CFL bulbs

[Gil]

Seeing as there has been a lot of news on these lately, it seems appropriate to make a discussion thread.

let me sum up the basics:

CFL bulbs use less energy. I know several people who use all CFL bulbs in their houses, and have noticed absolutely no change in energy bills. They give off more light, though its cold light. They contain harmful elements, so you can't throw them out when they burn out, and if you break one, your in danger, which also makes it MORE harmful to the environment. The government seems to think these are the greatest things in the world, which is the absolute opposite of what they really are. They made it a law to phase out the older lightbulbs, which have proven to be effective, and much less trouble than these awful CFLs.

As you can tell, I'm highly opposed to these pieces of crap. Thoughts?

[lfmusiclover]

I have a thought: let's keep this thread civil. You all can debate about this all you want, but the second it gets out of line the thread's locked. 

[Stephen]

They give off more light, though its cold light.

I use CFLs in my house, and they produce the same amount of light as a standard incandescent does.

They contain harmful elements, so you can't throw them out when they burn out

True, you have to recycle them. But it isn't difficult to recycle them.

and if you break one, your in danger, which also makes it MORE harmful to the environment.

You're not really in any danger if you take action to a broken CFL immediately. See: http://www.epa.gov/hg/spills/index.htm#flourescent

older lightbulbs, have proven to be effective, and much less trouble than these CFLs.

Effective? Yes. Much less trouble? Most definitely NO. When we used standard incandescent bulbs, they burn out every month or 2. However, since we've switched to CFLs (which was in January 2007), our CFLs are still kicking after over a year. CFLs make it much more convenient because you don't have to change them as often as you would with incandescents. With CFLs, you just install it, and then you can forget about it until it burns out several years from now.

[Localonthe8s]

I have flourescent light bulbs and they work perfectly fine for me. They're still working after 2 years.

Plus, sorry for the stupid nature of this question, but how are light bulbs harmful to the environment?

[Stephen]

but how are light bulbs harmful to the environment?

Light bulbs aren't harmful to the environment. CFLs (and regular fluorescent tubes) can be harmful, however. But, if you recycle them, there's no harm done to the environment.

[lfmusiclover]

I have flourescent light bulbs and they work perfectly fine for me. They're still working after 2 years.

Plus, sorry for the stupid nature of this question, but how are light bulbs harmful to the environment?

As Stephen said, there's really no harm in CFL's when handled properly. However, they contain Mercury, which is a known toxin and carcinogen to humans.

[Localonthe8s]

I didn't know they contained Mercury. Gosh, i regret throwing out these bulbs :shocked:

[Mike M]

I hate it how Congress wants to ban incandescents. I'm not going to the recycling plant just to drop off bulbs. CFL's produce a different shade of light that I don't like. They need to make CFL's out of a different material that will produce light, such as hydrogen or something, and make them produce an identical shade of light that incandescents can produce. Also, do they make transparent florescent bulbs?

[Localonthe8s]

Also, do they make transparent florescent bulbs?

I think so. I saw it Lowe's once

[beanboy89]

We have a number of these candle bulbs on our house in various lighting fixtures:



Until they make a CFL that looks and acts like these, plus works with dimmers, we'll be mostly using incandescent bulbs. There are a few CFLs in use in our living room, and it takes a while for them to "warm up." They are very dim when you turn the lights on, and then take a few minutes to get bright. One thing I have noticed is they don't get hot. The light could be on for hours, and I can touch it without getting burnt.

[Stephen]

There are a few CFLs in use in our living room, and it takes a while for them to "warm up." They are very dim when you turn the lights on, and then take a few minutes to get bright.

Same here, but we've gotten used to it.

One thing I have noticed is they don't get hot. The light could be on for hours, and I can touch it without getting burnt.

Yes. One thing with incandescents is that most of the energy used to produce the light is wasted by heat. With fluorescents, that doesn't happen, the energy is mostly used to produce light, NOT heat.

[Mike M]

Really? I've tried touching one of those spiral ones and it seemed just as hot as an incandescent.

[Gil]

I hate it how Congress wants to ban incandescents. I'm not going to the recycling plant just to drop off bulbs. CFL's produce a different shade of light that I don't like. They need to make CFL's out of a different material that will produce light, such as hydrogen or something, and make them produce an identical shade of light that incandescents can produce. Also, do they make transparent florescent bulbs?

EXACTLY! Seriously guys, what kind of person is REALLY going to go through all the trouble to recycle them? This is America we're talking about here. Maybe 5% of them will get recycled, at a maximum. You're missing the point about the Mercury. Even if you clean it up immediately and properly, its still SERIOUSLY risking your health. It's one of the most poisonus elements. I asume its just as harmful to pets. Hate to break a lightbulb and wake up the next morning to have your pet dead. Think about it, its real and it can certainly happen. And yet, they want to put MORE of these hazardous bulbs in our homes. Maybe its there way of controling the population, who knows. I for one am never going to own a single CFL. And if that means getting them illegaly, then so be it. I'm not risking my health for something that wont do me any good in the long run.

[Stephen]

Really? I've tried touching one of those spiral ones and it seemed just as hot as an incandescent.

Trust me, incandescents are MUCH hotter. Try putting your left hand on a running incandescent and your right hand on a CFL. Your left hand will likely catch on fire.

[Gil]

I was not aware that a lightbulb could make a person catch fire.