How many DUers does it take to screw in a compact flourescent?

[skids]

Just interested to know what kind of lightbulbs you use in your house.

While we wait for LEDs to get more efficient and cheaper, CFs are currently the best bet. Don't wait -- it will be at least the lifespan of one CF bulb before LED technology catches up.

Caveat: users should note not to use them where they can get broken, and especially not to break them while they are turned on (toxic mercury vapor cloud.) Additionally proper disposal is very important (luckily this is necessary less often than with incandescents.)

[whistle]

1. CFs are another mercury source in the environment...

[skids]

3. Agreed. That's a matter of education/enforcement.

I've seen so many improperly disposed-of large flourescents that I shudder. Which is why I wrote the caveat. Hopefully LEDs will catch up quick.

[dweller]

2. all the way, but

for the lights on dimmers. I understand now the technology has produced the dimmable ones, but i don't have them yet.

almost 3 years with them, one burnout.

i fear they will all burn out within a week of each other, since i put in all 8 at once...hope not.

dp

[Autumn Colors]

4. OK, so my question is....

How/where are you supposed to dispose of them? We put them in MOST places in our house around 2 years ago and NONE of them has burned out yet so we haven't had to dispose of any. I just went and let my husband know (now.... thanks) that we can't just throw them away.

Additional info appreciated.

[skids]

11. Usually your local town dump...

...or affiliated recycling program will have a program to collect them. Failing that, give them to a person or business who has access to a disposal program.

(If they burn out in under a year and are energystar rated, you are entitled to a free replacement at the point of purchase.)

[mike6640]

5. I use CF's

Wherever I can. Costso sells 6 or 8 packs that actually fit the profile of a 60w bulb (think 'sconces').

Also Anyone try LED? I just picked a really cool (literally) gooseneck LED lamp at OfficeMax for $30. It has an array of 4x5 white LED's which provides a decent directional light for working at a computer. Also check out LED XMAS lights for my artificial tree.

M

[flamin lib]

6. CFs don't work in dimmers and there aren't any floods or spots

that I'm aware of.

LEDs are promising, but dimmers won't work with them either. Most cities are using LEDs in traffic lights. The life span, labor savings (changing burn-outs) and energy savings more than pay for the upgrade even if the "bulbs" cost many times the incandescents. It's a question of volume. Reds and Greens are .01 cents each, blues are as much as .50 and white high intensity are more than that. It's all a question of volume production and demand.

In most cases dimmers are irrelevant anyway. Usually set to max.

[durablend]

7. Incorrect

There are in fact "dimmable" CFLs (not really worth it, IMO), and you can get CFL flood lights (they're basically the "screw in" type tube molded into a flood light housing)

[flamin lib]

8. I stand corrected. Haven't seen them in the local mega mart. nt

[toey]

9. I use full-spectrum light bulbs because i have seasonal depression and

get no sunlight in my north-facing apartment :(

[MercutioATC]

10. I use CFs in the lights that get left on the most...

I always forget my porch light and my bathroom light. Both are CF.

The rest are gradually getting switched over, except for the spots over the back deck and hot tub.