Energy light bulbs - are there some which light up as well as the bad ones?

[isaidno]

I have a few energy bulbs in my house, but find the light is rubbish for any room you want to read in (or generally do anything else in!)

so is there a better sort? I would like to completely convert!

Also can you get energy candle bulbs? What about spotlights?

[bakedpotato]

some ideas here

[Gingerbear]

they take a while to 'warm up' when you switch them on.
Also, check that you have a high enough 'equivalent' output.

[isaidno]

Thanks baked potato - i will have a look at the link in that thread later.

[sophy]

Lycos do low energy candle bulbs

[isaidno]

Thanks Sophy - will look at those too.

[JanH]

Try eurobatteries.com - they seem to have everything possible in low energy versions!

[JanH]

yourwelcome - this page is low energy reflectors but they have all the other kinds too - eg candles

[Housemum]

Just called these people light bulbs direct
who said that bulbs to use with dimmer switches could be out some time this year - that's what had stopped me changing - we have dimmer switches in every room except bath & kitchen that were here when we moved in so I'd need to change every light switch at the mo!

[JanH]

I had heard that, housemum - in the green bit of the Guardian I think, something about the Govt banning tungsten bulbs - will try to find it.

[JanH]

Hmm - here is a Guardian report, it says Australia is banning them within 3 years, Wishee Washee is sitting on the fence as usual and wants the EU to do it for him

It doesn't say dimmers are being introduced soon though so that must have been another piece somewhere else.

[Housemum]

According to the guy at Lightbulbs Direct (I have SUCH an interesting life..!) the technology exists in the US (not a country best known for green initiatives...) but is not compatible with UK switches, a product is in the final stages of testing in the UK with a view to launching this summer.

[JanH]

I have similarly exciting email correspondence, housemum (eg "thank you for sending my tumble dryer filter so quickly, do you sell Bosch freezer drawers too?")

US electrics are on half the voltage (?) of ours, 110 instead of 220/240, is that the difference? We used to have dimmer switches on the landing but got rid in order to put low-energy bulbs in instead.

[slalomsuki]

I could do with both lightbulbs and Bosch freezer drawers

[JanH]

The Green Shop has a light bulb that it says will dim - scroll down to Megaman - it's £13 mind you (and I don't understand the instructions!)