Light bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs.

[no_hypocrisy]

What's going on?

Is it true that as of the end of the month (in 2-3 days), they won't be manufactured anymore? Or they won't be sold?

I like them more than the new ones.

Or did I hear wrong and they'll still be made and sold along with the new ones?

[BlueJazz]

1. I'm sure that they'll be around but those types of bulbs will become more expensive...

...as time goes by...and not because of inflation...because of being fairly rare.

[Pab Sungenis]

2. Right wing bullshit.

http://mediamatters.org/mobile/research/2011/01/04/foxs-light-bulb-ban-does-not-exist/174747

[lighthouse10]

72. Yes and No ;-)

For sure no-one is forced to use CFLs and Halogens will be around a while yet...

but Mediamatters are wrong too.
They don't know about, or choose not to mention, phase 2 of the law that they quote from

Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007/Title III/Subtitle B/Section 321
"The Secretary of Energy shall report to Congress on the time frame for commercialization of lighting to replace incandescent and halogen incandescent lamp technology"
.... with the replacement types for ordinary use gradually going 2014-2017 (with a 2020 "backstop" option)

US Regulations as posted below

[FirstLight]

3. Here's what Google told me:

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/07/yeah-incandescent-light-bulbs-have-pretty-much-been-banned


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_incandescent_light_bulbs


I use low wattage, 60 and 40, and they are now like 57 and 38, if that makes them more efficient, i guess I'll take it. But I am still seeing them on shelves...

[Control-Z]

4. I haven't changed a light bulb in over a year.

I used to change light bulbs every month.

I really love the new ones and the price has come way down. I took me a while to get used to them, though.

[pansypoo53219]

55. when we moved into current house, there were lightbulbs existing. the front stoop light was never

changed in 15 years. the old 1926 fixture was stolen by a crackehead. recovered, the fixture looked better + the lightbulb still worked. i have a bulb in the 2nd floor shower. it has never been changed in over 20 years. for one year it was on all night. i have an ebay buyer who loves xmas lights + old bulbs. i have found some old bulbs at estate sales. i think only 1 did not work. eve the 1 from the 20's. only the photo bulb w/ the blow out bubble was dead. they do not make them like thy used to. when my shower bulb dies, he wants it.

[mockmonkey]

5. Being phased out

They stopped the US manufacture and import of 100 and 75 watt bulbs on 1/1/13 and the 60 and 40 watt stop being manufactured and imported 1/1/14. In California it's one year sooner.

[FarCenter]

6. I don't see the problem with a bulb that gives off heat in the wintertime

I change to CFLs in the summer.

[mockmonkey]

8. The problem is...

it wastes energy making heat instead of making light.

[FarCenter]

9. In the winter, the heat from the bulb is useful

The furnace runs a little less, which burns less fossil fuel.

Yes, resistive heating is less efficient than a heat pump, but it's not a big deal.

Outdoor lighting of streets and highways is the big waste. Much of that should be turned off, now that we have really efficient LED headlights and flashlights.

[Logical]

11. Your logic is way off. But ok! nt

[intaglio]

29. Umm - No

A ceiling mounted 100W bulb will radiate heat but mostly into the ceiling or the walls being conducted away as fast as it heats; it will not contribute significantly to heating the air or heating you. The thermostat you use to govern the use of your furnace will not notice the insignificant heating provided by one 100W bulb.

Now think about three 4W LEDs they will provide about the same amount of light as your 100W bulb and back it up with a 500W halogen radiant heater set at 1/5 of it's rated output which you use for 30 mins an hour. Total usage 100/2 + 12 = 62 Watt/hrs

[krispos42]

32. It more efficient to burn a fossil fuel directly into heat...

...then to burn a fossil fuel into heat, use the heat to turn water into steam, use the steam to spin a generator, then transmit the electricity hundreds of miles to then turn it back into heat.

[FarCenter]

37. The electricity comes partly from non-fossil fuel sources

The electricity comes from a mix of coal, gas, nuclear, hydro and alternative sources, so fossil fuel is less than 100%. Total efficiency of generation and distribution to my light bulb is probably around 35%.

I heat with oil, so it is a relatively high cost source of heat with a relatively high carbon output. Oil burner efficiency is about 85%.

So for 100 watts of output, the carbon emissions are roughly the same. And with the bulb, I get light as a byproduct.

The bulb is in a floor lamp, so the heat goes directly into the room. I have no recessed fixtures.

[krispos42]

56. That could be true, except that the cost per kWh to you

Will probably be higher.

Even in the carbon footprint is the same because your power comes from a mix of sources, it will cost you more money for the same amount of BTUs.

and in the summertime, you'll pay more to pump that extra heat out of your house with the A/C.

So of that 100 watts, you're using maybe 80 watts that you don't necessarily need to use to light your room. That 80 watts then has to be pumped our of the room with the A/C system.

Something to consider, at least.

[FarCenter]

57. As noted above, in summer I use CFLs

I only run window AC for about 3 weeks in the summer. Otherwise, I use window fans to exhaust warm air overnight.

Air conditioning makes you fat because you don't use up energy sweating.

[krispos42]

61. I see that, up there on you original reply

Didn't take note of it before.

it looks like you've got everything thought it well, which is excellent.

We use window units as well for a few weeks in the summer. The 2 smaller bedroom ones are used more than the larger living room one.

I live with my parents, and I was home this summer due to being laid off, so I spent a lot of time futzing with fans and such.

I put a box fan in the hatchway to the attic, to suck hot air up and out. And I controlled the temp in my basement bedroom with a reversible window fan. in the daytime, I drew air into my room through the rest of the basement. letting the concrete cool off the air before entering my room. at night,I sucked in cool outside air directly in. It worked surprisingly well.

I also put a spring-loaded closer on my door. In the cooler months it traps heat from the computer and lights and TV so I don't need to run the electric heater, but my cat can still come and go as she pleases.

[snooper2]

52. That's why my mom wouldn't turn on the furnace in winter time

She made me sleep with the chickens

[FarCenter]

54. Heat lamps are a safe option for a brooder house

We also had a kerosene-fired brooder stove, back in the day. But you wanted to put the brooder house away from the other buildings, just in case.

[mockmonkey]

7. From the EPA

New Light Bulb Law (Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) - The Basics

The law:

does not ban the use or purchase of incandescent bulbs.
does not ban the sale or manufacture of ALL incandescent bulbs, just those common household incandescent (and other) bulbs that are not energy-efficient.
does not require the use of compact fluorescent bulbs.
requires about 25 percent greater efficiency (that is, less energy use) for household light bulbs that have traditionally used between 40 and 100 watts of electricity.
exempts many bulbs, including specialty bulbs, three-way bulbs, chandelier bulbs, refrigerator bulbs, plant grow lights and others.
was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2007 and is implemented by the U.S. Department of Energy.
includes many other provisions that do not pertain to lighting. Some of these provisions call for: higher gas mileage in automobiles; transportation electrification; increased reliance on biofuels; and training for green jobs.

http://www2.epa.gov/cfl

[lighthouse10]

31. EISA 2007 regulation: All general service incandescents will be banned in phase 2, 2014 onwards

Good points Mockmonkey!
They do exempt a lot of special bulbs, at least to begin with

However
1. All regular incandescents will go and are actually specifically targeted in the legislation
2. Special incandescent bulbs that might be used instead of regular bulbs are under monitored sales conditions

Phase 2 2014-2017 (extension to 2020 as per below) will phase out touted "allowed"
72 W watt halogen type replacements for 100W bulbs (etc) on 45 lumen per W requirement,
so all regular bulb types will go.

Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007/Title III/Subtitle B/Section 321
"The Secretary of Energy shall report to Congress on the time frame for commercialization of lighting to replace incandescent and halogen incandescent lamp technology"

"BACKSTOP REQUIREMENT— if the final rule [not later than January 1, 2017] does not produce savings that are greater than or equal to the savings from a minimum efficacy standard of 45 lumens per watt, effective beginning January 1, 2020, the Secretary shall prohibit the sale of any general service lamp that does not meet a minimum efficacy standard of 45 lumens per watt"

The Energy Information Administration at the Department of Energy confirms,
"essentially requiring general service bulbs to be as efficient as today's CFLs"

Sales monitoring of Special Incandescents:
Exemption reversal condition: The Act includes a provision whereby, in cooperation with NEMA, sales of certain exempted lamps will be monitored, specifically:
• rough service
• vibration service
• 2601-3300 lumen general service (150-200W)
• 3-way
• shatter-resistant lamps
For each of these lamp types, if sales double above the increase modeled for a given year — signaling that consumers are shifting from standard incandescents to these incandescents and thereby supposedly not saving energy — the lamp type will lose the exemption.

Regulations in detail - including amendment updates,
California legislation, and local state exemption bills
Ceolas.net/#li01inx

Texas Gov Rick Perry legalized incandescents in Texas
Texas Allows Regular Incandescent Bulbs

[Warren DeMontague]

10. Yerl hefte prah Mah Incandersent lert berlb erta mah kerld derd serket!

...seriously?

Here's what I've been doing. Gradually replacing mine with LEDs, because yes the LED bulbs are expensive. But the LEDs are getting better, cheaper, and they take like 10 years to burn out.

Trust me, waiting 10 years between having to get on a damn stepladder to change a particular lightbulb is remarkably easy to get used to.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Interesting. I don't like flourescents so much, but I actually like the way the

LED light looks, even more than incandescents even. Plus they jump on immediately.

I wonder if it's possible to get an LED with a different or warmer light profile.

[DirkGently]

38. The Cree bulbs I mention below are "warm."

2700k. For some reason they're also only $10 (for the 40-watt equivalent) instead of the $15 -20 Amazon charges, at Home Depot. There's a 60-watt equivalent too. Looks just like incandescent to me, and they're dimmable, although dimming is a little notchy as with most dimming LEDs.

I love 'em.

http://t.homedepot.com/p/Cree-6-Watt-40W-A19-Warm-White-2700K-Dimmable-LED-Light-Bulb-1-Pack-BA19-04527OMF-12DE26-1U110/203991778

[sendero]

62. I'm using some of these..

... along with some of the EcoSmart 40W bulbs. They are 2700K so they are "incandescent yellow" in color. That is what I like.

There are 4000K and even 5000K bulbs out there and they look blue and don't really belong in an interior comfy setting IMHO.

I have switched my house 95% to LED. I love them. And they use about 1/3 of the power of my already-low-power CFLs. If you have incandescents, the economic justification over a few years is a slam dunk.

[postulater]

12. I have replaced nearly all my incandescents

with CFLs. They were sold with five year guarantees, most last about a year. And they have mercury in them. Crappy product even though they save electricity.

[MurrayDelph]

20. Plus they take FOREVER to get to their full brightness

I used to have one in my bathroom. By the time it had warmed up enough to read by, I was done.

We now have an LED light bulb in the bathroom. If only they made standard bulb-sized ones with 75-watt (or higher) brightness equivalents (If they do sell them at all, they don't where I live on the Oregon Coast).

[Shankapotomus]

27. 2014

http://www.amazon.com/NanoLeaf-NL1200BN120V-Light-Bulb-Black/dp/B00DT5K544/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1378109994&sr=1-1&keywords=nanoleaf

[TeeYiYi]

41. "to read by"...???

The only time I turn on the light in the bathroom is when I'm using the mirror.

Have you considered adding a library to your house?

TYY

[yawnmaster]

49. And what happens when someone walks into the library while you are...

using the toilet?
I say leave the toilet in the bathroom.

[TeeYiYi]

51. If you have time to read...

...while using the toilet, you're not doing it right.

TYY

[yawnmaster]

64. Is there really a right way to read, as long as you get the meaning??? eom

[TeeYiYi]

65. Well, there's definitely...

...a right way to use the toilet. If you have time to read while doing so, you just might be doing something wrong.

TYY

[yawnmaster]

66. But then maybe if you DON'T have time to read, you are taking life too quickly...

and not sitting, relaxing and enjoying some of the simpler pleasures in life!

[TeeYiYi]

67. I have plenty of time to read...

...I just don't do it on the toilet. That's a get in, get out kinda' deal. Any longer and you're risking your health.

TYY

[Joe Shlabotnik]

21. Its the mercury that worries me.

I don't particularly like the bland light, but I can live with that. All of my burnt out CFLs get saved in a box and eventually returned for recycling, but I wonder how many of my neighbors just toss them into the garbage. I bet 80% of them will end up in landfills.

[hobbit709]

23. If you live downwind of a coal fired power plant, you're exposed to far more mercury.

[99Forever]

25. Two quick points.

CFLs are available in soft white. (and a number of other "colors&quot

Many big box home centers will take used CFLs for no charge. Home Depot and Menards do here.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. Yeah, I make a point to recycle all mine, too.

And I've gradually begun moving into LEDs, so it won't be a problem forever.

I'm still waiting on a good bulb-sized 100 watt LED, though.

[Walk away]

13. I have a few fixtures that only take incandescent bulbs so....

I ordered a case of 20,000 hour bulbs to have on hand just for my front porch light, my favorite reading lamp and the two sconces on either side of my bathroom mirror.
I really prefer incandescent light for reading and these bulbs are reasonable by the case.

[DirkGently]

16. CREE makes some great "warm" LED

bulbs now. $10 each at the local Home Depot.. They fit the standard socket for the old incandescents, use a fraction of the power, are dimmable, and have none of the harsh bluish color temperature of CFLs. I'm putting them everywhere I can.

[1000words]

19. "Full spectrum" is best. Same as sunlight.

Helps with seasonal affective disorder, too.

[DirkGently]

36. I prefer warmer lighting for most indoor purposes.

Full spectrum is too bluish looking for anything but a work application for me. The Cree LED bulbs I've got are 2700k. Perfect for general nighttime illumination in my opinion.

Edit: The kitchen is a "work environment." We have CFLs in there now. Need the clear, cooler light for prep and cooking.

[Archae]

14. I no longer have ANY incandescents.

All CFL's.

My electric bill dropped 20%.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

30. We changed out our whole house to LEDs.

Not sure what it did to the electric bill but we went from over 2400 lighting watts down to a little over 400 watts. We light the whole house using the wattage we previously used in the kitchen.

We changed something like 25 or so 6 inch recessed lights - from 65 watt incandescent to 9.5 watt CREE retro-fit recessed lights with integral baffle covers.

I really can't tell the difference between the old lights and the new lights. I suppose if I sat and stared at the lights I would be able to tell the difference.

[HooptieWagon]

15. I'm happy with CFLs.

The first two I bought in the mid-90s just burned out. All those I've bought in the past 8 years doing fine. Its nice not having to change them all the time. Can't tell if any energy was actually saved, b/c dickhead power company has raised rates so much. Still use incandescents in the closets....they don't use much energy being turned on for only a few minutes a month.

[bhikkhu]

17. I switched 10 years ago

and I prefer the little fluorescents, or at least the "warm tone" ones I've switched to. Most of the ones I put in back then are still working fine.

[jazzimov]

18. You actually like those?

I had a friend that claimed IFL's gave him a headache - until I pointed out that we worked together and we used florescent lights in our building.

I just can't imagine anyone WANTING to replace a lightbulb more often while experiencing higher bills and more "yellowing" light.

[ConcernedCanuk]

22. Manufacturers get more profit from the newer style bulbs.

.
.
.

That should tell ya where this is all gonna end up.

At any rate, I'm happy with my switch to CFLs years ago, most of mime last from 3-4 years.

Those that say they last less than a year are not installing them in appropriate places - enclosed fixtures are not healthy for them (ballast overheats) - most are not suitable for dimmer switches, and definitely won't last long if turned on and off frequently.

It takes the ballast about 5 minutes to warm up to efficient operating level - so definitely not suitable for that pantry/closet/whatever light you only turn on for a few minutes or less - bulb is fine, ballast is burnt.

Bans are there, but some have been postponed - bans may disappear, but the manufacturers are already enjoying the profits from CFLs LEDs and so on -

Here's a link that may convince you how this is going to go -

http://freedomlightbulb.blogspot.ca/2013/09/why-light-bulb-ban-in-so-many-countries.html

"Why the light bulb ban in so many countries, if it's such a bad idea?"

Tuesday, October 1, 2013 - Updated 1 October, original post 29 September

/snip/

But most people, in North America and Europe and likely elsewhere, seem unaware of the ban.

One reason is the gradual phase-out in most countries.
Another reason is that industrial (eg mining etc) incandescent bulbs are now finding their way into American and European stores and shops to meet demand.
There is a double irony here:
Firstly, such bulbs tend to use "even" more energy for the same brightness than standard incandescents (annoying the politicians!)
Secondly, at a still relatively low cost (eg 1 or 2$ or euros) they can last much longer, up to 20 000 hours, which is why as said they were successfully kept away from ordinary consumers until the post-ban demand arose (annoying the major manufacturers!). Ah yes.

/snip/
__________________________________________________________________________________________

And here in Canada:

Feds easing rules on incandescent light bulb ban

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2013/10/05/21174436.html

DANIEL PROUSSALIDIS, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
Oct 5, 2013
Last Updated: 2:27 PM ET


OTTAWA -- The feds are softening the rules for the coming ban on traditional light bulbs, but you'll still be hit in the pocketbook.

In January, officials will flip the switch on a year-long phase-out of the inefficient but cheap incandescent bulbs that have lit Canadian homes for generations.

New energy efficiency regulations would have also banned halogen incandescent bulbs, but Natural Resources officials now say they'll relax the standard so that those bulbs will survive the phase out.

That will leave consumers with an alternative to energy-saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and LEDs.

/snip/
___________________________________________________________________________________________

So - if ya love ur incandescents -

STOCK UP!

CC

[FSogol]

24. CFL are already being phased out for LEDs.

Manufacturers make money off of everything they manufacture. Why would an expensive light bulb be any different? Of course a bulb that lasts 50,000 hours will cost more than a bulb that lasts 1,200 hours.

Love incandescents? That is foolish.
Check out this chart comparing light bulbs and then defend outdated tech:

http://www.designrecycleinc.com/led%20comp%20chart.html

[lighthouse10]

74. About manufacturers pushing for bans

All bulbs have their advantages

re "defending outdated tech":
If new bulbs are so great people would sufficiently buy them.
Price issue is not only one (and if it was - so what?)
Plenty of other expensive alternative products made and sold and appropriately marketed.
"Progress" does not come from reducing - but increasing - competition.
Sure, new bulbs can be helped to market - but not continuously subsidised

Manufacturers change standards all the time - without government bans.
First they made sure the 1000 hr bulbs did just that - last 1000 hrs (Phoebus cartel, look it up or see other comments here in thread)
Then they campaigned for bans to sell more profitable varieties - whose lifespan in turn is questionable on many issues, again as ConcernedCanuk linking or see specifically:
Industrial Politics involved in the regulations
= also why the supposed coal and emission saving etc of your link does not hold up on real coal power plant cycling operation at night time of main incandescent use (coal being the main CO2 emitting source in power plants)

[tridim]

26. I'm liking the new halogen bulbs a lot.

Same form-factor as incandescent. I have two or three in places where I need lots of light, CFL's everywhere else.

The light they make is much more pleasing than CFLs and only slightly less efficient.

[ieoeja]

33. Some LED light bulbs for standard light fixtures make you feel like you're in the bright sunlight.

Other LED light bulbs are completely worthless. So if you got an LED light bulb that is worthless, that does not mean that LED light bulbs suck. It means you got a poor brand.

A bulb I bought years ago is just terrible. I recently saw one for only $3 in the grocery store (versus the $15-$35 bulbs I was buying at Home Depot) and tried it. It is also really bad.

I see upthread someone recommending CREE brand. I haven't tried that. I did find this brand at Home Depot (Ecosmart, I think, the branding on the package isn't really clear; is that a brand, or just a merchandising tag line?):



I purchased these in both spotlight and full around lights. The only complaint I had in the latter was that the 100 watt equivalent is way too bright for direct lighting. It definitely needs shading. But I put it in a ceiling light in a low traffic part of the basement where it really lights up the place.

[KurtNYC]

39. Incandescent light bulbs were one of the first products to spawn a cartel

They tweaked them to be less durable and paid a fine into the pool if theirs outlasted others. The game lasted almost 100 years and was so successful for manufacturers that other products were engineered to be less durable.

The move to CFL and LED is, in one sense, the beginning of a new era in consumer economics; back to durable products with quality and efficiency.

A French documentary on it (trailer here but whole film is on YouTube also):

[NYC_SKP]

43. That's a fact. Thanks for posting. nt

[lighthouse10]

70. Full Versions of the Light Bulb Conspiracy Video

KurtNYC / NYC_SKP

To see the whole thing in different languages, also the long version and video interview with the director

Lightbulb Conspiracy Documentary by Cosima Dannoritzer

About the cartel that fixed standard light bulb lifespan at 1000 hrs
- recent US e-book covered the USA and GE side of the story, as also quoted

The Phoebus Cartel (GE, Philips, Osram and others)

The move to CFLs and LEDs just continues the story,
manufacturers sought the ban in 2007 for profit as also described and quoted
= trading higher price profitability instead of lower lifespan
There are also issues about how long CFLs and LEDs really last (= lab conditions in 3hr cycle runs),
and the manufacturers will not back by guarantee.

[NYC_SKP]

71. Interesting differences in the case of LEDs:

First, many if not most of the technological pioneers came out of HP and the semiconductor industry. No surprise, as LEDs are semiconductors.

Second, their lifespans are so hard to nail down. By the time you test one for, say, a 50,000 hour life, 5.6 years have gone by!!!

I visited the Bridgelux mfg facility in Sunnyvale before it moved to Livermore.

So, I think we have a different POV from these hungry silicon valley entrepreneurs who I think follow the TESLA (Musk) and Tesla (Nikola) models more than the Edison model.

What do you think?

[lighthouse10]

73. the market solution... with a little govmt help

Well as a guitar player I'm pretty glad vacuum tubes weren't, er, phased out just because trannys came along

Vacuum tubes = like incandescents of course and solid state transistors = like diodes as in light emitting diodes, LEDs

I can see the "progress" and "energy saving" angles but reckon more - not less - competition is key!
Give the entrepreneurs help to come up with solutions - but don't ban (er, regulate) the other stuff in the meantime

If I shared the California gov view, I would tax the incandescents and subsidise lower price on the LEDs, making the market more equal and maybe get a little back to solve the Budget
Bans give the gov nothing, in direct income
But still think just helping new bulbs to market is best
marketed like batteries, cleaning fluids and the likes ..."expensive to buy but cheap in the long run!"

[KamaAina]

40. All fluorescent lighting sucks

Some people with autism (not me, mercifully) can actually see the 60Hz flicker. It's like going to school or whatever inside a carnival funhouse.

Many more people probably perceive the flicker subliminally, leading to fatigue, etc.

I'm holding out for LEDs that don't cost an arm and a leg.

[Taverner]

45. LEDs are going down every day

There's a place that sells Phillips LumiLEDs (made right here in the Bay Area!) for under $20

[TeeYiYi]

46. Also, people with seizure disorders...

...have to stay away from fluorescent lighting. The flickering triggers seizures.

TYY

[RobinA]

50. I'm No Lighting Expert

but I am a reading expert. I'm holding out for something I can read by that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I can read by a 70 or 100 watt incandescent or a halogen. I can't read by those crappy curlicue things. In fact, I carry incandescents to read by in hotels because they all went curlicue some years ago. My little book light for my Kindle is an LED and I don't find it very bright. Plus, dim light depresses me.

So, all you people who know about lighting, is there something out there I can read by for less than $10 dollars, or do I need to start hoarding incandescents?

[DirkGently]

63. Okay, I realize I now sound like a shill for

Cree or Home Depot, which I am not (I do have a flashlight with a Cree bulb I also love) but here goes:

http://t.homedepot.com/p/Cree-6-Watt-40W-A19-Warm-White-2700K-Dimmable-LED-Light-Bulb-1-Pack-BA19-04527OMF-12DE26-1U110/203991778

Fits in a normal A base like the old incandescents. Under $10 for the 40-watt equivalent. Bit more for the 60-watt equivalent. Nice warm light in a similar color spectrum to incandescent.

And I notice a couple of people are liking the Eco Smart brand as well.

I don't hate the CFLs for some applications, but the early models I have are pretty harsh, don't last as long as advertised if you turn them on and off a lot, and take a while to warm up as others have noted. And I have one that buzzes periodically.

LED seems a far better technology to me.

[Taverner]

42. I haven't used them in years

LED with high lumen output is the way to go

Sure, they cost $25, but you can drop them, and they don't usually break, and they can go for years

[Vashta Nerada]

44. CFLs hurt my eyes.

I use one lamp with a 40 watt bulb to light my room.

[sibelian]

47. Do you get the halogen bulbs in the States?

Nice and bright, LOTS of light for not much watts, and a good colour. Come on really quick, too.

But.... EXPENSIVE... and they blow very easily, they're incredibly fragile.

Of the incandescent replacements these are my favourites, but I do have to be careful in the way I switch on my lamps!

[cynatnite]

48. I have a problem light in the basement...

No matter what kind of bulb we put there it eventually always shorts out.

Any advice?

[Xithras]

53. I have a 20 year supply in the attic.

My house has dimmers all over the place, and dimmable CFL's are garbage ($8-$15 per bulb and they rarely last more than two years...I've had many fail in under 6 months). I do have CFL's in many of my lamps, but it would cost nearly a thousand bucks to have my switches rewired to eliminate the dimmers...and I don't really want to anyway because I LIKE the dimmers.

Back when the limitations first started, I bought cases of incandescent bulbs for some of the fixtures on dimmable circuits. By my estimate, I'll be good until some point in the 2030's.

[Skip Intro]

58. Don't like the new ones. Why can't I have the old ones?

If I want to pay a higher electric bill, shouldn't that be my choice?

[quinnox]

59. I don't like the replacement ones either. But I still can find and buy incandescent ones

at the store. I buy 100 watt ones. Its odd, because supposedly these are supposed to be phased out already. Maybe the company that makes them has found a loophole or something, because apparently there are exceptions for "specialty" bulbs in the law. It says "enhanced" on the package, along with "simulates full spectrum".

[moriah]

60. They make some really good CFL bulbs now, they don't suck like they used to.

And every home where I've moved in and gradually replaced incandescents with CFLs, I've noticed a drop in my utility bills. They're more expensive, but they pay for themselves.

I think this is a good thing.

[snooper2]

68. I can't believe how many people complain about light bulbs

LOL...


You could always go really old school

[yawnmaster]

69. and I've got a portable idea!

Just dip it in pitch every so often.
You can even get a wall holder!
You can take your light with you to parties too!

[link:|