Compact fluorescent light bulbs
Kasia February 18th, 2008
A few months ago, The Big Seester sent me an article that reported that incandescent light bulbs are going to be phased out, until they are no longer available for purchase in 2012 or so. Maybe it was 2014. I responded with an only slightly facetious crack that I was going to start stocking up now.
She thought that was hilarious. But honestly, I hate CFLs. They look stupid, yes, but that’s not so much why I hate them (I would only hate them for that in my decorative fixtures). I hate them because I find their light depressing.
So she challenged me to try them in, say, my office for a while, and see if I still hated them. The result is a mixed bag. When I first turn them on, they’re sickly and weak and I inwardly curse whoever invented them. By the time they’ve been on 10 minutes or so, their light seems to become more robust (or perhaps I adjust to the pathetic light) , and my only real complaint is that they have a sort of an odd color to the light and the bulbs, which is probably the spectrum of the light.
My question to my readers is this: I keep hearing about full-spectrum CFLs, and CFLs that are supposed to be closer to incandescent lighting in their spectrum. However, if they do in fact exist and are not just an urban myth designed to keep those of us who like our light bright and strong from rebelling in defense of incandescents, then apparently they are not sold at any of the stores I patronize. The Canuck and I went looking for them specifically at a few different stores (local hardware store and K-Mart, at least), and no dice. Anyone have any luck finding these? (And while we’re at it, maybe we could find some that don’t look stupid for my decorative fixtures?)
I did the little DTE Home Analyzer energy assessment, and it congratulated me on using less energy than comparable homes in my area. I’m guessing it’s because my air conditioning is broken and I don’t have a dishwasher. That said, I’d still like to shave down my energy bills; and while I’m at it I might as well start to get used to these confounded CFLs. I’d just like them to be a little less of a penance.
OOH! THAT should’ve been my Lenten penance this year: change all of my light bulbs to CFLs!!! Maybe next year…
OK. Seriously, Wal*Mart. Believe it or not, Wal*Mart (aka evil personified) has made a mondo commitment to energy commitment – I read an article somewhere – they are redesigning their trucks to be more fuel-efficient and etc. Apparently they have an entire row just for lightbulbs.
At least, that’s the rumor.
TBS
I refuse to get those toxic bulbs until the store agree to take them back when they’re ruined, similar to the way auto techs take used motor oil and worn out tires to prevent them ending up in waterways or landfills. Not to mention, I’m leery of breaking a bulb at home.
Talk to my mom about CFLs. We use them in almost every fixture and we found ones that don’t give you the office building type of light. And they have a lot more sizes now. Lowes is where we get ours.
And for the above poster Jean, it’s almost impossible to break these. The old bulbs were made of fragile glass and the CFLs for homes are made of a tougher glass. And on a plus side, these really are economic since they last for much longer than incandescents. So you will save money by not buying bulbs all the time.
I think we looked at Wal-Mart in Roseville, but I’ll look again. Maybe Lowe’s is the way to go.
However, I have to disagree, Julia: I’ve broken one of those CFL bulbs just gripping it to take it out of the fixture. And while I’m not exactly a delicate flower, I’m not exactly the Hulk either. I can appreciate Jean’s concern.
I read on a little fact sheet TBS gave me about CFLs that IKEA will take them back. Now, the closest IKEA is in Canton, which is a bit of a hike; but I’m hoping that this will be the start of a larger trend among stores. Maybe our borderline-useless state government could start a deposit/refund program like we have with cans and bottles?
Snooping on the I-Net & it appears that broad spectrun CFLs are sold as “grow-lights” for plants (1 site was advising them for marijuana growers! Maybe for their glaucoma?)
Here are hopefully some answers to issues raised in this post:
from http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/ask_us/faq_compac t.htm
Why does my compact fluorescent light bulb flicker or appear dim when I first turn it on?
The first compact fluorescent bulbs flickered when they were turned on because it took a few seconds for the ballast to produce enough electricity to excite the gas inside the bulb. Thanks to the refined technology in our new GE compact fluorescent bulbs, there is now no significant flicker (less than 1 second). However, these bulbs do require a short warm-up period before they reach full brightness, which is why they may appear dim when first turned on.
Is it true that CFLs contain mercury? Why and how much?
CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 5 milligrams (roughly equivalent to the tip of a ball-point pen). Mercury is an essential, irreplaceable element in CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. By comparison, older home thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury and many manual thermostats contain up to 3000 milligrams. It would take between 100 and 600 CFLs to equal those amounts.
There is currently no substitute for mercury in CFLs; however, manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products over the past decade.
Should I be concerned about using CFLs in my home or should I take any special precautions?
CFLs are safe to use in your home. No mercury is released when the bulbs are in use and they pose no danger to you or your family when used properly. However, CFLs are made of glass tubing and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the lamp from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base, and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket by its tubes.
What do I do with a CFL when it burns out? What is the proper disposal of a CFL bulb?
Follow these guidelines to dispose your CFL properly:
Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist. To find out what to do first check http://www.earth911.org (where you can find disposal options by using your zip code) or call 1-877-EARTH911 for local disposal options. Another option is to check directly with your local waste management agency for recycling options and disposal guidelines in your community. Additional information is available at http://www.lamprecycle.org. Finally, IKEA stores take back used CFLs, and other retailers are currently exploring take back programs.
AND NOTE PLEASE: A coal-fired power plant will emit 13.6 milligrams of mercury to produce electricity required to use an incandescent light bulb, compared to 3.3 milligrams for a CFL.
See also: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls
And, for those who scoff at every environmental change we make, saying “Well, as long as China and India keep doing X, Y, Z… it doesn’t matter what we do”, a small step in a healthy direction:
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2007/10/03/china-to-phase -out-incandescent-light-bulbs/
Clam, in all honesty, I think a little bit of research online before you shop would be helpful – look for what you want as if you were buying it online (e.g. check out amazon and etc.) – there are usually reviews of just about everything online. Once you decide on the product you want, then find the company’s website and find the “where to buy this product” part. And, as the Yellow Pages ads used to say, “Phone First!” Call the place that (for example) GE SWEARS carries the bulbs you want and ask them if they do indeed stock them.
Also, it may take a little trial and error to find something you really like, so don’t buy the 10 pack immediately. I’m still using up some bulbs at my place, but I intend to get more into this as soon as I use them up. Also keep in mind Energy Star rated bulbs should last you around 2 years.
Buck up, little camper! It will be OK!
Also, be sure you read the part in my previous post about how to properly grip the bulb so you don’t break it, Bill Bixby!
TBS
Buck up, little camper! It will be OK!
Are you telling me that we’ll beat that slope together? Or the street value of this mountain?
Yeah, the breakage was my fault – I need to get a stepstool to change my basement bulb. But it’s still more than a little disconcerting.
I think that you should be careful changing light bulbs no matter what anyway. And on a downside, some fixtures take extra time. You know the bathroom fixture in our house? Well it took me and Mom a lot of time to change that because it has a separate ballast and it’s got two circular tubes. And being as neither one of are very flexible it took some work getting on the toilet to change it. And you know how hard it is to fit one person in that bathroom let alone two.