Light Bulb Law

[BridgetBordeaux]

You can google this topic to get all the details.

Being the budget board, I wanted to point this out now to everyone before the shelf based options slowly decrease.

The movement is on the way to transition from incandescent bulbs to a variety of high tech bulbs. The new technology bulbs save money, last longer, and throw off a different shade of light than we have used for the past 100 or so years.

I went to Walmart the other day and witnessed that about half the shelf space is already devoted to "green bulbs".

For those not ready yet to replace all your bulbs with the new ones (they are much more expensive), now is the time to stock up on the old ones.

As time marches on the selection will dwindle and the prices will go up on the few old fashioned bulbs left.

If you have a dimmer switch in your house, it can not be used with the new technology bulbs. (UPDATE- I have been told that certain models will work with dimmer switches)

I also am not thrilled about replacing 4 bulbs in each ceiling fan with 20 bucks worth of new ones. We very seldom use the lights and if one burns out, I would rather spend 50 cents to replace one bulb than shift over to the new ones. I also don't want a mixture of bulbs in the thing either!

There are certainly some lights in my house that we can change out and we will be just fine, but there are also some that I prefer to leave as they are.

So............now would be the time to look over the lights in your house and start to accumulate the wattage and styles that you want. Even though the law give us a couple of years for the transition, many retailers are decreasing the stock of old bulbs NOW!

Ikea has already announced that it will no longer sell the old bulbs and others are sure to follow in the near future.

 

[DaniB]

I hate this...

My husband was trying to convince me to switch over to those "compact fluorescent light bulbs" (the kind that spiral). We had a couple in our house for over a year. I don't really like the light... hurts my eyes.

In any case, my daughter & I were at the kitchen table working on her reading when we started puzzling over the smell that crept up on us. It kind of smelt like plastic burning. But my oven/stove top was off.

Then I realized the smell was originating from our hanging fan/lights over the table. It was that CF bulb!! I killed the lights and had hubby remove the bulb when he came home. I had to open the back door to air out the kitchen, it stunk!

The bulb "died" but did not just stop working like a "normal" incandescent bulb. It actually started burning!
If we weren't home and the light had been left on accidentially (which happens with kids!), there's a damn good chance it would have burst into flames!

We replaced the rest of the bulbs with "normal" incandescent bulbs that night. I refuse to use a "compact fluorescent light bulb" again.

 

[disneyofcourse]

I hate the new bulbs. I kept on saying that they made my eyes hurt and it just feels so dark but no one seemed to understand or feel the same way..... I wonder where can I still order regular bulbs online.

Our traffic lights are now all this special kind of bulb and I can't see the light unless I get within about 40-50 feet depending on the angle of the road coming up to the light. Drives me nuts!

 

[jedijohn]

If you have a dimmer switch in your house, it can not be used with the new technology bulbs.

Actually there are certain models that are dimmer switch compatible, but they do cost more than the non-dimmable versions.

We use GE CFL's in all the lights in our house for at least the past 5 years without any issues.

 

[luvmy3]

Actually there are certain models that are dimmer switch compatible, but they do cost more than the non-dimmable versions.

We use GE CFL's in all the lights in our house for at least the past 5 years without any issues.

We have the ones that can be dimmed in our family room but they do not dim as low as regular bulbs and they don't give that warm dim feel.
I hate the new bulbs because they take a little bit to warm up and reach full brightness, its annoying.
We will eventually make the switch to LED bulbs but not until we absolutely have to.

 

[mrodgers]

The problem with the CFL bulbs are there are about a billion different kinds of bulbs, all producing different light output and different color.

I have a large wattage outside, nearly as much as the 60 watt incandescent it replaced. It is absolutely useless and produces no usable light out there.

Some of them are fantastic. It costs more money, but our 4 bulb kitchen ceiling fan we replaced in 2000 when we moved in. A ton of light and they are still the same bulbs 11 years later. This is near the stove and the main light that is on all the time, even during the daytime. On the other hand, I probably replace the laundry incandescent 3-4 times per year and it is hardly ever on.

My problem is, my wife buys the bulbs, replaces a burnt out bulb, then tosses the package before I can see what bulb it was after determining if it is uselessly no light output or if it is good.

The wattage the package says it replaces is never accurate either. If the package says it is the equivalent to a 60 watt incandescent, I've found it is about half the light output instead.

Some of them I've found we really like, but most of them are worthless because of the color of light and light output.

 

[HM]

We've transitioned almost all our bulbs over to CFL and some of them to LEDs. There are some CFLs that are dimmable....you have to look for the ones that are labeled for Dimmable (and it's obvious on the packaging). And you can find a couple different 'shades of light' so you don't have to have the 'white' light...you can get some with a more yellow color. Prices keep coming down.

 

[hercamore]

I hear ya.

I just searched 3 home improvement stores for an incandescent 3 way bulb.
15/100/150 that I've put in our living room lamps for years.

No luck.

herc

 

[woodkins]

Actually there are certain models that are dimmer switch compatible, but they do cost more than the non-dimmable versions.

We use GE CFL's in all the lights in our house for at least the past 5 years without any issues.

There are some bulbs that are dimmable, however they still will not dim if you are using certian types of dimmers. We have the led type dimmer with the lights in the switch & they do not work with any of the green bulbs at all and my dh is an electrician & the company that makes the dimmers is aware of this issue, but hasn't done anything about it yet.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I have been buying the old ones and storing them. I do not like these new ones. Did you know if they break you have to clean them up carefully.

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

I really don't want them in my home!

 

[simonsmom]

I have been buying the old ones and storing them. I do not like these new ones. Did you know if they break you have to clean them up carefully.

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

I really don't want them in my home!

and you can't just throw them away either

 

[PatriciaH]

I hate the new bulbs. We have some regular bulbs but need to get more. There was a thread on here a little while ago about the same thing and one DIS-er said the new ones give her bad headaches because she can detect them blinking very fast. I hate the type of light they put out. So fake looking. And I hate that they are dangerous if they break.

 

[smokeyblue]

I have a friend who had one burst into flames. They got rid of them all. I wonder what they are going to do now?

I like that they last a very long time. I actually don't mind them in most places except certain fashion light fixtures. I actually had one entryway bulb last for 5 years and I keep that light on 24-7. I was absolutely amazed.

What I don't like is when they literally burn out. I've had two that looked really burnt when I've replaced them.

 

[chicagoshannon]

I better go stock up. My bathroom light fixtures would look so odd using those bulbs. I'm not even sure they make them to fit there.

 

[perdidochas]

You can google this topic to get all the details.

Being the budget board, I wanted to point this out now to everyone before the shelf based options slowly decrease.

The movement is on the way to transition from incandescent bulbs to a variety of high tech bulbs. The new technology bulbs save money, last longer, and throw off a different shade of light than we have used for the past 100 or so years.

I went to Walmart the other day and witnessed that about half the shelf space is already devoted to "green bulbs".

For those not ready yet to replace all your bulbs with the new ones (they are much more expensive), now is the time to stock up on the old ones.

As time marches on the selection will dwindle and the prices will go up on the few old fashioned bulbs left.

If you have a dimmer switch in your house, it can not be used with the new technology bulbs.

I also am not thrilled about replacing 4 bulbs in each ceiling fan with 20 bucks worth of new ones. We very seldom use the lights and if one burns out, I would rather spend 50 cents to replace one bulb than shift over to the new ones. I also don't want a mixture of bulbs in the thing either!

There are certainly some lights in my house that we can change out and we will be just fine, but there are also some that I prefer to leave as they are.

So............now would be the time to look over the lights in your house and start to accumulate the wattage and styles that you want. Even though the law give us a couple of years for the transition, many retailers are decreasing the stock of old bulbs NOW!

Ikea has already announced that it will no longer sell the old bulbs and others are sure to follow in the near future.

There is no need to change out old bulbs until they burn out.

I started replacing my incandescents with CFLs a few years ago. I have only had to replace one CFL (and that was because it was on a floor lamp that got knocked over). I'm happy with CFLs. Don't like the law on general principles, but it won't effect me.

 

[minnie1928]

I better go stock up. My bathroom light fixtures would look so odd using those bulbs. I'm not even sure they make them to fit there.

They do make CFLs that aren't the swirly design. You can get some that have the same shape as a traditional light bulb.

 

[ellone]

I have been buying the old ones and storing them. I do not like these new ones. Did you know if they break you have to clean them up carefully.

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

I really don't want them in my home!

I know...my 17 month old daughter pulled a lamp off a table in the living room and smashed one. I completely freaked out.

 

[tomthebarncat]

This has been law here in Germany for a while now, and most stores stopped selling those old bulbs as soon as the law was passed. I was already using the new bulbs as they are basically a one time expense! I would rather pay for the longevity vs. paying every month in electricy usage. Plus they are better for the environment It really is a no brainer!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Plus they are better for the environment

Wait until all of those bulbs start hitting landfills and leaching mercury into the groundwater. Much like the batteries from Hybrid vehicles, not everything "green" is better for the environment...

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I agree they are not better for the environment. They will end up in landfills and they will break causing the mercury to leak out.