Florescent Bulb Question-- Better safe than Sorry

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by mln385

I always find it odd how these lamps are considered environmentaly friendly over the incandescents.

Because they produce around five times as much light per watt consumed, and have a typical service life about 5 times that of an incandescent.

They do have their limitations in use, and need special disposal, but they're a very green alternative.

They're also a passing stage. The solid-state stuff is coming up fast and is around four times more efficient than CFLs, with at least a comparable lifespan and far fewer restrictions in use and disposal. They're just pricey right now and there aren't strong reasons for most people to move to them from CFLs - at least, not as strong as those for the move TO CFLs.

[bomelia]

I think all flourescent bulbs have mercury in them. I seem to remember playing with the mercury from broken bulbs when I was a kid. Yeah, I know, explains a lot.

Mike

[Bryan Wilson]

In Australia it is ilegal to use or sell incandecent globes so a rep from my power company came around the other day and replaced all the incandecent lamps in my house with 11watt CFL's. And having two light fitttings in my lounge room with 5 lamps in each I now have 10 11watt CFL's and you need sunglasses in the lounge. Also I cant dim the lights as the dimmer doesn't work with CFL's

[Wayne Maybury]

I have a few of them and so far I haven't had any problems. I have 3 outside on a timer and in the winter they take a minute or two to really light up properly. I have at least one that is upside down and it has operated that way for about 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 2 or 3 years in my office with no problems.

It is all but impossible to buy regular light bulbs here now. I have several dimmers in our house so I will have to figure something out for them as the regular lights burn out. I have looked at 12 volt LED's for my boat but they are really expensive.

Wayne