Adventures in CFL-land

Brit blames bulb for TV-remote glitch

Posted by Katharine Wroth at 10:38 AM on 10 Jan 2008

First CFLs cause migraines. Then they worsen skin conditions. Now they frig with the frequency of TV remotes. O brave new world ...

For story: Adventures in CFL-land
8 Comments | Post a Comment

And yet

And yet, somehow, stores have managed to demo TVs for decades under all those flourescent lights.

by cce at 12:03 PM on 10 Jan 2008

But it IS easy being green!

CFLs ARE safe and easy, though! Please send any skeptics to Environmental Defense's CFL Guide at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagid=608. The FAQ page addresses some of these issues.

And, like Grist has mentioned before, LEDs are up and coming too! Climate411 has a whole post on these energy-saving lights at http://environmentaldefenseblogs.org/climate411/2007/05/1 ...

Lauren Guite
Environmental Defense

finding the ways that work

by Lauren Guite at 2:24 PM on 10 Jan 2008

Precious Retinal Fluids

CFs are screwing with my essence!

by jabailo at 3:42 PM on 10 Jan 2008

burn outs

I've had two of my CFL's burn out in less than a year. I thought they were supposed to last much longer. What's up with that?

by SMLowry at 4:46 PM on 10 Jan 2008

Fine print...

I've had two of my CFL's burn out in less than a year. I thought they were supposed to last much longer. What's up with that?

Check the fine print on the boxes. The bulb life is based on an "average use" of a period of several hours a day. The amount of hours per day will be on the package. The more ya use it, the quicker it will burn out, just like the other bulbs.

Also, some older light sockets that haven't been cleaned for years may effect the lifespan of the bulbs.

by Tasermons Partner at 6:57 PM on 10 Jan 2008

CFL Failures

I've found that certain brands are better than others. I wrote about it on my blog: http://solarjohn.blogspot.com

Solar John

by Solar John at 12:47 PM on 11 Jan 2008
[ Parent ]

CF life, migraines, etc.

I switched most of my lamps to CFs in May 2001 (they were hard to find & expensive at the time too) due to the Enron-induced energy crisis in California that spring. I had to change the harps and shades on some of the lamps to fit the CFs available at that time. Last fall the first one burned out after 6 years of fairly heavy use. It was suppose to last 7 years but I am not complaining.

We do have one ceiling light that burns out all kinds of bulbs in a couple of months. My husband is going to put in a new fixture and rewire the whole thing because obviously there is something wrong with the socket/wiring and not the bulbs.

I get migraines. I have noted lots of triggers for my migraines over the years. I have not noticed an increase in the frequency of my migraines since installing CFs in my home in 2001. The only light induced migraines I have personally experienced were caused by flickering light, not by a bad bulb but from driving in/out of shade/sunlight on a tree covered road.

My husband complains that the CFs are not as bright as the incandescents. I offered to change all the lamps back to incandescents which he declined since they are saving us quite a bit and it is really really nice not to have to change light bulbs frequently.

Wouldn't the fact that one uses (and discards) many fewer CF bulbs than incandescents (due to the longer life) be another plus ecologically?

cmello

by cmello at 8:36 AM on 15 Jan 2008

Yes...

Wouldn't the fact that one uses (and discards) many fewer CF bulbs than incandescents (due to the longer life) be another plus ecologically?

Yes, it is. 'Specially when they are disposed of properly at a recycling site for CFLs (most CFLs have small amounts of mercury currently, so proper disposal really helps).

by Tasermons Partner at 8:49 AM on 15 Jan 2008

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