Compact Fluorescent or Incandescent Light Bulbs?

[SDFgirl]

This is a major bone of contention between DH and I.

He wants all compact fluorescent bulbs in our home. I don't mind them for most of the lights in our house, but for reading lamps and bedside lamps, I still like incandescent. I don't like the harsh look of fluorescent bulbs, especially for reading.

Of course, he tries to make me feel guilty that we haven't 100% switched over...

What do you do in your home? All of one type, or a mixture?

 

[disney1990]

99% of the bulbs in our house are fluorescent or LEDs. I really don't like the light from the fluorescents, but efficiency has won out on this one.

I don't know whether you know it or not, but incandescent bulbs will begin to be phased out in the U.S. starting in 2012 and ending in 2014.

 

[SAHDad]

About half of ours are incandescent, half are LED or CFL. I figure when I can no longer get incandescent, I will go back to oil lamps or something. (I wonder what people who need incandescents for pets or agriculture will do when they are phased out.)

 

[GeorgeG]

We have both and I really don't have a preference. I'll probably still use incandescent bulbs as long as they are still available since effeciency is as much in the usage as it is type of bulbs. Yes, the newer, especially LED lights are more energy efficient, but people need to be more efficient in their lifestyles a little more, too.

 

[PanamaMike]

What's going to happen to the Easy Bake oven when incandescent bulbs are phased out? Hard to bake something with a lightbulb that doesn't get hot.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I get headaches from Fluorescent bulbs so I'm all about incandescent. I started making sure that absolutely nothing is turned on, that we aren't using, and our electric bill went down almost 2/3. So, you can use regular bulbs without being wasteful. Also, the Compact Fluorescent bulbs are going to be huge a environmental hazard, due to Mercury content, unless they are all recycled, and what are the chances of that?

 

[aprilgail2]

I get headaches from Fluorescent bulbs so I'm all about incandescent. Also, the Compact Fluorescent bulbs are going to be huge a environmental hazard, due to Mercury content, unless they are all recycled, and what are the chances of that?

I cant stand trying to read by Flourescent light-that gives me a headache! I honestly don't see me recycling a lighbulb-when they die now I just toss them in the trash and that is most likely what I will continue to do.

 

[Imzadi]

Of course, he tries to make me feel guilty that we haven't 100% switched over...

I don't see why it should be a problem if you only have one or two lightbulbs and they are boing used for a very specific purpose, like reading. I'm about to go out & get some of the Reveal lightbulbs as they are closer to actual daylight. I've started painting again, and need to see the true colors at night.

I'll probably still use incandescent bulbs as long as they are still available since efficiency is as much in the usage as it is type of bulbs.

People are actually stockpiling lightbulbs so they will have them for years beyond the deadline.

What's going to happen to the Easy Bake oven when incandescent bulbs are phased out?

I was wondering the same thing.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

We're still an incandescent family... I can't stand that bluish-hued glow. I like the warm goldy glow of incandescent. I know, I know, I'm evil.

 

[mtdevine615]

Well I didn't like the CFL's when we first switched but you get use to them. Just two lights left that have the old bulbs. Top of the stirs, not easy to change.

 

[SAHDad]

Well I didn't like the CFL's when we first switched but you get use to them. Just two lights left that have the old bulbs. Top of the stirs, not easy to change.

Not necessarily. I paint (miniatures, mainly, but also some canvas). The light values for CFLs are all wrong. (I do have a couple LEDs that are used in my lighting setup, but they are balanced by incandescents, and used mainly for prep work, not for anything requiring color selection.)

Oh well, the choice was nice while it lasted.

 

[Tess]

I began to switch over to CFL bulbs and found they don't last any longer than my incandescent bulbs. In fact, I replaced two incandescent bulbs with two CFL bulbs in one lamp at the same time I changed a burned out incandescent with a like incandescent. Three gueses which bulb is still working while the other two fried.

I still have a couple of the CFL bulbs in a lamp, but hate the light and haven't gotten used to it either. Further, the CFL bulbs are downright ugly--even those that are supposed to be "decorative", if you can even find the "decorative" types.

I am another one who does not believe people will recycle these things and that will cause a whole other problem with ground contamination.

 

[rwdavis2]

I don't know whether you know it or not, but incandescent bulbs will begin to be phased out in the U.S. starting in 2012 and ending in 2014.

Not quite true, yet. That bill has passed only the House and not the Senate. Rather than telling us what light bulbs to use, cars to drive, the far more efficient thing to do would be to raise the taxes on energy (not that I advocate this) and let people decide how they want to save. That saves the government here in DC from hiring light bulb police.
BD

 

[Imzadi]

That saves the government here in DC from hiring light bulb police.

Light bulb police -->


I wonder if WMAlex will have to change that smiley in 2014 to a CFL bulb?

 

[disney1990]

Not quite true, yet. That bill has passed only the House and not the Senate. Rather than telling us what light bulbs to use, cars to drive, the far more efficient thing to do would be to raise the taxes on energy (not that I advocate this) and let people decide how they want to save. That saves the government here in DC from hiring light bulb police.
BD

They won't have to hire light bulb police if the bulbs aren't made anymore.

http://www.usnews.com/money/busines...-the-end-of-the-light-bulb-as-we-know-it.html

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59298

 

[rwdavis2]

They won't have to hire light bulb police if the bulbs aren't made anymore.

http://www.usnews.com/money/busines...-the-end-of-the-light-bulb-as-we-know-it.html

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59298

I stand corrected. I know the light bulb requirement was part of the Cap and Trade Bill last year.
BD

 

[disney1990]

I stand corrected. I know the light bulb requirement was part of the Cap and Trade Bill last year.
BD

I am not totally happy by this either. There are still a couple places that we use "regular" bulbs.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We use only CFL bulbs and have for about 4 years I think. I've replaced one bulb and that was a three way that was damaged during a brown-out in our neighborhood, otherwise all of the lights are still going strong.

We use all sorts of different color temperature bulbs too depending on where they are located, from the soft "yellow" in the living room to brighter whites in the kitchen areas.

I agree usage is part of the equation in energy conservation but you have to be fair when doing the comparison, and if you use less energy by limiting your usage, you'll use even less if you use a more efficient light.

I also recycle, lightbulbs to batteries, so I ensure that I am being environmentally responsible where I can, and the mercury content I think is WAY overblown, there are greater sources of mercury in a standard house then CFL bulbs.

 

[bicker]

(I wonder what people who need incandescents for pets or agriculture will do when they are phased out.)

We bought special daylight CFLs for our cat.

Also, the Compact Fluorescent bulbs are going to be huge a environmental hazard, due to Mercury content, unless they are all recycled, and what are the chances of that?

Pretty high if they start fining people big money for throwing them away.

I am not totally happy by this either. There are still a couple places that we use "regular" bulbs.

If people would just have switched most of their bulbs voluntarily then there wouldn't be any need for government to have gotten involved, but yet-again we have a situation where people were fixated on making decisions for themselves in total denial of their impact on others and society-in-general. Selfishness begets painful government regulation.

 

[Hoodie]

When we moved in, the entire house was outfitted with CFL. We've since replaced 90% of them with incandescent. I refuse to have CFL in any rooms with carpet because of the mercury.

We've noticed no difference in our energy use before or after the replacement. A couple of the remaining CFLs have burnt out in the past week. Since recycling them in our area means a trip to the dump 30 minutes away, they'll be going in the trash. Somehow driving a hour round trip to dispose of 2 lightbulbs seems to negate any energy savings.