Lights off
BC’s government brought in new standards for energy-efficient alternatives for light bulbs on January 1. Retailers are prohibited from ordering 75 and 100 watt incandescent light bulbs once their stock runs out. Then they must sell only CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs).
While CFLs use one third or less energy and last between eight and 15 times longer, consumers must recycle them because they contain mercury.
Icy roads
Powell River RCMP are reminding drivers to slow down after icy roads caused a couple of vehicle crashes over the holidays. On December 30 the driver of a truck lost control and went into a ditch south of town on Highway 101 after hitting ice while swerving to miss a deer. On January 1 a driver hit ice on Highway 101, lost control and ended up in a ditch. There were no injuries in either accident.
