The Move to More Efficient Lighting

[tfofurn]

While standing in Oft-Maligned Big Box Store today, I noticed that they're pushing compact fluorescent lights quite heavily. I'd read some time back that they're striving to push consumers in that direction. They're making a good effort, including informative signage and packaging. Stores selling CFL have a lot to gain. If it's true that a $3

Comments

[alynch]

I've used CFLs exclusively for 2 years now...

1) They do make dimmable CFLs- they're a bit more expensive. Take a gander at Home Despot's selection.

2) Today's CFLs work everywhere that the bulb will fit. Vanity lighting can be iffy. The light is perfectly fine, in my book.

3) I put CFLs in my folks' garage door openers. No problems at all.

[reynold]

1) Don't know if they make them.

2) I've had no problems, been using them in the vanity, above the stove, etc.

3) Use them in my garage door openers and they work great!

About the only problem I have s depending on the brand you get, some take a couple seconds longer to reach full brightness in cold weather. You can find ones that work well in the cold though. Even if they don't give full brightness, they do give decent light and warm up quickly (These are ones I use in my patio lights).

Brought to you through the body of one of our cats who likes to now sit on the desk in front of the monitor, thus blocking my view of what i type.

[jeremyb]

I have found ones that are both dimmable, instant on, and 'yellow' in color. IE, they act just like incadescent bulbs. This was 2-3 years ago, so I'm sure they've improved since then, but I think they were Sylvania brand builds. Philips is good too.

[jpmccusker]

We've been moving to CFLs, and have been spending lots of time finding the right bulbs. There's a 5400 degree bulb line at Home Depot, and a dimmable bulb in the soft white (i.e. yellow), but overall, I haven't seen a need for dimming except over the kitchen table, and there we have weaker bulbs than we had, so dimming isn't really needed.

[tfofurn]

In the case of my upstairs hall, I really need the low light output so it works as a night light. In the other places, I just want to leverage my existing X10 infrastructure. They warn rather strongly that they should only be used with incandescents, but that warning is seven years old.

Lowe's is a lot closer than Home Depot, but I guess I should do due diligence and check both.

CFLs - LEDs?

[nweich]

1. Yeah they should have dimmables