To really fucking hate energy saving lightbulbs?

[DarlingDuck]

Ok I realise it is a good thing that we use them and think we should but I hate the dim flourescent glow, am starting to notice it more now the nights are drawing in and remembering just how much it does my head in.

NormanBates, you might be able to see some on the pages around the link I posted Tue 11-Oct-11 20:58:40

I don't want to be even more tedious and repeat stuff I said Tue 11-Oct-11 20:16:43, especially if people don't want to read it..

Whatmeworry

yep, no point in arguing about perceptions and unproven anecdotes.

vile things- I have stockpiled proper light bulbs

So is there supposed to be a special lightbulb bin at the supermarkets for them? Why have I never ever seen this????

I have just looked at the prices of the sort of bulbs I think I would need (Philips energy saving 20W softone, which would be the equivalent of the 100W softone I used to buy). Over £11!!!! Most of our current 100W bulbs have lasted for several years - in fact the landing one which gets used most evenings (unless we're away) has only been replaced once since 1998, but wouldn't have cost more than about £3 I don't think.

Seems very expensive.

Piglet I'm assuming you work in sales for the eco-lighting industry? If you had the old style bulbs you would be able to see that no-one is rushing to support your sales pitch.

They only way they save much energy is because people don't bother turning them on because they either take to long to warm up or they aren't bright enough for what you are trying to do.

The energy savers don't seem to last any longer in our house than the real bulbs did. They are constantly popping and then fuse everything. It's a new fuse board so I know it's not that.

They drive me mad, even when they warm up quickly I still can't see properly. I need bright light.

A chap in our market sells the old 100w, so we're stockpiling them.

yep, no point in arguing about perceptions and unproven anecdotes

That's not correct...enough anecdotes all saying roughly the same thing equals data for a trend. what is emerging loud and clear is that:

(i) Light quality is poorer (and that's their job after all)

(ii) Reliability is not what was promised

(iii) People definitely do not feel as "well" with these lights

(iv) The costs of disposal are probably way under-estimated. I'm willing to bet there will be a scandal about disposing of mercury laden globes in some African landfill within 3 years.

And big picture electric light usage as a % of household energy is a non-problem compared to heating and the big utilities. I reckon if I wear a fleece for one extra day and keep the heating off I've probably saved the entire energy output of the house lighting for a year.

So quite why we have to put up with product that isn't fit for purpose and scarcely saves any money is beyond me.

blondie74
you are 100% wrong

Norman
I mentioned earlier that the Philips softone is a slow starter. the Osram is a Which best buy, as well as cheaper..

Jux
I am very interested to hear that. Usually, MCBs are tripped when a filament bulb blows. This is typically found to be a nuisance when you have a new consumer unit which has MCBs instead of fuses, which are slower to react to the momentary surge when the filament melts. I have never experienced a CFL causing an MCB to trip so I was very excited to hear your news.

Fucking useless things, at least the new bathroom one looks like a bulb, but it still takes an age to warm up.
The expensive "dimable" on the landing isn't. Except turned right down to so dim you might as well not bother, it flickers it is totally useless.

I'm glad they're causing you excitement, PigletJohn; they've been known to leave us running about like headless chickens trying to find the torch and a chair to stand on in pitch black as everything has gone off. That's almost excitement in our house!

as it is happening constantly, it is hardly worth your while putting the torch down, surely?

Please could someone tell me how you're supposed to dispose of them properly???

My studio (OK grand term for bedroom 2) is lit with three daylight fluorescent tubes - giving about 6.5K in CAT 2 fittings - and a large west facing window.

I hate the awful limp-wristed CFLs. My eyesight is very good and I am buggered if I will sacrifice it for the sake of the yellow-tinged feeble nonsense that is on offer from B&Q.

We've just finished re-wiring the whole house and have fitted CFL's in all rooms. PigletJohn is spot on about the quality of the CFL being all important.

Like all things in life you get what you pay for and spending the time and effort to look for the right quality lamps ensures you have the kind of light you require. All the main manufacturers make lamps that come in a range of colour temperatures and outputs so I'm sitting here and writing this bathed in bright light that feels very natural.

The point being made that they contain trace elements of mercury just made me laugh. After stripping off lead based paint, removing asbestos roof sheets and replacing lead pipes - all of which were in widespread use for hundreds of years - the potential impact of trace elements of mercury somehow affecting me seems an extremely low risk

Well, last time I had one fail, I emailed my local council. They said if I have a bunch of them, I can take them to the tip, but if it is only one, I can double-wrap it and put it in the household waste bin. Alternatively I can put it in the CFL recycling skip at the supermarket. I was a bit surprised to be told they could go in the household bin.

Apparently they contain about 5mg mercury each.

The old fluorescent tubes are, I understand, more of a hazard, and you will find a bin for them at any tip. Some electrical suppliers may acceot them back for recycling.

Rebelwithoutapplause

That is a truly brilliant name.

(Sad, twentysomething James Dean devotee)

Which type of bulb/lamp have you got, Rebel? I like the idea of being bathed in bright light. I'd be happy to pay more for it.

Font, in theory, if the bulb is from a household,not from a business, your local County/Unitary Council will have a facility at their Civic Amenity Site. However, many Councils are now introducing charging for using these sites, and in actuality many Councils do not have specialist facilities to receive these, particularly at smaller or older sites. I've yet to see any reception facilities for them at supermarkets. If you are in a two tier authority area, your District Council will not have any facilities. In practice, most people will put them into their wheelie bins, where they will be collected with residual waste, then either landfilled or incinerated.

What is particularly horrific is the bulbs are manufactured in China, where protection for workers is virtually non existent. Mercury poisoning is a real issue for these workers. This goes alongside the dreadful poisoning of Chinese workers who are recycling our WEEE waste - often being exposed to toxic metals and chemicals as they strip and recycle items which are exported from the EU. Being green in the UK unfortunately comes at a very high price for workers in other parts of the world.

Takes a bow

Greenpeace website includes a disposal sites search link

or try this one

We do actually have torches and candles stashed all over the house, PigletJohn , learnt our lesson quickly on that one.

Like all things in life you get what you pay for and spending the time and effort to look for the right quality lamps ensures you have the kind of light you require

Except, unlike other things in life, you don't have the choice to buy a cheaper thing which is better, due to misguided eco-benefit legislation.

I don't want to spend the time and effort searching for the "right" light bulb like I would shoes, life is just too short to sweat these small things - I just want to buy a box of bulbs in Tescos and know the fuckers will do the job they are supposed to.

Thank you :)