Light Bulbs



Traditional Incandescent

 The US government has mandated that traditional 100W incandescent bulbs be phased out and replaced by Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) by January, 2012

Compact Fluorescent Lamp  (CFL)

Incandescent bulbs utilize a filament that is heated until a glow is produced, thus producing illumination.  Unfortunately, it also produces a great deal of heat as a side-effect, and this results in a huge waste of energy.

Some of the positive features of CFLs are:

---Between 8-15 times the longevity of incandescents (so claims the manufacturers)
---Use only 20%-33% of the energy of incandescents

Some of the negatives of CFLs are:

---These bulbs contain between 3 and 5 mg of mercury per bulb.  Mercury is poisonous and is a threat to the environment.
---Introduction of tens of millions of CFLs to landfills holds the potential to contaminate water, soil and air.
---It is unlawful in some states to dispose of CFLs in landfills.
---It is recommended that CFLs be recycled.
---One broken CFL bulb can release a mercury level that temporarily exceeds U.S.guidelines for chronic exposure.  Strict rules for cleanup of a broken bulb must be followed.
---There as yet is no standardized size for CFLs.  Thus, one must be careful when purchasing them to be sure the size bulb is consistent with other bulbs in the home for aesthetic reasons.
---Very few CFLs are compatible with dimming switches.
---As CFLs age, they emit steadily less illumination.
---The life of a CFL diminishes as it is turned on and off frequently.   The U.S. Energy Star Program recommends leaving these bulbs on when leaving a room for less than 15 minutes. 
---The cost of a CFL is 3-10 times that of an incandescent.

I have replaced all incandescent bulbs in my home with CFLs, except those that operate with dimming switches.  Over the course of the last two years, I can testify that CFLs do outlast incandescents, but not nearly as long as advertised.

Not Quite!

I have not broken a CFL bulb as yet---and I hope I don't.  The cleanup instructions are oppressive.

Virtually all CFL bulbs are manufactured in China.  Incandescents were manufactured in the U.S.A.

What do you think of the pros and cons of switching to CFLs?