CFL Confusion

[heydude]

About a year ago, I put CFLs in my bedroom (2) and one in my entry (1).

They worked great.

Now, I decided to put them in my floor lamp and in my bathroom.

I bought a GE 3 way for my floor lamp and GE 60watt / 13volt for my bathroom.

Well, in the bathroom, those were taking like 10 seconds to turn on (okay, maybe 3 seconds, but it felt like 10! and they'd flicker before coming on). That is annoying.

The one in the floor lamp was so tall, it stuck out over the top. UGLY!

So, I bought a new floor lamp that is taller and bigger, so it hides the CFL.

I am returning the ones that didn't turn on. I put two from the bedroom in to the bathroom, (that matched) and so the bathroom turns on instantly now.

I bought GE INSTANT ON CFL for the bedroom. They say "sunlight" on them.

Well, they are like white!

and the rest of the place is yellow.

so confusing. why can't they just be yellow or white.

anyone know a good CFL that turns on right away?

[CathyA]

Sorry, I can't help you. I'm hoarding the old bulbs. I don't think people are worried enough about the mercury in them. I hope you can figure this out. I hate white light.

[loosechickens]

I can't help with the CFL purchase question as the only non LED or 12v halogen in our house is one living room lamp with a CFL bulb in it that is nearly ten years old and still going strong. I don't even remember what kind it is.

However, since the mercury question came up, it might be a good idea to check facts about CFLs

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/change_light/downloads/Fact_Sheet_Mercury.pdf

excerpt:

"EPA estimates the U.S. is responsible for the release of 103 metric tons1 of mercury emissions each year. More
than half of these emissions come from coal-fired electrical power. Mercury released into the air is the main way
that mercury gets into water and bio-accumulates in fish. (Eating fish contaminated with mercury is the main way for humans to be exposed.)

Most mercury vapor inside fluorescent light bulbs becomes bound to the inside of the light bulb as it is used. EPA
estimates that the rest of the mercury within a CFL – about 11 percent2 – is released into air or water when it is
sent to a landfill, assuming the light bulb is broken. Therefore, if all 272 million CFLs3 sold in 2009 were sent to a landfill (versus recycled, as a worst case) – they would add 0.12 metric tons, or 0.12 percent, to U.S. mercury
emissions caused by humans."

By FAR, the most dangerous source of mercury is from emissions from power plants, and mercury in the atmosphere that we are breathing and entering our water supply from that atomosphere, is far worse than the very small amount in CFL bulbs. Just think of how many people may have broken or carelessly disposed of old mercury thermometers, each one of which had more mercury in it than over a hundred CFL bulbs.

And when you consider the fact that the CFLs last much longer and use MUCH less energy, the savings in electricity not having to be produced, sending mercury out into the atmosphere from the power plant, way more than makes up for the very small amount of mercury in the CFL bulb.

There is an interesting table in the link that shows how much MORE mercury would be released into the environment by using an incandescent bulb, from the greatly increased power usage required.

I know this has been an emotional subject for many, and some segments of the population are literally terrified of these bulbs....I have a friend who sends me scare emails about them, and who has hoarded cases of incandescent bulbs "before I can't get them anymore"........best to just be informed about the facts.

Here's some more info from www.snopes.com It sounds as though World Net Daily and Fox News have done their part in spreading the fears, but the huge majority of it is unfounded. How many of us went into MELTDOWN if we broke a mercury thermometer years ago?

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cfl.asp

And when all else fails, Wikipedia can drown us with further information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp

[redfox]

I'd recommend going to a big box store and asking to see various bulbs in a fixture, in the store. Or look for reviews online. We liven in a region of Seattle considered low income, so the city just came in & replaced all our old bulbs with CF's. They're wonderful. On my floor & table lamps, I get shades at the Goodwill that are warm tones, and that provides the right balance.

[Jemima]

I'm with Cathy. I really dislike bright white light and am concerned about the UV light from fluorescent lighting in addition. After all, UV rays are responsible for cataracts. That's why everyone should wear UV-filtering sunglasses outside. I certainly wouldn't use CFL's for reading lights.

That said, I've also had trouble with CFL bulbs taking forever to get up to full power. Ditto the problems with bulbs not fitting ordinary lamps. A few years ago when I was more willing to try them I was put off by all the don'ts: don't use with a dimmer, don't use with a timer, dispose of properly, and yada, yada. The heck with it.

[loosechickens]

We use LEDs for all our reading lights. Really high quality light for tasks (although a little harsh for ambient lighting). Our one CFL must be a "warm light" one, or the shade on the lamp diffuses the light, because it's very soft, pleasant light for ambient lighting in the living room.

CFLs, from what I've read, do vary in quality, and is one of the places where you're probably better to buy quality over price, and I understand that in recent times they've made great strides in ones for use with dimmer switches, instant on, etc.

Soon, incandescents will have gone the way of buttonhooks, and years from now, few will even remember them. Isn't that funny, when you think about it? I think of ALL the things that have gone by the wayside in my lifetime (nearly 70 years), from carbon paper, rotary phones, picking up the phone and getting an operator instead of a dial tone.....heck dial tones are unknown to today's youngsters, having it be REALLY difficult to get a copy of something, requiring a trip to a photo store and getting a photographic print made of something like a birth certificate and having it be on black paper with white letters......

I guess my point is probably at the time, all those things were mourned as they moved off the stage of life, and it was hard for many to embrace the next new thing. But we all survived, and we'll survive CFLs as well, (especially since they will probably soon be replaced with LEDs and even newer technology).

I just had my eyes examined, and had no sign at all of cataracts, so.....so far, so good......eye doctor even said "you have exceptionally healthy eyes", for which I credit 35 years or more of good organic food, almost no processed foods and healthy habits. So if lights were harmful, hopefully that canceled out any damage.

The one thing constant in the Universe is change, so my aim is to always maintain flexibility, see change as opportunity and not cling to the way things have been. It's made us "early adopters" of a lot of technology, and has been a positive thing for us, I think. Others mileage may vary.....and that's fine, too.

[cdttmm]

We use CFLs in all of our light fixtures. We usually buy them at Home Depot or Lowe's, but I don't know the brand off the top of my head. The technology has definitely improved over the past few years because we use them with dimmer switches and timers and experience no issues. We also don't have the long warm-up time, but that may be the brand. I'll have to try to figure out what it is so that I can make a recommendation for all of you who are looking for a good quality CFL.

[CathyA]

I know this sounds silly, but I have to have the right kind of light around to feel good. Yellow light is so comforting and inviting. White light is so cold and unpleasant. Maybe they could use the more eco bulbs, but put them in a covering that is tinted a little yellow?

[Miss Cellane]

I've tried CFLs and just don't like the light. I do have them in fixtures where the lights are on for long periods of time, like the kitchen and the hallway. But not in any of my reading lamps.

Frankly, I'm betting on LED lights. I'm researching them now, and they seem to have a quality of light that I like. The price is the big drawback right now.

Philips has come out with the Ecovantage light bulb, which, if I'm reading correctly, is an energy-efficient incandescent light bulb. A 72 watt bulb is supposed to give off the light of a standard 100 watt bulb. But the reviews seem mixed on it.

[loosechickens]

LEDs will almost surely make the CFLs disappear in the rear view mirror of life, and they ARE already coming down in price. Our first two, which we used for the reading lights by our chairs, cost over $35 apiece, but we were REALLY early adopters, back when they really weren't even being manufactured in any numbers.

The LEDs use so little power that it's difficult to even measure it, produce no heat (important in summer, certainly), and the light is excellent for reading, sewing or doing other close task work. I don't like those lights for ambient lighting, though, because at least the ones we have are really too bright for that.

CathyA......it might be worth it to go to a good lighting store and see what is available in high quality CFLs and LEDs, because I know they have "warm light" ones now, and hopefully a lighting store would be knowledgeable on the latest and best options.

[rosarugosa]

We have all CFLs in our house except a couple of old light fixtures in the kitchen that "eat" bulbs at a rapid clip. So we use the cheapest possible bulbs in those lights. They are old enclosed fixtures that we will replace when we remodel the kitchen. I guess we're just not too fussy about light type/quality. I have no particular brand preference, but they all seem fine to me.
We did go to some lengths/expense to install CFL-compatible ceiling fixtures in our house about 17 years ago (in every room but the kitchen). That was before they made the little spiral bulbs that can fit in any fixture. These fixtures take long flat bulbs that I believe are by Sylvania. They kind of look like mini-tubes. There is a minor delay when we turn them on, and sometimes a slight buzzing sound. We must be used to it by now, because Iwe don't really even notice. And it was 9 years before I had to replace the first one of those bulbs!
I also broke a CFL bulb with my head in the basement a few years back. Didn't know I was supposed to panic, so I just picked the shards out of my hair, swept up the rest, and tossed it away. Now I do know enough to dispose of them properly. My local Home Depot has a bin where we can drop them off. The little spiral bulbs are cheap and convenient (we use them in floor lamps, etc.) but they certainly don't last 9 years.
I am eager to try LEDs and I'm glad to see they are coming down in cost.

[kally]

the CFLs we bought were a piece of crap and each one lasted not even 6 months. I don't generally like the light colour either.

[loosechickens]

We put our one CFL bulb into our living room light fixture in March of 2001 (and I know because my sweetie wrote on it with a Sharpie marker, the date he installed it because he wanted to see how long it would last). It's still going strong (of course, now that I've bragged about how long it's lasted, I guess I can expect it to self destruct soon, hahaha......)

[freein05]

We put CFL lights in our living when they first came out. Our living is very dark and we have track light fixtures along two walls. We have 5 sixty watt incandescent bulbs in it prior to replacing them with CFLs. The five incandescent used 300 watts we now have 5 13 watt CFLs that use a total of 65 watts. The lights are on almost all day and until we go to bed. I have not calculated the saving but they save 235 watts an hour. You get used to the funny shape and I like the soft light they put out. We now have them in every light fixture. Some last a long time and some don't. We do not have street side trash pickup so we take our trash to a county transfer station and they have a special box for CFLs and batteries.

[kenh]

I just put a new Philips LED light in our dining room - it's great. $25 home depot; 800 lumens, 12.5 watt, 2700deg warm color.
For us, the low wattage is absolutely important because we are off the grid.

[freein05]

Fox News and many politicians apparently never read the law regarding energy efficient light blubs. The law did not require CFLs. It required light blubs use 25% less energy. Manufactures are now coming out with incandescent blubs that meet the laws requirement. So you will still be able to buy incandescent blubs. No need to stock up on power hungry blubs. I have used CFLs for years and like them and especially the savings in energy costs.

[fidgiegirl]

kenh, thanks for your review of the LEDs. I just saw a little insert in the power bill that said they are available at a discount locally ($10 each) but can last up to 25 years and have no mercury. I was wondering precisely about the color, so your review was helpful. We will have to look into those as we finish off our stash.

We broke a CFL when remodeling. You'd think we had dropped an atom bomb the way my in-laws reacted. They had to take the broken bulb outside, and then my mother in law wanted to wrap up all the broken pieces. Geez. Any junk that was going to go into the air went into it at the moment of breaking, not after the fact. Such worry warts, but I could do worse :)

[Bronxboy]

Fox News and many politicians apparently never read the law regarding energy efficient light blubs. The law did not require CFLs. It required light blubs use 25% less energy. Manufactures are now coming out with incandescent blubs that meet the laws requirement. So you will still be able to buy incandescent blubs.
True. We use a number of these halogen/incandescent bulbs in our house. They run between $1.50 and $2 each for Phllips.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=202514342&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=202514342&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D27X-_-202514342&locStoreNum=2583

[Bronxboy]

LEDs will almost surely make the CFLs disappear in the rear view mirror of life, and they ARE already coming down in price. .

LEDs made halogens disappear in a specialized lighting area I work with in about 18 months. Made everything else obsolete. 40 Watt equivalent LEDs are now under $5 each at Costco. I'll probably pick up a pack on my next visit.

In short, CFLs will go the way of the pet rock QUICKLY.

[Tradd]

I've used the GE Reveal incandescents for a long time. I was at Walmart several days ago and was looking for a 3-way CFL for the only lamp in my LR, a floor lamp (torchiere style). This lamp is on almost all the time. I was happy to find a Reveal CFL. It was about $15, but the light is so much softer than CFLs I've had in the past.

[puglogic]

We have quite a few of the Reveals, too, and haven't bought a conventional bulb in at least two years. I'm looking forward to exploring the LEDs that are a bit warmer in color.

[Tenngal]

we have found that the "daylight" cfls make a huge difference in light quality. Most fixtures that we use the most have them.

[Lainey]

There's a very good article on CFLs, LEDs, etc.in the current issue of Consumer Reports; sorry, no link, I think that it is fee-based only.

[Tiam]

Sorry, I can't help you. I'm hoarding the old bulbs. I don't think people are worried enough about the mercury in them. I hope you can figure this out. I hate white light.


I really agree with you. They might be 'better' but I feel that the mercury issue is being brushed aside. And they just aren't a satisfactory product.