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The fact is there is no good reason for consumers - even energy-conscious go-green enthusiasts - to replace their old incandescent bulbs with the much-overhyped and potentially dangerous CFL lamps.

Ironically the article lists all the reasons I switched to CFLs a long time ago. I certainly don't want to proselytize - everybody should make up his own mind. But for ME personally CFLs make sense:

Overall lifespan

6.3 years sounds about right. Compared to 4 months with conventional lightbulbs (probably because of the shoddy wiring my landlord installed) it's heaven not having to change lightbulbs constantly.

High electricity bills

Where I live heating is cheap compared to electricity, and for many others that goes as well. So if I have to pay $5 more for heating while saving $30 on electricity the choice is obvious to me.

In short: I don't mind the slightly different tone of CFL light, while at the same time saving money. Other people have other priorities.

A medium size reach in refrigerator takes about 900 watts.

Wow, that must be a really old one. Because a modern refrigerator needs about 0.5 to 1.0 kWhs per day, that's about 20-40 Watts average (sure, when the compressor is working, it's a few hundred watts or so, but most of the time it's idling, so the average is much lower).

Wow, that must be a really old one. Because a modern refrigerator needs about 0.5 to 1.0 kWhs per day, that's about 20-40 Watts average (sure, when the compressor is working, it's a few hundred watts or so, but most of the time it's idling, so the average is much lower).

The Bulb inside it might be 20-40 watts I can assure you the compressor uses much more. For a refrigerator to function properly & safely the refrigerator or fresh food compartment needs too be below 38 degrees. To obtain this temp it will be running a substantial amount of time per day especially when persons are home. Even at 4 amps {I doubt any medium size refrigerator operates that low} you have 115 volts X 4= 460 watts or almost 8 60 watt bulbs.

Most persons have refrigerators about 20 or possibly 25 years. Most persons will only replace them after they quit running but not before. I would put a 10-15 year old 18 cubic foot unit at between 7 and 8 amps running. 115 volts X 7 = 805 watts or the same as about 13 60 watt bulbs.

Look inside your refrigerator where the model number is & it should list the amperage. I'm betting it falls around 5.5 amps or more especially on a higher capacity unit.

In short the little attractive yellow sticker telling you how much it cost too operate means really nothing. Treat that information about like you would the EPA rating on a new vehicle. It's simply not accurate.

6.3 years sounds about right. Compared to 4 months with conventional lightbulbs (probably because of the shoddy wiring my landlord installed) it's heaven not having to change lightbulbs constantly.

Have you tried using 130 volt bulbs on 120 volt circuits? The 130 volt bulbs we buy supposedly get 14,000 hours life when run at 120 volts. At 120 volts, they give about 75 to 80 percent of the lumens they give if run at 130 volts. A 100-watt 130-volt bulb takes 88 watts to run at 120 volts.

The firm who built our house installed 130 volt bulbs everywhere, maybe about one hundred of them (big house). I've only had three of them die after five years of use, and one of those was an infant failure. I have 11-foot ceilings, so I join you in being glad I don't have to change bulbs frequently.

I use CFLs in a few places where I want more light in fixtures that have restrictions on maximum voltage. Three rooms seemed dim with the 130 volt bulbs in their ceiling light fixture, so I use CFLs in those rooms to boost the lumens.