. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, then it clicked that the snow hadn’t melted. Made for an interesting drive to work…and an interesting drive all day, the snow never did melt until the clouds disappeared and the sun hit the lights the next day. ---
**Author:** ![andrewm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@andrewm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/50 "2011-07-15T17:53:38Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > When airports started replacing runway and taxiway lights with LEDs they discovered that they no longer melted the snow that landed on them. The companies that supply the lights have started offering add-on thermostatically controlled heaters. Apparently the same problem occurs with LED traffic lights in cold climates. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/51 "2011-07-15T18:05:03Z")
> [@Baracus](#): > > Incandescent bulbs are not banned despite what the Republicans keep saying. The law merely requires them to be more efficient. Thanks to ingenuity in the private sector (yay free market) a couple of companies have come out with halogen bulbs that are drop-in replacements for regular incandescents but meet the efficiency requirements. [These](http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/New+Products/HALOGENSuperSaver/) bulbs from Sylvania are an example. I believe that colored bulbs are exempt from regulations, so for your lava lamp or easy bake oven where the color may not be so important you could always use one of those if it needed to be exactly 60 W. Maybe not all incandescent lightbulbs are banned, but the traditional bulb that most Americans think of when they say “incandescent lightbulb” will no longer be readily available. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/52 "2011-07-15T18:22:33Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Maybe not all incandescent lightbulbs are banned, but the traditional bulb that most Americans think of when they say “incandescent lightbulb” will no longer be readily available. Did you click on my link? The only difference between the “traditional bulb” and the new halogen bulbs are that the new ones use less energy and cost a little more, for now at least. The halogen bulbs can be dimmed, are instant-on, and provide bright white light just like traditional incandescents. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/53 "2011-07-15T18:38:05Z")
> [@Baracus](#): > > Did you click on my link? The only difference between the “traditional bulb” and the new halogen bulbs are that the new ones use less energy and cost a little more, for now at least. The halogen bulbs can be dimmed, are instant-on, and provide bright white light just like traditional incandescents. Yes, very similar, but not the same. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/54 "2011-07-15T19:32:40Z")
Just what are the differences? The earlier halogens had a different base, clear glass, and smaller. I was just looking at one I have, a 100 watts and G8 base. But it still has 2 contacts and a filament that produces light when heated to incandescence. I think traditional ones are now filled with argon or other inert gas. Edison used a vacuum? I don’t quite understand how a highly reactive gas protects the filament. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/55 "2011-07-15T19:44:22Z")
> [@thelabdude](#): > > Just what are the differences? The earlier halogens had a different base, clear glass, and smaller. I was just looking at one I have, a 100 watts and G8 base. But it still has 2 contacts and a filament that produces light when heated to incandescence. I think traditional ones are now filled with argon or other inert gas. Edison used a vacuum? I don’t quite understand how a highly reactive gas protects the filament. Halogen bulbs only have a trace quantity of halogen vapor in them. It causes tungsten which would normally be boiled off the filament and deposited on the inside of the bulb to be redeposited on the filament, as it forms tungsten halides which dissociate again near the filament. See “halogen cycle” description here: > **[Sylvania Home](https://www.sylvania-automotive.com/)** > > For over 100 years, SYLVANIA has delivered lighting expertise with reliable headlights and enhanced visibility—putting light where you need it. Shop LED bulbs, fog lights, and off-road lighting from the #1 aftermarket automotive lighting brand in... ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/56 "2011-07-15T21:18:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Some say the oven will bake with fire > Some say with ice > From what I’ve tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire. > But if it had to be prepared twice > I think I know enough of cake > To say that for desserts ice > Is also great, and would suffice. This may be the only successful parodic triolet in history! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/57 "2011-07-15T22:08:23Z")
I miss the [Strange Change Machine™](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Change_Machine). Now that was cool. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/58 "2011-07-15T22:10:36Z")
More– [http://www.toys.pop-cult.com/strange-change-machine.html](http://www.toys.pop-cult.com/strange-change-machine.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/59 "2011-07-15T22:20:35Z")
> [@](#): > > This may be the only successful parodic triolet in history! I’d probably be prouder of that if I knew what a triolet was. And looking it up, it looks like neither Frost’s original nor my parody is actually a triolet, which seems to be an extremely constrained form. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019/60 "2011-07-16T00:22:05Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > I miss the [Strange Change Machine™](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Change_Machine). > > Now that was cool. I had one of those! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wants-to-ban-lava-lites/589019.md?page=4)