The light bulb switchover: in the dark

mt mail ^ | 9/29/2010 | Edwin Feulner, Ph.D.

[tnlibertarian]

and then the animal rights people will explode.

Well, at least there's a silver lining.

[greeneyes]

No problem.

[CdMGuy]

Heat burns them out quicker as well. If you purchase the CFL flood lights or spot lights, they simply are a CFL enclosed in a standard floodlight/spotlight glass envelope. The heat buildup inside the glass envelope case causes the bulbs to burn out faster than a standard floodlight or spotlight.

I purchased a three pack at Costco twice before I figured out what was happening. After I installed plain CFL bulbs in the two outside canister lights above the garage door, I have yet to replace them and it has been over two years of them burning from sunset to sunrise.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

IMPORTANT, TO ALL.

If you plan, like many of us, to stock up on 100W light bulbs, it is critical to know that not all 100W light bulbs are the same.

On the front of the package, they usually list the amount of Lumens that the bulb puts out. Lumens are a measure of the power of light perceived by the human eye. More Lumens means brighter light.

Some 100W light bulbs have as little as 850 Lumens, which makes them about as bright as a 60W light bulb. A proper 100W light bulb that gives off the light you want from a 100W light bulb is 1500 Lumens or better.

That is almost twice as bright.

Wattage just means how much power they consume, *not* how bright they are.

I would even recommend checking out the spare 100W lightbulbs you have in storage right now. If they are below 1500 Lumens, they probably aren’t worth keeping.

[greeneyes]

What city came to your house? Where do you live? I didn’t think incadescents were outlawed, just that they have to meet new standards by 2014(not sure about date) for production.

[YankeeReb]

I think I also read where some of these bulbs are actually fire hazards (maybe the ones made in China). I am not sure if any company is making bulbs in the USA - Any one else know?

I read something similar. Not that they're fire hazards but there's so much toxic waste in the production that the EPA won't allow them to be made in the U.S., so GE is closing its light bulb plant in VA down and moving production to ....... you guessed it ....... Red China.

Just one more example of the government stepping in to create (or is it save) American Jobs </s>

[rollo tomasi]

"See Nancy, Republicans can be totalitarians too."

[Nuc 1.1]

Lass, there is a soft white version available that has light much more like an incandescent bulb. Hope this helps.

[greeneyes]

Now ain’t it the truth? And how about that DDT?

[The Antiyuppie]

“My CFLs last far longer than my incandescent lights did.”

Where are you getting these from? I’ve lost 3 100-watters in two years and I give up. I have to burn some upside-down, which overheats the electronics. I think the government should pay to retrofit my house so that they will last. I can’t afford to save any more money. This needs to be overturned until the technology gets better or LED’s get cheaper.

[DTogo]

With a local CT utility rebate, CFLs are less than $1 per package at Costco. I like 'em, have replaced 90% of the bulbs in my house with 'em, and have noticed an average 11% reduction in overall electricity consumption (8 month comparison of '09 consumption vs. '10).

[steve86]

They are not outlawed. This was a voluntary “test trial” in my neighborhood. I didn’t volunteer! Haven’t heard if the program is going to continue.

[Sacajaweau]

At least I don't have to make candles or have kerosene lamps all over the place.

While I might not like the "mandate"...it's really happened before.....when electric came to the cities.

And I don't mind the savings....as I can run my air conditioner a bit more.

It's really not about saving energy, it's about transforming it to other uses.

[DLfromthedesert]

Repeal this after Obamacare is repealed.

[rollo tomasi]

"I didn’t think incadescents were outlawed, just that they have to meet new standards by 2014(not sure about date) for production."

Outlaw is too harsh of a word. A politician develops the fine art at being disingenuous like, "We are not banning incandescent bulbs, we’re just setting a standard they can’t meet, hardy, har, har..."

[no-to-illegals]

an interesting site regarding hazards of CFLs
may need to copy and paste to view...

http://www.wattworks.com/CFL%20Hazards.htm

[Nuc 1.1]

I usually purchase from places like Home Depot. I usually purchase bulbs of (allegedly) higher quality. I am using lower wattage than you are. And my applications are vertical (curly cue up) or horizontal. I just moved into a house that has a bunch of bucket lights and was thinking of replacing them but based upon your input I'll think I try a proof of concept first. It's possible that quality varies batch to batch. Best of luck FReeper we are going to need it.

[peggybac]

I’ve been stocking up, especially with the 100 watt bulbs. I’ve become a light bulb hoarder.

[Nuc 1.1]

Good insight.

[greeneyes]

Well we have certain fixtures in our basement that are fluorescent bulbs, and they are still going strong after 16 years, but I think it is stupid to mandate that sales must be limited to a less than perfect product.

The bulb is a known fire hazard, and contains a toxic substance that is already such a problem, that you have to be careful how much tuna fish you eat.

Furthermore, patients in hospitals no longer have a thermometer next to their bedside because it is considered a hazard. Wonder how the amount of mercury in a thermometer compares to that in the CF bulbs?