I have just changed my lightbulbs for halogen ones - are they environmentally friendly?

[Lauriefairycake]

I have literally been sat in gloomy light for about 5 years and I was SICK of it - they were all low energy bulbs.

I bought the halogen ones in Ikea - not cheap either (2 for £7 I think) and I've replaced all my side lights with them.

Do they last a long time? - the low energy ones were expected to last 10 years.

My DS2's bedroom was lit by halogen lamps; they don't last, are a pain to fit (you can't touch the "bulb" part) and I heard they're expensive to run (compared to others).

There are brighter, "natural daylight" energy saving bulbs around now; I changed my very yellow bulbs for (supposedly) full-spectrum bulbs in my dark hallway, my living room and my office. They're actually more towards the blue end of the spectrum (which makes colours on your walls etc look odd, initially) and for some weird reason, they're brilliant for cut flowers, which last waaay longer than usual.

But they make potted plants leggy.

Are you talking about table lamps or ceiling?

Typically, halogen (incandescent) lamps come in 20/35/50 watt for recessed ceiling types. Not aware of halogen for table lamps.

Low energy fluorescent are generally 7/9/11/13 watt.

Lamp life is circa 3000 hrs for halogen & 10000 hrs for low energy.

More of the energy consumed by halogen is converted into heat, so they operate at a higher temperature & are less efficient at lighting.

The colour temperature for halogen is usually 2700K.

Fluorescent lamps have varying colour temperatures, ranging from 3000K (warm white), 3500K (white), 4000K (daylight) & 6000K (natural daylight).

As OLNN says, daylight lamps emit a colder, bluer light, 3500K or white should be fine.

Fluorescent lamps will take between 30 seconds & 2 minutes to reach their operating temperature & will seem dim immediately after switch on.

The colder the ambient temperature, the longer this period will last.

If your lights are dim, use a higher wattage to compensate, 13 watt is comparable to 60 watt incandescent (traditional 'bulb').

HTH