Posted on 07/27/2012 3:59:17 PM PDT by kingattax
Several years ago, a push began in Congress to make incandescent light bulbs illegal. The measure was designed to force Americans to use the more energy efficient CFL (compact florescent light bulbs).
Supposedly, CFL bulbs use less electricity and last longer. However, I find that I have had to replace some CFL bulbs almost as often as incandescent bulbs. I still have incandescent bulbs that have been in use for many years and still burning brightly.
I, like many consumers, resisted the forced legislation more because of cost more than anything else and I hate it when Congress keeps interfering with the rights of the individual to make decisions for themselves. On average a CFL bulb costs in excess of $1.50 to $2 each whereas incandescent bulbs can run as little as 25¢ each.
Initially, the law to ban the incandescent bulbs was supposed to take effect in January of 2012, starting with 100 watt bulbs. A last minute rider attached to another piece of key legislation that was passed in December of 2011 gave the incandescent bulbs a 9 month stay of execution.
(Excerpt) Read more at godfatherpolitics.com ...
CFLs suck but I’m not worried about them giving me skin cancer.
I played with mercury balls from broken thermometers as a child, swam in Lake Erie, and pumped thousands of gallons of leaded gasoline as a teen.
Yep. Didn’t those little dimes look shiny with the mercury on them! It attached so quickly, too!
I hate them regardless. Instead of just burning out they get dimmer as they get older, it felt like I was going blind. My neurologist also won’t use them in his office as he thinks they contribute to migraines in some people. I have replaced all of mine (I have floods in my house) with leds now. But, I hate that the govt tells us what we can use. Bunch of busybodies.
We bought a couple hundred light bulbs from 40w to 100w just so we’d have plenty for the future. Stock up before you can’t and don’t forget to stock up on all the specialty bulbs you’ll need, too. Like the special bulbs for your refrigerator, oven, and etc.
“My neurologist also wont use them in his office as he thinks they contribute to migraines in some people.”
I agree. When I have a bad headache I can see the flashing from the fluorescent bulbs and tubes and it hurts my eyes. Most people don’t know that fluorescent bulbs don’t provide a constant light but instead flash at a rate of sixty times per second (60Hz).
” My neurologist also wont use them in his office as he thinks they contribute to migraines in some people.”
There is no “might” about it - I’m one of those people.
If, like me, you've declared you home to be a "CFL Free Zone" you have nothing to be concerned about.
Given how fast mine have been crapping out, your “couple hundred” bulbs may last you 6 months. I had a conversation about this last evening. The woman was incensed that she cannot seem to keep bulbs in her appliances. I’ve replaced the bulb over my stove at least five times this year. Doesn’t seem to matter if they were made overseas or in the US.
Exactly. I think in Europe they have had a big fight about them.
I do have fewer headaches since we switched, but I also take a medication, so I cannot say for sure if it was the lights (but I won’t discount them). I know they bother me, I cannot see as well with them. I really like the LED lights, altho they were very pricy to replace with.
I should have clarified: we bought normal light bulbs, not the stupid fluorescent tube things.
I believe those specialty bulbs are exempt. Heard a caller into Rush who owns a company that makes them and he said (the caller) specialty bulbs are not included in that legislation. They also have heavier filaments which makes them last longer.
One of my sisters got those curly lightbulbs after she had an "energy" audit done on her house.
They suck beyond belief.
Some of these bulbs take a warm up time before full power. And some do burn out just a quick as the incandescent. I’m converting back.
Long live the Thomas Alva Edison Liberation Front!
Most hotels/motels use CFL’s and so do department stores and Wal-Mart. My eyes turn red within minutes, after exposure, and then start burning. I have stocked up on the old cheap ones, but, like miele man (post #10) said - they aren’t lasting very long, these days.
I detest the government’s intrusion into my life - and unlike brytlea’s post (#5), I find it to be an intrusion of my constitutional rights, and don’t think of the government as ‘busybodies’, but as BIG BROTHER!
Huh? “mercury” dimes were called that because of the winged head of liberty on them resembles Hermes/Mercury. Since they were silver, they were already shiney (and remain so more often than not when I find them metal detecting 60+ years later).
You rubbed mercury on copper pennies to make them silver...
I suggest you check the voltage provided by your power company.
A few years ago my air conditioning unit went offline a few times due to an over voltage sensor. After checking and confirming an over voltage condition and unable to get a response from the local power company office, I wrote a letter to the state Public Service Commission.
Power Company responded within 1 week and determined they had a problem and eventually determined the problem was a voltage controller at a substation. The controller would raise the voltage if needed under a high load, but would not reset as the load decreased so the voltage would rise out of specifications.
I found out later that many people had to replace quite a few bulbs during this time.
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