Edison’s Dimming Bulbs

Our last two "regular" standard light bulbs have been replaced this week. We use only LED and CFL lights now for our home. We started in 1992 by buying a HUGE CFL for an outdoor light fixture we didn't like to change. It was expensive at the time and very ugly but we thought if we didn't have to change the bulb every year or two it would be worth it. It also drew fewer bugs to the front door. We have moved two times and the bulb still lights our doorway. 15 years for a bulb? Way better than we thought. Three years ago we changed all our outdoor Christmas lights, icicles, and window candles to LED. Safer, stronger, and cost effective. We're spoiled. Only the very white and expensive ones for us. Our electric bill was the same as the previous month before we put the lights up. About a savings of $50.00 and no tangled, broken, or unsafe lights. Two years ago we made the effort to replace all the bulbs in the house. From regular bulb light fixtures, to ceiling fans lights, to flame tip bulbs with shades on them. Some have been a challenge. Dimmable CFL's were the hardest to find, especially the flame tip type. I also had to give up the clear "pretty" bulbs. I couldn't justify the "pretty" bulbs when the CFL provided as much if not more light and the savings on my electric bill. Even if I didn't take the planet into account, my electric bill has continued to drop while the price for electricity has risen. I found my bulbs, even the specialty ones at Walmart, Ebay, and online (mostly California stores). It took some searching and I have paid more for those bulbs than I would have had I purchased the "regular" bulbs; but I have saved enough in my electric bill to pay for them outright and I don't have to change them. My 15 old bulb does flicker for a second before it comes on but it always comes on and burns as bright as the first day we purchased it. My new bulbs don't even flicker and they are much smaller and prettier than that original CFL. I hope they last half as long as this one has. I expect to take them with me when I purchase my next home. I have encouraged my family and employer to switch and now they are saving money too. As a note: I am not a tree hugger or a save the planet activist. Just a middle-class, suburbanite looking for a way to save money and still have what I want. I hope this helps.

I think CFLs are a great idea and I use them in my house wherever I can- which essentially means the garage, the laundry room and the closets. That's pretty much it. For me, the cost of the bulbs isn't the issue. Most of the lighting in my house uses something other than your standard "Edison bulb" which is true for a lot of people, and which is something this article didn't even touch on.
My entryway has a hanging light with clear "globe bulbs," my living room has a ceiling fan with smaller, non-standard, clear bulbs; the dining room has track lighting, and so on. So the stumbling block isn't the cost of the bulbs, it's the cost of replacing half the lighting in my house. I've seen a few "non-standard" CFAs but they're pretty rare and the ones I've tried weren't ready for prime time.

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To paulnews, there may be end of life issues with disposal, but your claim is outlandish.
http://cbll.net/weblog/post/index/361/CFL-Bulb-Mercury-Emissions
There is indeed Mercury in them, but on the whole it's far less than the amount spewed by coal-fired plants that have to power incandescents. Then they still use less energy.

To goznes, your statement reflects an utter ignorance of the terms in use here. 26-watts is a measure of the rate of energy consumption, not a measure of light output, which might be lumens, for example. The concept is that a 13-Watt CFL produces approximately the same illumination as a 60-Watt incandescent.
Enjoy!!!

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ROFL- 26 watts- not enough illumination.

The fluorescent bulbs certainly save energy, but they will become a large and dangerous environment time-bomb, since they all contain mercury to function which is very harmful to chldren (and adults). Eventually because of bulb breakage, every home and business will contain toxic levels of mercury in the corners and in carpets causing untold damage to our environment and our society. All to save a little money in energy costs. Enjoy!!

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These new bulbs are fluorescent and cause a tremendous buzz on radios within the house. Couldn't stand it and changed back to the old bulbs. Further, be careful not to break one, since it requires professional cleanup. Other than for those considerations, they will save energy in northern climates.

The incandescent bulb uses most of its wattage to produce heat. If you live in a colder climate that energy will help heat your house, and it is not all wasted. You can subtract it from your heating bill. If you live in a hot climate and use air conditioning the bulb-heated air must instead be cooled, which makes the incandescent bulb twice as wasteful. Either way, this seems never included in the CFL:s energy-saving calculations.

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I am having a hard time getting my wife to accept the cfls ,compact fluorescent bulbs. I am a big believer, but she thinks there is something bad about the light. I am waiting for some of the ones that came with the house to burn out.