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My new desk lamp & its environmentally friendly bulb

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My new desk lamp came equipped with one of those new supposedly environmentally-friendly light bulbs, you know the fluorescent kind that will be mandated in a few years. Well, maybe they may be environmentally friendly, but they’re not eye-friendly. It creates an odd glare which makes it more challenging to read my computer screen.

At first, I thought it was my eyes, then later my computer screen, but when I realized I had no trouble reading the screen when I looked at it in different light, assumed it was the bulb; I hadn’t had the problem with my old lamp.

Since the plastic on my lamp started to melt when I put in a regular bulb, looks like I’ll need a new desk lamp. When I pick that up, I’ll definitely be stocking up on those standard bulbs soon to be banned.

Has anyone else had such an experience with the new bulbs?

Comments

  3. I’ve mostly changed out all of our incandescent bulbs in our house with fluorescent bulbs. I like them fine and am happy to use more energy efficient bulbs. My main complaint with them is that for bulbs in a cold location (such as the ceiling of our kitchen, which only have our roof to separate them from the cold Minnesota air during the winter), they start out pretty dim. After they’ve been on for a couple minutes, they’re fine. And during the summer when they aren’t starting out cold, they are fine. Anyway, I’m all for fluorescent bulbs, but I certainly think it’s moronic to prohibit incandescent bulbs, especially coming from people who use far more energy than most of us Earth-hating, big-oil supporting conservatives.

  4. Stock up on those incandescents before they are made illegal, just one more choice taken away from the American consumer under the guise of “environmentalism”

  5. Stock up on Real bulbs.
    CFL bulbs are dangerous as all get out when they break, and pollute far more during manufacture, especially as most seem to be made in China where they really could care less what Mercury does to the peons.
    LEDs do better, but are more pricey. The light is better, and they burn just a bit more energy.
    Congress, and the White House should be forced to use the weakest lumen bulbs available as punishment for passing this crap.

  6. Not only are the new bulbs more expensive, less efficient (you actually get less light per dollar with the compact florescents which is the entire reason the light bulb companies supported the bill — they WROTE the bill), and more environmentally hazardous — they will also ALL be made in China. EVERY last one. Incandescent light bulbs, which sold for as little as 33 cents each, were made right here in America, ALL the lightbulb manufacturers make their CFL’s overseas.

    Oh, and CFL’s do not fully illuminate instantly, they take quite a while to warm up to full illumination, and if I remember hearing correctly, have been known to cause seizures.

    Thanks Democrats!

  7. I just changed the light in my bedroom to one of the new bulbs. There is a noticeable delay between flipping my light switch and the light actually going on, which is my big complaint. The other problem is that my room seems darker, which I think is because the color of the light doesn’t do well with the overall color of my decor.

  8. I’ve had them burn out quickly, thought they were supposed to last much longer.

    Who cares that they pollute more and are made in China, if it’s another way the goverment can control us, then it is worth it to them.

  9. Ah the toxic bulb…

    I use ’em outdoors and in lights in the kitchen and the hall. Primarily because the roommate likes to lave every light in the house on.

    I live in an old condo so the hall and kitchen lights have thick glass covers that diffuse the light, but yes, I’ve noticed the warm up time issues. The outdoor light has been on a year continiously *knock on wood* so I’d say it’s worth it. Inside, in my other lights, not so much.;

  10. As an interior designer (yes, the real thing! no jokes, please) I HATE these friggin things. The quality of the light sucks, it has weird color tones in it… I’m with you. I’m stocking up on those Sylvania (?) Full-spectrum/natural light bulbs. God help the miserable bureaucrat garden nome who tries to take them away from me.

  11. Think of it as a business opportunity – make a CFL with natural light color tones and no toxic ingredients!

    I like them myself. Including not having to change out the bulbs frequently. In particular those hard to reach places, or in lights with fiddly covers.

  12. My house came with them. Got rid of all of ’em except the one on the front porch. It takes about 5 minutes to warm up and then has that yellow bug light tinge to it.

  13. Too friggin funny….may I ask what any of you have in your homes (or no longer have in your homes) that has been “banned” by Democrats?

    I made a choice to go with the energy saving bulbs….they do last longer than incancesdents and come on when I turn them on. I’ve had them for a while and the warm up time (which is more like a minute, not 5), isn’t even noticeable anymore. How much conspicuous consumption do we really need? A total of 8 light bulbs in my bathroom (installed by the builder) was just a bit much…

  14. While LED bulbs are currently very expensive, the price is coming down gradually. They last almost forever; they provide a nicer light than the flourescent bulbs – which, btw, contain mercury – and have to be disposed of carefully. Other posters are correct in condemning the Congress that would pass such ridiculous, poorly conceived legislation regarding the outlawing of incandescent bulbs. Yet another area where our apathetic public lets things pass – I guess feeling that others will oppose it for them.

  15. It’s amazing just how much FUD is being spread in comments on this.

    First, you do NOT need a hazmat suit, nor is the mercury particularly dangerous. You don’t want the toddlers swallowing the stuff, but simple common sense allows safe disposal. Part of the FUD is the current neurosis about any kind of “danger” in our society. Am I the only one who remembers playing with the mercury obtained from a broken thermometer? Very cool. Of course, some of my acquaintances would say that explains my behavior… 🙂

    Second, they are reliable. I installed a dozen CFLs in my apartment in November of 2006, and in the past 2-1/2 years have had to replace ONE bulb.

    Third, they are more efficient than incandescent lamps. Just compare watts consumed to lumens produced. I use GE CFLs which consume 20 watts and produce lumens equivalent to a 75-watt incandescent.

    And, no, ‘phant, they don’t take a “long time” to light unless you have shared chad’s experience in a very cold climate. My GEs come on in less than a second. Perhaps your time sense is so finely developed that the difference between a tenth of a second and three-tenths of a second is obvious. Not me. 🙂

    Most of the FUD spread is just that: fear, uncertainty, and doubt. That and people repeating what they’ve heard (hazmat suit), or xenophobic bigotry.

    That said, there are issues.

    First, very cold climates have an effect. I’ve never used a CFL in an outside fixture here in SW Ohio in winter, but they work fine indoors.

    Second, you can’t use them with dimmers and certain types of specialty lights. It’s really an aesthetic issue, but it exists.

    Third, CFLs are not efficient if you turn them on for only a couple minutes at a time. They work best when left on for at least 15 minutes, and I’ve read that frequent on/off cycles for short periods greatly reduces efficiency and bulb life. Me, I’ve never constantly flipped lights on/off, on/off, so perhaps my “lighting” behavior works well with CFLs.

    Fourth, with respect to color: I’ve been a model-builder for decades. I took a couple years of technical theatre (including lighting) way back in the day, and I’ve used all sorts of light sources for my hobby bench, including a standard goose-neck flourescent, (Which was terrible, by way) so I’ve had a lot of experience how different lights affect color. My favorite light for model building is a quartz-halogen bulb (mucho caliente in the summer), but I’ve found the CFLs I use quite adequate.

    Finally, pretty much everyone (including me, now, to a degree) has a bad habit of referring to CFLs generically. Would you say that a Honda is the same as a Chrysler, which is the same as a BMW, which is the same as a Chevy? They’re all “cars,” right? No, you wouldn’t. Nor are all bulbs created equal. I suspect that’s where the wide variety of reported experiences comes into play. I use GE Soft White CFLs, and am quite satisfied. How many folks with bad experiences have used them, as opposed to other brands? You might want to check out the Popular Mechanics tests of various brands of bulbs.

    Clearly, frequently turning CFLs on & off has an effect on bulb life. Using CFLs in cold or cool environments has an effect. I would suggest the quality local power company might have an effect; how clean is your power supply? I know many folks include a line filter or conditioner between their computer and the plug for just that reason.

    I don’t know what brand Richard used, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the color or kind of paint used might make a difference. I have very boring, plain, off-white walls here, and I find the color of the Soft Whites quite pleasant. In fact, to my eyes the color seems closer to natural sunlight (a touch whiter, less yellow) than the incandescents I’ve used.

    So there are quite a few factors besides just the bulb. I wouldn’t be surprised that (say) CFLs ended up being less efficient in regions such as Minnesota (just watched New In Town; hysterical!) or Canada. Certainly specialty-light requirements are different. I don’t know if they would be preferable in a barn, for example.

    That said, I agree %200 with everyone who says mandating CFL use is mind-bogglingly stupid, even for D.C. Also, I would love to see more development in LEDs; they’re used extensively in traffic lights and cars these days, but even LEDs are no panacea. If you don’t feed just the right current to an LED you’ll fry it deader’n week-old roadkill, so watch out for off brands with cheap resistors.

    Come to think of it, cutting corners to save pennies may explain why some brands of CFLs give poor results: cheap ballast components.

  16. Hear that everyone? You didn’t experience what you think you experienced. Casey knows better!

    From the EPA, the same government agency that has been trying to get us to use CFL’s for years:

    What to Do if a Fluorescent or Other Mercury-Containing Light Bulb Breaks

    Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

    * Have people and pets leave the room, and don’t let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
    * DO NOT allow children to help with clean up!
    * Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
    * Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

    Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

    * Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
    * Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
    * Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
    * Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

    Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

    * Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
    * Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
    * If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
    * Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

    Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding and Other Soft Materials

    * If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
    * You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you are wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
    * If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.

    Disposal of Clean-up Materials

    * Immediately place all clean-up materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
    * Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
    * Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states do not allow such trash disposal. Instead, they require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.

    Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Air Out the Room During and After Vacuuming

    * The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system and open a window before vacuuming.
    * Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed.

    Secondly, CFL’s may be more energy efficient, but they are not more cost efficient. The entire reason the light bulb companies wrote the legislation is because it increased their bottom line to force people to buy bulbs that last 5 times as long, but cost 15 times as much.

    As always, it is liberalism making life harder for the poor.

    They are not only a health hazard because of the mercury, but are far more of an environmental hazard than incandescent lights as well. They take more energy and resources to make, and because they are made overseas, take far more energy to ship to market.

    As others on here have confirmed, the light sucks. It is cold and blue, whereas incandescent light is warm and inviting. The main reason that despite being on the market for years, and despite everyone from government to Hollywood praising their virtues and telling us all how wonderful they are, NOBODY BUYS THEM except environmental fundamentalist nazis.

    They cause seizures.

    They don’t work with dimmers or 3-way lamps.

    As several other people have confirmed, they take several minutes to get up to full strength.

  17. I’ve been stocking up on the good lightbulbs since the law was passed and buy 3 or 4 packs whenever I go into Home Depot.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the mercury content of CFC’s make it technically illegal to dispose of them in ordinary trash in Gullyfohnyah?

  18. How much conspicuous consumption do we really need?

    That depends. There are 6.5 billion people on Earth. How many of them do you think should eat?

    One thing Obama and the Democrats have definitely accomplished is drastically reducing the amount of “conspicuous consumption” around the world by destroying the economy with their socialist policies. Everyone has cut back, and consumption is drastically lower! It’s still not as low as they would like it (for others mind you, not themselves) but its much lower than it was….

    And look how wonderful the world has become! Tens if not hundreds of millions more people around the world in poverty! Millions more people going hungry! Millions more people cant afford medicine and medical care they need! Millions more people homeless!

    “consumerism” is ECONOMIC ACTIVITY you f*king bonehead! Its JOBS! Its puting food on the table you assh*t!

    People are starving because libtards are too f*cking stupid to understand that its only because people want things that other people have JOBS and HOMES and FOOD.

    How is it possible for people to be so sheltered and ignorant?????

  19. How much conspicuous consumption do we really need?

    LOL. Let’s review the moonbat worldview on life, shall we?

    Regular folk using incandescent bulbs — Conspicuous consumption.

    “Environmentalists” flying all over the world on private jets — Not conspicuous consumption.

  20. We have a halogen tochiere we bought ten years ago, and the original bulb is still burning — brilliant, white light (I like halogen better than incandescent), works with a dimmer, and the very best choice for reading. So why is nobody pushing halogen, instead of the ugly, blue flourescents? For the same reason nobody is pushing natural gas for vehicles. It’s not about saving energy or the environment at all. It’s about control.

  22. As an architect who specializes in residential work, I recommend to my clients that when they replece/upgrade to CFL’s they up-wattage one step for incandescent-to-CFL; replace 60-watt bulbs with 75-watt-equivalents, 75w’s with 100w’s, etc… These ‘new-fangled’ CFL’s just don’t put-out the equilivant perceived light per the label…and the ‘color’ is definitely “off”…and the dimmable CFL’s are horrible and often flicker.

    For quality working-light, I prefer halogen despite the large amout of heat they generate. Zenon’s are good for task-lighting, but have limited availablity.

    The CFL’s flicker is damnable. One of the reason I was an early-adopter of flat-screen PC monitors was that I can see the flicker of a CRT…especially out of the corner of my eye. When I was last in the corporate world, I used to turn my desk monitor off when I wasn’t directly using it to avoid the flickering light. Better to blow the tube out than ruin my vision…yet I still needed reading glasses after that job-stint where I didn’t before.

  23. Well, not sure where Casey lives but here in LA I have to say that when I turn on one of the new bulbs it takes several minutes before it gets to full intensity and then the light is not adequate to read by at night….and that is with using a stronger bulb as someone above suggested.

  24. CFL’s give off a wierd glow and different brands give off a different color, but most everything has a greenish tinge to it. Can’t stand them. I have been stocking up on tungsten bulbs, and when they are all out, it’ll be candles and hurricane lamps for me. I don’t need the government regulating how to use the energy I can afford.

  25. True Casey, one broken bulb is not a MOPP level event we exagerate about. . . . unless you are sensitive to Mercury and it kills you, or you work for say Home Depot and a case of bulbs breaks.
    besides, opening the windows in a home here in Texas when it is 104 is pleasant. Besides, All the manufacturing is over seas, so the poisoning in job lots due to pollution from making them is just poor Comrades in Red China. No great loss, right?

    “nor is the mercury particularly dangerous”
    You are a fool by saying that.

    One of the joys of Syphilis in the old days was the saying “One Night With Venus, A Lifetime With Mercury” was not only did Syphilis make you ill and crazy, the only treatment was Mercury inserted up the urethra and that too drove you nuts.

    CFLs will become the Lead Based Paint of the future.

    And yes, as they age, CFLs can cause epileptics to have problems. So not only are you denying them good light at a cheap price that doesn’t give them a Grand Mal, you force them to buy either a bulb that likely will cause injury and possibly could kill them, or one that runs around $10 a bulb right now.

  26. When I can no longer buy the old bulbs I’m switching to kerosene lamps and candles. Nicer light anyway. Yes, I know they have a huge “carbon foot-print.” I don’t care. I hate the earth. ( snicker…snicker…snicker)

  27. Death of the incandescent has been greatly exaggerated. The new rules require about 25% higher efficiency in incandescent bulbs. This technology has been in the labs for quite some time, and research has been greatly intensified as the legislation passed.

    Just this summer, Phillips quietly introduced bulbs compliant with the new standards, right here in 2009. Not only that, but they also are selling lamps with this technology as reflector bulbs – a class that is exempt from the legislation. So clearly, not only can it be done, but it can be done today, on a commercial scale, and likely at a profit.
    http://www.lighting.philips.com/us_en/products/halogena_energy_saver/

    So, if you are as partial to incandescent light as I am, go vote with your wallet and try them out. No mercury, not made in China. Common A bulbs (round) are in two packs for about $9. Perhaps that sounds expensive, but it’s cheaper over the life cycle if you pay more than 6.6c/kWh. For the 100W replacements, you break even if you pay more than 4c/kWh, which pretty much everyone does. You can save $25 in power for an investment of $9 of 100W replacement bulbs in areas such as the northeast where 14c/kWh is common. Their EcoVantage line also meets the new standards for the “full spectrum” bulbs – but be aware that those use a lot more power per lumen in all of their forms.