"I don't like the twisty shape of compact fluorescent bulbs; that's why I don't use them." We've come across this excuse as one of the reasons people don't use CFLs.
GE now has an answer for that. The new GE Energy Smart CFL places a much smaller electronics package inside the neck of the bulb, and puts the familiar twisted fluorescent tubes underneath a cover, so that the entire bulb has the same size and shape as a conventional incandescent bulb.
The new bulbs started to arrive in some stores around the beginning of this year, but will start to be more broadly available (including being in the inventory of some big box chains) around Earth Day later this month (April 22). In addition to the 15-watt bulb, the line will eventually include 9-watt and 20-watt versions to be available by the middle of the year.
So, if there's a fixture where the the bulb is visible and you can't stand the idea of a visible CFL spiral, or if you have that beloved lamp with the shade that clamps directly onto the bulb, now you can fit it with a more responsible and energy-saving bulb that offers the appearance of an incandescent profile.
via Sustainable Home
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written by chris, April 13, 2009
A huge majority of people WILL NOT recycle CFL's, and this just makes the problem worse by making it easier for people to mistake CFL's for incandescents.
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written by Derek Silva, April 13, 2009
Chris, you're dead wrong about that. Why? Because first of all you can clearly see the coil inside the enclosure. If you took 2 seconds to look at the photo in the entry you would see that's plainly clear (and also true offline, as I've seen these in person already).
Also, it's a simple fact of human nature (whether for good or not) that the best way to get people to switch to the better alternative is to make it just like the old one but still better. In this case, a CFL that looks just like our old favourite incandescent bulbs.
It's the only way we can expect mass adoption. People still smoke even though they know they can get lung cancer. People still eat junk food even though they know it's bad for them. What makes you think they'll switch to CFLs just because it'll save them money and it's better for the environment (overall)?
Also, it's a simple fact of human nature (whether for good or not) that the best way to get people to switch to the better alternative is to make it just like the old one but still better. In this case, a CFL that looks just like our old favourite incandescent bulbs.
It's the only way we can expect mass adoption. People still smoke even though they know they can get lung cancer. People still eat junk food even though they know it's bad for them. What makes you think they'll switch to CFLs just because it'll save them money and it's better for the environment (overall)?
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written by Magnulus, April 13, 2009
I've used a CFL that was shaped like an incandecent (IKEA has had them for years and years) and I can tell you right now that they are nothing like incandecents once you get close to them. If these are like the IKEA ones, the housing is plastic (or some such) and has a rough texture to it, so it's a stretch of the imagination that people will think they're incandecents...
The whole issue of recycling is more about making the need for it more visible, not about how much the bulbs look like other bulbs. I think it's a great idea that will encourage people who, for some strange reason, don't buy CFLs because of aesthetics to actually get them.
Well, having said that, in most of the world, they'll soon have no other CHOICE, but don't let that distract you. ^_^
The whole issue of recycling is more about making the need for it more visible, not about how much the bulbs look like other bulbs. I think it's a great idea that will encourage people who, for some strange reason, don't buy CFLs because of aesthetics to actually get them.
Well, having said that, in most of the world, they'll soon have no other CHOICE, but don't let that distract you. ^_^
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written by Ezra, April 13, 2009
These may be worthwhile if they are a little more durable than ordinary CFL's. I love CFL's, but I'm a klutz and have broken more than a couple of them. These look like they could maybe take a little more of a beating than the typically fragile CFLs out there.
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written by MD, April 13, 2009
I have a couple of similar lights, they replace spot light type lights...
I picked them up at super evil Walmart.. oooo, ahhh oooo, sounds scary.. LOL
They were $2.50 ea.
I picked them up at super evil Walmart.. oooo, ahhh oooo, sounds scary.. LOL
They were $2.50 ea.
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written by Mark Haines, April 14, 2009
I live in Canada and have replaced all of the lights in my house with CFL's. One thing I have noticed is that they tend to burn out at a very rapid rate. I am very concerned that the reliability of CFL's is just not good enough to warrant switching over to them completely. It seems like encouraging less use of lights in the house (why does every room need to be daylight bright at nighttime?) may be a better option. It seems like the amount of materials in CFL's and the harsh materials such as mercury sort of take away from their supposed environmental reputation. Will there be better options in the near future that warrant simply waiting until something better than CFLS are available?
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written by Mark, April 14, 2009
I have some LED bulbs which have the shape of the incandecents, but some are clear (look really pretty) while the others are boring looking incandecentic. They however only use 1.6w of power.
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written by bill, April 14, 2009
I will be buying a couple of these. There are fixtures (I have a couple) which are shaped so that only an incandescent shaped bulb will fit into them.
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written by Brent, April 14, 2009
Seems like a waste of resources to me. There is nothing unsightly about CLFs, they just like different. Making them the same size as an incandescent is great though.
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written by ed, April 15, 2009
only use CFLs if you intend to turn the light on for long periods....turning CFLs on and off in short duration shortens their life. CFLs outside my house which are turned on for long periods have been working for well over 5 years now. CFLs that we've tried in the kitchen and bathrooms, burns out within a couple of months since they are used in short periods.
if you have flood lights outside that are left on for security, CFLs would save you money...used them in rooms that doesn't require lighting for extended periods of time and you will waste your money.
waiting on LED bulbs to become cheaper, I heard they work better than CFLs.
also, break one of those CFLs and you'll spend thousands in Mercury decontamination for you house. since most people don't recycle them, these CFLs have caused mercury to be dumped in our environments at a faster rate and most people don't even know that they contain mercury.
you want to save the environment just turn your lights off when not in use and use low wattage bulbs. forget the mercury containing CFLs and wait for LED bulbs to get cheaper.
if you have flood lights outside that are left on for security, CFLs would save you money...used them in rooms that doesn't require lighting for extended periods of time and you will waste your money.
waiting on LED bulbs to become cheaper, I heard they work better than CFLs.
also, break one of those CFLs and you'll spend thousands in Mercury decontamination for you house. since most people don't recycle them, these CFLs have caused mercury to be dumped in our environments at a faster rate and most people don't even know that they contain mercury.
you want to save the environment just turn your lights off when not in use and use low wattage bulbs. forget the mercury containing CFLs and wait for LED bulbs to get cheaper.
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written by NOK, April 16, 2009
I replaced all the incandescents with CFL's in my house 2 years ago. I've had to replace several of them in short order since they burned out.
It may be true that they aren't meant to be turned on and off frequently. But if that's the case, I don't think they are well suited to being used inside the house. This is going to prevent their adoption IMO. I'm not too keen on keeping on replacing them when they break-- then I have to recycle them as hazardous waste. Just not worth it...
It may be true that they aren't meant to be turned on and off frequently. But if that's the case, I don't think they are well suited to being used inside the house. This is going to prevent their adoption IMO. I'm not too keen on keeping on replacing them when they break-- then I have to recycle them as hazardous waste. Just not worth it...
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written by steven, April 20, 2009
CFLs are just another tool in the lighting designer's arsenal, and can only be used for certain applications. As mentioned by others, they are great for areas that will be 'on' for an extended period of time, and work well in controlled temperature environments. All fluorescents have trouble firing in extreme cold, and parts will break down in extreme heat.
I question why a lamp that has been less successful in the past keeps getting makeovers, when the public has clearly voted that this technology isn't right for their homes. Lamp manufacturers should listen more closely and hear that the people want incandescent lamps that are efficient, not efficient lamps that look like incandescents.
I question why a lamp that has been less successful in the past keeps getting makeovers, when the public has clearly voted that this technology isn't right for their homes. Lamp manufacturers should listen more closely and hear that the people want incandescent lamps that are efficient, not efficient lamps that look like incandescents.
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written by Fred, June 30, 2009
whats the point now we r using more supplies to make the bulbs
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written by Brian, December 21, 2009
I have been using CFL's for over 4 years now and had only recnelty had to replace one single lamp--out of approximately 40 in my home. Not at all a bad ratio. I use them inside and out--all turned on and off regulary. The key is to buy a quality brand. I have tried several and some do stink--I use them in storage areas. Also make sure you get 2700K lamps (lamps colored to burn at approximately the same color as incandescents.) I have seen too many people buy them and they are 5000K--almost blue and then they are turned off to CFL's as a whole--just because they bought the wrong ones to begin with. No one knows that all the fixtures in my home are lit with CFL's. They have the same color as incandescnets. Also, CFL's have come a long way--they used to take a couple seconds to come on--no longer. Tell people who bad mouth them to give them another try--or to see them in work in your home. Again, no one suspects that all of my fixtures have them in them. We saw about a $10-15 dollar drop in our monthly utility bill by doing this.
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