Energy saving light bulbs.... reading about ALL the downsides, can i have your views please?

Question

i have changed every bulb in my house to energy savers thinking i was doing something positive, probably in the region of about 25-30 bulbs

I am reading about all the health effects, and wondered what you all thought, they are quite a concern

Answer 1

don't get them i have them in my kitchen and when you first turn them on in the morning the take like a minute to warm up and finnaly turn on as high as theuy van go and even then they are not as bright as regular bulbs

Answer 2

That was interesting!  I changed to energy saving light bulbs a few years ago when Scottish Power and Philips got together and did a two for one offer.

I found that the lights started to dim after a few months so although they are supposed to last for years, you might be tempted to change them a lot sooner.  I had to do that in my bedroom since I like to read a lot in bed.  I must admit the new light is much brighter so perhaps the technology has moved on.

Recently I have had to replace a couple of light sockets and I think the reason is that they are not designed to take the weight of these bulbs.  I have also had a bulb fail completely.  This was in the bathroom (where I had to replace the light socket) and i put in an old fashioned tungsten bulb.  I had forgotten just how much light is generated by a conventional bulb.

As for migraine headaches, i have been suffering from headaches recently and i am going to visit the doctor as I suspect they are migraine attacks.  Perhaps you have just provided me with the cause!

Answer 3

Why did you chose CFL's ?

If money is no object use LED's.

Answer 4

It could easily be that the lights are brighter or the flickering of the light, fluorescence bulbs flicker very fast so fast you can't see it but it might be a trigger. Of course regular light bulb can also case migraines as well as the flash from a camera.

I'm sure you've read about the mercury, but what the article doesn't tell you that you release less mercury into the environment using CFB then regular light bulbs over it's life. With ANYTHING there are pluses and minuses, you have to decide if the pluses out weigh the minuses.

Answer 5

A blog is not a trust worthy source. Any idiot can write all the false information he wants in his blog.

But the main concern people seem to have about CFLs is the mercury they contain. But regular fluorescent lights, like the long tubes in offices and stores and schools, also contain mercury. But it is a small amount and the added pollution from using more electricity to power less efficient incandescent lights is much worse for the environment and for you personally than a microscopic amount of mercury sealed in a glass CFL.

Answer 6

I put those lights in my house. My power bill went down 25%!

Answer 7

I'll use mercury filled bulbs when the elite stop using private jets and limos. Until then I'll stick with the safer variety.