Best Compact Fluorescent Bulb
I've been trying out different compact fluorescent lightbulbs recently.
One of the biggest complaints from people is that these energy-saving bulbs are just too white, bright and harsh to have in a room. They don't mirror the soft glow of regular incandescent bulbs.
Technology for CFL bulbs is changing. While they all may look the same in the store, they are all totally different when you turn them on.
My favorite bulb is GE's Energy Smart DIMMABLE CFL bulb (pictured). So funny, I couldn't find a photo of it online, but you can find them in most hardware and discount retail shops.
What I like about the bulb is that it mimics the light of a traditional bulb, all while giving you the huge energy-saving benefits of using it. It lasts 6 years and will save you $45 in energy cost savings over the life of the one bulb. I was surprised how soft the light was when I flipped the switch on the lamp. I found myself carrying the bulb going socket to socket around the house seeing how it worked in other fixtures.
For lamps, overhead fixtures and anywhere else where you need light, these dimmable bulbs are the way to go.
Wow! Dimmable! That's awesome!! I've been searching for ones that can do that.
Posted by: katie | June 18, 2007 at 11:49 AM
This is great! I'll have to run out and get some!
And just in case you didn't know, Ikea will accept and recycle energy saving bulbs and batteries at their stores. They have big bins out front of the entrance and bins in the lighting department.
Posted by: jenni s-g | June 18, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Great! I have been using a less-than-perfect CFL bulb in my kitchen for about 6 months now, just to try out the CFL bulb for comparison. I love to hear that there is a soft colored one out there. What wattage do you recommend? I know CFL bulbs are much stronger...
Posted by: kkf | June 18, 2007 at 02:55 PM
Can you post a picture and tell us about the tree branch photo holder you made on Red Hot and Green? I just saw it for a moment and would love to make one.
Posted by: Kathy | June 18, 2007 at 03:52 PM
My complaint about CFL is that they take awhile to "warm up", after you turn them on. Do these have instant-on like incandescents? I'm also curious if they have one as strong as a 100-watt bulb. our place doesnt get much outside light coming in.
Posted by: talldave | June 18, 2007 at 05:02 PM
What kind of long term testing did you do? Often times (especially dimmable CFLs) they do not last nearly as long as advertised.
Posted by: Greg Smith | June 18, 2007 at 07:05 PM
I have grown attached to the GE Reveal bulbs... and have a history or really hating florescent light. Florescents used to trigger migrain headaches when I was younger.
Do I have any chance of finding these Energy Smart bulbs more acceptable?
Posted by: Alice | June 18, 2007 at 11:50 PM
Hey Danny,
Posted your recommendation over at Apartment Therapy's Home Tech section, and we received a number of comments. Thanks for the suggestion!
http://hometech.apartmenttherapy.com/hometech/lighting/best-cfl-024950
Cheers,
Kate
Posted by: Kate | June 19, 2007 at 08:56 PM
I'm surprised that people think the CFL bulbs are too bright. I think they're too dim, and they take too long to warm up. I've been replacing all of my regular bulbs with the CFLs as they burn out, but they don't seem to give off as much light and my house always looks like we have dimmers on. I've been thinking of switching back in my kids bedrooms so they can do their homework without eyestrain!
Posted by: kath | June 23, 2007 at 06:53 PM
I also find the CFL bulb that I have to be dim. I am going to get this particular bulb that you have for my bedroom, though. I've been wanting to put a dimmer in there.
Posted by: Beth | June 27, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Try ULA Dimmable CFLs. I will send samples to interested people if they send their address to
akumar747@gmail.com
Posted by: Bhargav | July 04, 2007 at 10:53 PM
I recently blogged about compact fluorescent lamps at my site on global warming. I found that they are not the great deal that everyone says they are. They poison the ground with mercury if not recycled correctly and when you add up all of the costs of production and recycling, they actually use more energy than incandescent bulbs. I don't want to go into a great deal of detail here but you can read my post at http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2007/07/18/compact-fluorescent-lamps/
Posted by: Sean O | July 18, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I recently responded to Sean O's post on my blog. His facts are all wrong but he's typical of the misinformed consumer. I guess he's been shopping these bad facts around a lot of places.
For the response see: http://ryan-technorabble.blogspot.com/2007/07/letter-to-cfl-doubter.html
Posted by: Ryan Baker | August 01, 2007 at 02:23 AM
This is kind of odd, but the comment above was meant for a different blog. You can delete it if you like. Obviously has little relevance to this post.
Sorry.
Posted by: Ryan Baker | September 12, 2007 at 01:29 AM
See Popular Mechanics comparison test of best CFLs. Very interesting.
Posted by: relse | January 08, 2008 at 01:56 PM
See Popular Mechanics comparison test of best CFLs. Very interesting.
Posted by: relse | January 08, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Dimmable CFL's are one of the best ways to save money, energy and the environment. Our website offers many types of dimmable CFL's along with many lifhgt fittings and fixtures: www.acelamps.com
Posted by: Ace Lamps | August 14, 2008 at 10:14 AM