Comment 5064

By John M. (anonymous) | Posted February 02, 2007 at 17:29:25

Places where I don't use CFL's, around the house, and the reasons why:

On a dimmer fixture in the Dining Room: Even the $12 - $15 per bulb "dimmable" CFL's that I've tried don't work well enough yet. I have tried 2 different high quality name brands (G.E. and Noma) and it seems more like a tri-light bulb, i.e. they do not dim smoothly, and also make an audible "buzz" when dimmed.

In the workshop: Because they have a "strobe light" effect that make the blade on my table saw look like it is stopped some times even when it is still spinning. Yikes!

In my photography darkroom: They give off enough residual light to damage film for several minutes after you shut them off, much of which is ultra-violet so you can't even tell by looking at them if they are really "dark".

In 2 desk lamps which use T4 style halogen bulbs only (12 volt very small bulbs)

In the motion sensor controlled security lights outside because CFL spotlight bulbs are quite dim in the winter for a minute or so after power on due to the ballast being cold.

Inside the oven in the kitchen: They don't make a CFL rated for 400 deg. C. temp.

I don't feel too bad about any of these specialty uses. Every other bulb in the house is a CFL and for most uses for most people they are great!

So, in addition to the reasons mentioned above by others I think there are valid reasons for not banning incandescent bulbs.

Most people buy the old style bulbs rather than CFL's because they are cheaper to buy, even though the life cycle cost is lower when you include the saved electricity. If a tax of $1 or $2 per bulb was added to old style bulbs at the point of manufacture or import I think it would make folks stop and think...

Permalink | Context

Events Calendar

There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?

Recent Articles

Article Archives

Blog Archives

Site Tools

Feeds