Comments on: I Hate Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

By: Marshall Cypress

Marshall Cypress — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:46:17 +0000

I have been throwing them in the garbage for years now. If they don’t like tuff. I am getting ready to change all my bulbs back to Incandescent. I also fix my “water saving” shower heads to double or triple the flow. It is none of the governments business how much water I use and what kind of light bulbs. screw them.

By: JGMagoo

JGMagoo — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:48:10 +0000

I bought several CFL’s and experienced VERY SHORT life…I would estimate 30-hours before they burned out…in a period of maybe 2-months. Incandescents had been lasting at least 2-years in the same ceiling fixtures.

I took them down to the local city hall at nignt and dropped them on the concrete in front of the frond door.

By: Rex in OKC

Rex in OKC — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:01:28 +0000

I, too, HATE the CFLs. I try to be environmentally responsible, so I hopped on the bandwagon and bought a big batch of them when they first became widely available. I replaced all the conventional bulbs in my kitchen and bathrooms as well as my outside porch lights with CFLs. Aside from the fact that they do give off a hideous, dingy, yellowish light, I also found that they just don’t live up to the hype. The higher cost is supposed to be offset by energy savings and the claim that these bulbs will last 5-7 years on average. Baloney! I didn’t see ANY significant change in my electric bill, and many of these bulbs started to burn out within 6 months to a year after I installed them — in other words, no better than a conventional bulb. Of the 15 or so I installed about 3 years ago, only a few are still working. And then there is the mercury issue. I’m sure that 90% of people do just throw them in the trash whenever they burn out, because it’s simply too much trouble to do otherwise. And God forbid you should accidentally break one! Then you feel like you need to call in a HAZ-MAT team just to clean it up. I think I will stock up on as many good old incandescent bulbs as possible before they disappear from the store shelves completely.

By: Tom-Eric

Tom-Eric — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:16:02 +0000

LED lights last longer and are even lower wattage use than CFLs

The light colour issue comes down to what colour tempurature light you buy. Most CFLs are available in 5000k (natural outdoor light), where as most incandecant are 3000k (yellow/orange hued). If you don’t like the colour and think it’s “hidious” then try a different colour tempurature. The higher the colour tempurate the more blue, the lower, the more red. 5000 provides actual white light, so use that as a base value for judgement. Also, the lower wattage of these lights will save you money in the long run.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:27:18 +0000

I’m not a greentard, and I oppose outlawing incandescents, but you have to admit that the difference between a 150watt and a 30 watt bulb that’s accidentally left on in your garage/basement/attic for 2 weeks will show up on your electricity bill.
That’s the only reason I use them, aside from appreciating the “cool white” colour which is, in fact, much closer to sunlight than the “warm” CFL or a standard incandescent. I live in a basement so naturalesque light is a good thing. It’s true, they destroy ambience.

Edison said only the rich would be able to afford candles; now it’s only the rich who are able to afford incandescents.

By: MadTrucker

MadTrucker — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:34:16 +0000

Oh hell, Fred, people throw these things in the trash all the time. I can’t think of anyone I know who’s ever actually disposed of the things the ‘proper’ way, even when you can do it for free, just too much hassle.

It’s when the first cases of mercury poisoning that can be traced back to these things start going through the courts that the sh*t is really gonna hit the fan.