See ya, CFL: GE moves on from fluorescent light bulbs

CNET ^ | 02/01/2016 | Ry Crist

[BenLurkin]

By the end of the year, GE will cease production and sales of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), the manufacturer announced this morning. Moving forward, the company's focus will fall entirely on halogen incandescents and on high-efficiency LEDs.

"CFL's kind of been the light bulb that everybody loves to hate," explained John Strainic, chief operating officer of GE Lighting, citing the history of complaints about CFL dimmer compatibility, brightness delay, and quality of light. Strainic says that the industry has come a long way, but admits that the perception of inferior performance lingers. "Ultimately, LED offers a better solution at a comparable price."

The move reflects the shifting landscape of the lighting aisle, where the phase-out of classic 40W and 60W incandescents has made room for more efficient options like LEDs and halogen incandescents. With the prices of those other options coming down considerably in the last few years, the relevance of CFLs has been in decline.

"You end up with a shelf that has (halogen) incandescents on one side and your energy-saving, longer-life LEDs on the other, and the CFLs in the middle get squeezed," Strainic said. "It's already happening."

Strainic also points out that Energy Star's efficiency standards are set to rise to 80 lumens per watt in 2017. When that happens, most compact fluorescents will no longer qualify for utility rebates. The wide majority of those rebate dollars will shift to LEDs, Strainic says

[boop]

"I'm also starting to by a few of those "Edison lights" just because I love the aesthetics. They are expensive though."

I like the vintage look as well. At 1000 Bulbs, they offer an LED version, if you can believe it.

Some of the reviews are so-so.

Yes, you'll probably never have to replace it, but it doesn't put out as much light as you'd think.

[VanDeKoik]

An authentic LED version would be awesome at some point if they can nail the look. Each of mine were 9.50 each, and I have them glowing at an slightly dim level so that they will last longer.

[caver]

“Financial management isn’t your forte is it?”

Thanks