Do You Have Any Energy Efficient Light Bulbs In The House? Any Good?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
March 21, 2010 2:57pm CST
I don't want this discussion to be about whether or not Climate Change is happening as it can all get a bit complicated..
No, this question is all about Energy Efficient Lightbulbs..and are they any good?
Well, in our experience, they can vary. We have one of those "curly, fluorescent" ones in the front bedroom, in the ceiling light-fitting and it really is poor. The main problem with it is that it takes ages to warm up and the light itself isn't good if you have poor eyesight. Unfortunately, we are stuck with it as the MIL got it "free" in the local rag.
The second lot of Energy Efficient Bulbs are in the open-plan living-room. They are the conventional shape but work differently. They are Philips bulbs that are the 60W equivalent, i.e. 11W. All the bulbs are in glass light shades suspended from the ceiling. I find these bulbs far better than the "curly" ones but they come at a premium price. We haven't found one bulb less than about £3.50 which is scandalous.
It's all well and good the Government banning 100W filament bulbs but I still think people should have a choice, especially those who have poor eyesight or have little money to splash out on the Energy Efficient "alternatives."
So, what are your experiences with such bulbs? Do they last a long time or (like us) are you continually replacing them?
The second lot of Energy Efficient Bulbs are in the open-plan living-room. They are the conventional shape but work differently. They are Philips bulbs that are the 60W equivalent, i.e. 11W. All the bulbs are in glass light shades suspended from the ceiling. I find these bulbs far better than the "curly" ones but they come at a premium price. We haven't found one bulb less than about £3.50 which is scandalous.
It's all well and good the Government banning 100W filament bulbs but I still think people should have a choice, especially those who have poor eyesight or have little money to splash out on the Energy Efficient "alternatives."
So, what are your experiences with such bulbs? Do they last a long time or (like us) are you continually replacing them?8 people like this
24 responses
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
21 Mar 10
I just bought some yesterday at my local Walgreens. I cannot say if they will help me on my light bill but I would know in about a month. I put two in yesterday and I still have three left. I am trying to think of places where we turn on the lights a lot to see where I can save the most. Right now I have them in my outside light at my back door which we tend to use a lot and I also have one in my lamp in my living room. I think I might put one in the other lamp in the living room too sometime tonite. I got a good deal on them too I got 5 of them for 5.99 but I had a rain check from a sale about two months ago. So I hope they last long on the package it states they can work for up to 9 years!
Thanks for sharing this discussion and happy mylotting to you.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Mar 10
Let's hope your wiring in your house is up to it. For some reason old houses (so therefore old wiring) finds it difficult to cope with energy-saving light bulbs. Why that is, I have no idea and it hasn't really been discussed "on high" and 100W filament bulbs aren't gonna come back so we have to get used to the "new" ones. My husband has replaced them about 5 times since we got them last year but the awful curly one upstairs is still going strong...worse luck!!
I hope your new bulbs help you out with savings, I hope I've not put you off.
Happy MyLotting to you too! I love your Avatar, is it Miss Kitty?
I hope your new bulbs help you out with savings, I hope I've not put you off.
Happy MyLotting to you too! I love your Avatar, is it Miss Kitty?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Mar 10
That's good to know, I'm glad you are fine with them my friend.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
22 Mar 10
yes i do-in the sconces they will fit.i have to say on average,they are lasting way longer than the older kind.the one in our hallway burnt for several years before it went out.i don't mind them being slightly dimmer,i can't stand really bright light
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
23 Mar 10
LOL
my brother and i both have photosensitivity-so it's peachy with us.
we do have a standard bulb for mom though,she needs a bit more light.
my brother and i both have photosensitivity-so it's peachy with us.
we do have a standard bulb for mom though,she needs a bit more light.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
You are fortunate in that you like dimmer light. I, on the other hand want to see where I'm going and the hand in front of my face (only joking)!
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
21 Mar 10
Hi Janey. We have those curly ones and one that looks weird it was before the curly ones I think but I find them all poor lighting. We can't afford the ones that look like the old light bulbs. Thank God we can use what ever light bulb we want to in our home. I hate it when the government or anyone else tells me I have to do this or that. We got two of those curly ones they cost us 8 something for two. Can't see that.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Mar 10
Yes, that's what I resent too. We don't get a say in what happens do we? Unfortunately, a change in government wouldn't help either (in the UK) as they'd be just the same. I feel sorry for older people who rely on light in their home to get around or to read or watch telly. Our terraced house is gloomy at the best of times so to have a curly bulb in the bedroom isn't good, which is why I use the lamp. It has a cute, smaller, conventional-shaped bulb. It blew last night but it had lasted at least 6 months, which isn't bad for a lamp bulb.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (59718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Mar 10
I think we have the normal ones, but we don't use a lot of extra light. We have the long tube-like kind in the disply case,and in the kitchen. We don't have to replace them often, because we don't run them that often. And, we get a good price for them.
@kaylachan (59718)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Mar 10
Yes. And George baught three of them. I wonder if those will work in our kitchen.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
Is the tube-like one fluorescent? We have one in the kitchen. Now, they DO last forever!
@silverjapan (233)
• Romania
22 Mar 10
I don't use lights powered by electricity, the light sources in my room are natural sun light in the day and fire based paper lamps in the night, it's not the light that I'm interested in but the shadows, electricity based lights are too powerful and the shadows are lost, while fire covered with paper lamps shows beautiful shadows, the atmosphere and beauty is accentuated.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
Wow, I'd love to live in your house, I bet it's awesome having light like that. Well done to you! Unfortunately, here in the UK the light isn't as good as where you are..during the day. I wish it was because companies all over the country would be able to turn their lights off. I have been known to have a part taken out of a fluorscent light above my desk as the room was bright enough with all the other lights on anyway. Many people would ask if I could see OK and I always replied, "Yes, I'm fine!" It's a shame more offices didn't do this as most have far too many strip lights in my opinion.
Unfortunately, here in the UK the light isn't as good as where you are..during the day. I wish it was because companies all over the country would be able to turn their lights off. I have been known to have a part taken out of a fluorscent light above my desk as the room was bright enough with all the other lights on anyway. Many people would ask if I could see OK and I always replied, "Yes, I'm fine!" It's a shame more offices didn't do this as most have far too many strip lights in my opinion.@silverjapan (233)
• Romania
22 Mar 10
I'm glad you like it, only my room is the different one in the house, I like to combine traditional ways with modern ways, I'm now in the process of painting the walls, I've made the sketch and painted a tiger and a cherry tree so far, it will represent the spirit of bushido in my own way and design, I have a long way to go, years, but it means allot for me, so I'll stick with it definitely.
And about electricity, it's not really harmful to the environment if you consume too much isn't it ?
The problem I think is oil consumption.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
22 Mar 10
We have replaced all the bulbs in the house with energy efficient ones and they seem to last a great deal longer than the old type. Ok, so sometimes they take a little longer to *warm up* but the light is good and we've had no problems with them. I recently got hold of some free bulbs that were being given out at Homebase, and they do a series of good quality energy saving bulbs at a reasonable cost
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
You've been very lucky. The curly one upstairs seems to be lasting longer than the conventionally-shaped ones which is unfortunate, because I prefer the latter and would like it replaced!
@BarBaraPrz (45813)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Mar 10
That's my biggest complaint, that they just don't give off enough light!
But now I've seen some adverts for 23w ones, that are equivalent to 100w filament bulbs.
I've also seen some 7w led night light bulbs... Regular filament night light bulbs only use 7watts or less, so what's the point?
(The led 7w light bulb cost $1... the regular 7W bulbs come in a package of 4, also for $1.)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Mar 10
I know what you mean. We are getting ripped off left, right and centre in the UK with our bulbs. I've noticed that it's becoming increasingly more difficult to get hold of 60W bulbs. It seems that shops have embraced the envirionmental argument and have banned those (along with the 100W versions, that was expected) even though there's been nothing official said about it. Row upon row of over-expensive energy-efficient bulbs and no filament bulbs...just ones that have the same shape. £3.50 a time!
I hope some scientist does a study and tells us all they're a load of rubbish..speaking of which, curly bulbs have lead in them so how on earth can they be recycled?
I hope some scientist does a study and tells us all they're a load of rubbish..speaking of which, curly bulbs have lead in them so how on earth can they be recycled?1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Mar 10
Sorry not lead, MERCURY as I've just read HICCUP'S response!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Mar 10
We used to get these bulbs from Disabled American Veterans, they lasted a long, long time. Don't know if they were energy efficient though. Now we get the energy efficient ones sometimes and I don't like the ones that take forever to warm up. Annoying when you need the light right away. Don't know if they're being replaced often, haven't paid attention (not my job lol).
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
Well, this curly bulb we have upstairs...I could switch the light on, go back downstairs, make a brew, drink it and by the time I was back upstairs the bulb would JUST ABOUT have warmed up.
It really is bad!
The other ones are OK though, thankfully.
It really is bad!
The other ones are OK though, thankfully.
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
22 Mar 10
I can't stand them because I am yet to find one which generates a strong enough light. I currently have them two in rooms, but those rooms are the ones where I rarely put on the lights. I stocked up on all those banned lightbulbs just before they were stopped in the shops and touch wood have a supply which should last a couple of decades.
As yet I've not had to replace one of these energy saving monstrosities and because I rarely use the ones I have got in place they will probably last a century, lol.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
Worse luck, haha! I really wish we'd done what you have my friend, stocked up on the 100W bulbs. Do you know if the 60W bulbs have been banned as well as they are extremely hard to find now? I can't see what the problem is with the 60W versions.
Fascist government, I'm sick of them!!
I really wish we'd done what you have my friend, stocked up on the 100W bulbs. Do you know if the 60W bulbs have been banned as well as they are extremely hard to find now? I can't see what the problem is with the 60W versions.
Fascist government, I'm sick of them!!
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
22 Mar 10
I'm trying very hard not too but I think I kinda hate them. When we moved in the fixture above the staircase had the 'curly' ones in it and the vanity fixtures in the bathrooms had the 'curly inside a round bulb' ones in them. I was impressed that they lit up right away and the light was the same as regular bulbs. Well, like most things I do I was a little too hasty and should have done some research first because when I decided to invest in more energy efficient bulbs I must have bought the wrong ones. They take forever to 'warm up' and I think they're the cool light kind, so everything has a gross blueish, very fluorescent and dull cast to it. I think I should have bought the 'warm' light ones in a higher wattage. I guess I'll still use them because they were damn expensive but I really should have taken more care before splashing out so much money. According to the statistics they do save a lot of money over the life of the bulb, though, so I do think they're a good idea.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
I'm not convinced about the "saving money" aspect to these bulbs. I think we have been conned into using them, quite frankly. It would be nice to have a choice too. I have been told on this discussion that LED lighting is the "next big thing" and if they are anything like my Christmas tree lights...bring it on I say. Now, they ARE cheap to run!
@phoenix8606 (4942)
•
22 Mar 10
hell0! well, i don't have any energy efficient light bulbs in my home and still use the old ones, which are not energy efficient at all, but I plan to buy some, because i want to save from my electricity bills and also know that these bulbs have a longer "life" than the ordinary ones!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
It is a myth that lighting uses a lot of electricity, it doesn't (and I read that somewhere, I've not made it up).
Personally, what I would do is to condust an experiment. Change all your light-bulbs to the so-called energy-efficient versions for, say, 6 months (in the winter-time when lights are used the most), then compare the bill with the one you got this winter.
I bet there won't be any difference in your bills. We use lighting all the time and our electricity bill is far less than the gas one which is why I would like to invest in a more energy-efficient system (starting with the boiler) but we can't do that without money, unfortunately.
Personally, what I would do is to condust an experiment. Change all your light-bulbs to the so-called energy-efficient versions for, say, 6 months (in the winter-time when lights are used the most), then compare the bill with the one you got this winter.
I bet there won't be any difference in your bills. We use lighting all the time and our electricity bill is far less than the gas one which is why I would like to invest in a more energy-efficient system (starting with the boiler) but we can't do that without money, unfortunately.
@pandaeyes (2065)
•
22 Mar 10
We started buying them about 12 years ago when Blue Peter pointed out to the
kids that one in your house could save so much electricity if everyone had one.
Back then the cheapest place to get them was Ikea and they still have a large range of various types.
We found that they were selling them at 10p each in sainsburys and in Robert Dyas recently.
We have almost every bulb in the house replaced now.
They do get dim eventually and once they are taking ages to 'warm up' its nearly time to replace them but they are quite long lasting.You need the stronger wattage anywhere that you read.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
They do vary in strength, you are right there. How would older people get along with such bulbs? Many of them have used 100W bulbs in the past because they were bright and there was less chance of falling down the stairs. They lasted ages too. I know that we have to do something about the environment but filament bulbs are brighter then the ones that have replaced them, there's no denying that. In fact, there was heat generated from them that was like an extra fire in the rooms to some of the older generation. The new ones have no heat whatsoever which is great for the environment but not so great for the elderly who just want to keep warm and be able to see where they are going.
The new ones have no heat whatsoever which is great for the environment but not so great for the elderly who just want to keep warm and be able to see where they are going.
@sabrinafox89 (47)
• Philippines
26 Mar 10
They are very efficient in saving energy and light the house well. I no longer use incandescent bulbs. To save more energy, I clean the light bulbs every other week so that it gives out more light.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Mar 10
Wow, I've never heard of that before, cleaning the bulbs. I suppose they do gather dust don't they so it makes sense to clean them. Welcome to MyLot!
@Dumpertaker (1187)
•
21 Mar 10
Yup, we have energy saving light bulbs all around where I live.
I really do not like them that much to be honest. The reason behind this is that when you turn them on to begin with you barely get a dim dim glow from the bulb and they take ages to come up to full power. the other thing is that because I am so full of static I tend to blow bulbs a lot!
As for Prices, my local Sainsbury's does them for £1.00 each!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Mar 10
We haven't got a Sainsbury's but one is being built. I'm pleased about this as Tesco is trying to take over Carlisle and tried to buy the site Sainsbury's now has...so I'll look out for the bulbs when it opens!
They are dim, you are right. I dread to think what the state of youngsters' eyes will be when they get older...what with staring at screens and having to cope with poor lighting.
@derek_a (10874)
•
22 Mar 10
Yes, we have energy efficient light-bulbs as that all we can get these days, but they are horrible. When you first put the light on at night, you have wait ages before it is light enough to read. Fortunately, we have standard lamps which have powerful, but energy efficient bulbs in them, so I can at least read the newspaper! The problem with the bulbs is that they are expensive (£8 I last paid) and you mustn't touch them with the fingers or they won't last very long if the grease from your skin gets on to the element. _Derek
_Derek@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
Oh dear, that's not good is it?! I do like the conventionally shaped energy-efficient bulbs made by Philips but they are really expensive and are actually hard to find as those "curly" ones are everywhere. I refuse to have any more of those in the house as the one upstairs is a joke. I can't stand the light they emit as reading from it would be impossible. I can't even see inside the wardrobe! I'm better off just using my eyes without the light on at all lol.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
22 Mar 10
Hi Janey...yes, they cost a lot more than conventional, but they do last forever. I don't know how good or bad that is since, like you, I've found the quality of lighting poor!
Karen
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
Ours don't last forever, unfortunately. We've replaced at least 5 over the last 6 months or so, that averages out at 1 a month. This isn't good when they cost more than the old filament bulbs. Not as bright either, like you say, but they are better than the curly one upstairs that refuses to die! Grrrr!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
22 Mar 10
We use them in all of our rooms here and have no problems with them at all. They seem to be bright enough and never have any problems with them blowing. We have had them all for about 2 and a half years without a problem.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
You are very lucky not having a bulb blow on you, it's rife over here!
In your Avatar are you eating an apple? The reason I ask is that I have discovered a new English apple called Jazz (I refuse to buy English apples that are grown abroad, can't see the point) and it's awesome. John (hubby) is off this week and I might persuade him to buy some more.
It's really good that I like eating apples again as I went years not bothering because I didn't like them..but now that there's a resurgence in apples grown in this country I have started to like them once again.
Takes me back to my childhood where I would eat 3 a day! I used to change the saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" to "An apple a day keeps the dentist away." I mentioned it to my dentist years ago and he said I was right, apples are really good for the teeth.
@udayrao2 (781)
• India
22 Mar 10
Yes, Janey, they are efficient and they have reduced my electric bill.
I had both the filament ones and the "fluorescent white tube-lights and I switched the filament ones first as that time the Energy efficient ones what is popularly known as CFL were expensive, but now with the increase in production as well as coupled with the cheap imports from China they are quite affordable. We also use mainly Philips and what used to cost Rs 350 to Rs 380 a year back are costing half that now but the life is greater and so is the light and the reduced consumption makes up for the cost I think; anyway as time goes by they will get even cheaper. I read sometime back Our government has announced that shortly volunteers will go house to house to replace the normal with CFL either free( for the poor) and at very highly subsidised rates for the others.And yes they last longer - I have replaced some about 5 years back and still running.Lets see how long they run!!!
And oh yes by the way you not only get them in various wattage but also in various shapes- curly, straight, 2 columns/bars or three, etc and in different sizes too; also they do not heat up like the normal bulbs but the only disadvantage I think is that you cannot attach a dimmer to it like the others.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
I've not had much luck with dimmer switches in the past. They are supposed to be dangerous from what I've heard but we don't use them so it doesn't apply to us lol. That is a great idea your government has come up with, to give light bulbs away to the poor. I only hope that they are good ones; you know what I mean? I wouldn't want the people to be palmed off with something substandard. Yes, I hope you are right in the prices coming down, that would help us enormously if they did in the UK.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
22 Mar 10
I use "curly" and incandescent bulbs and plan to replace all my incandescent bulbs with the curly ones, over time. My mom has curly bulbs in her dining room, but she says she can't see with the curly ones, so as they burn out, she plans to put incandescent lights bulbs back in. (No, they're not banned in the U.S.) I've noticed that the lights are less bright, but the savings with the curly ones, in terms of electricy, can be substantial. The curly ones are suppose to last longer...I don't know. I've been in my house 5 years and neither the curly ones or the incandescents have burned out.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
22 Mar 10
You see, our Government bans the 100W bulbs and the US doesn't. I can't understand why we had to go down that route as we usually follow the Americans (no offence) in lots of things, if you get my drift.
At least you have a choice in what you can buy. At the moment we can still buy halogen bulbs and fluorescent bulbs but I bet that will change one day (and we won't have any warning, they will just ban them) and halogen bulbs, in particular, are very good as spotlights in the ceiling. Mum has them in her kitchen and bathroom and they really are wonderful. She also has halogen fittings in her wall lights in her extension and front room. She had an energy efficient light bulb up the stairs (at the top) and by the time it had warmed up my Dad had got to the top of the stairs in virtual darkness. Not surprisingly, it's been replaced...not by a 100W bulb as it had been for years but a 60W one...and it's not as bright. Can't seem to get those now either!
At least you have a choice in what you can buy. At the moment we can still buy halogen bulbs and fluorescent bulbs but I bet that will change one day (and we won't have any warning, they will just ban them) and halogen bulbs, in particular, are very good as spotlights in the ceiling. Mum has them in her kitchen and bathroom and they really are wonderful. She also has halogen fittings in her wall lights in her extension and front room. She had an energy efficient light bulb up the stairs (at the top) and by the time it had warmed up my Dad had got to the top of the stairs in virtual darkness. Not surprisingly, it's been replaced...not by a 100W bulb as it had been for years but a 60W one...and it's not as bright. Can't seem to get those now either!