Comments on: U.S. To Phase Out Incandescent Light Bulbs

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:31:33 +0000

I’m a film student with an empahsis in DP studies and lighting. I have run stage shows and used all types of lights on my movies. This is my opinion.

CFLs vs incandecent vs LED

LEDs clearly are the winner for the future, but as of now they are still expensive for mass replacement. A 100 watt equivilant still costs close to $30 a bulb. However they are highly color accurate and can produce virtually any type of light. Practically unbreakable, extremely energy efficient, and produce little to no heat. No Mercury, cool to the touch. And with that technology it is possible to change color, and strobe, ect. By far my favorite, when I get them.

CFLs not to bad at the moment. They are affordable, and quite energy efficient. They have gotten better. The catch here is they are good “if you know what your looking for”. Color temperature is important but so is CRI, the higher the CRI the less green “gloom”. Incandescent look fans should get around K 3000. THey can get hot but won’t usually burn. Murcury is a downside, but reasonable. They sorta look funny too. I use them on sets all the time and they give a great soft glow. I wouldn’t overlook them. some are dimable and the good ones can go to less than 5%.

Incandescent – in my opinion with today’s technology they make a better heater than they do a light. people like the color simply because it’s been the only thing available for more than 10 years. They are not white but yellow. to make them any other color it cuts the amount of light. They get hot, and can start fires. (they stopped being my primary lighting source one melted the interior of one of the cars) Dimmible yes, but the filament doesn’t give almost any light until over %50 of the energy is running through it. Not to mention they are extremely fragile. Now I mostly only use them when were outside and the cast is getting cold. But they are cheap, and somethings only come in them. (ERS’s)

Other bulbs worth mentioning:
Arc lamps (Salt, HMIs, ect) – efficient, bright, and sometimes dangerous. UV issues, explosions. But all these factors can be accounted for. Not really practical for residential use.

Florecent – practically the same as CFL’s just shaped differently. THey have their own socket and work great in some applications. Efficient, large, good choice of color, need a balast though. And sometimes they;re too big. But I use them.

By: Connie

Connie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:03:06 +0000

Just in case, I have stocked up! Every time I go to Target or Walmart I buy 4 boxes of light bulbs. I have enough to last me till I’m in my 80′s and then will have enough to pass onto my grandchildren. I’ll be telling my grandchildren, when I was your age, we had these great light bulbs………….and here they are!! I’ve purchased the new one’s and after a week, just couldn’t take it anymore – had to put in the good old one’s. Does this also include Nightlights??? I HATE the new night lights – they do not have enough “light”……….just hate em. So, I’ve been stocking up on those as well……….just in case. Light Bulbs are not going to SAVE this Planet. Let us keep our old light bulbs!!!!

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:18:26 +0000

I’m still waiting for KEITH to make more of an idiot of himself. i bet the old man is punching a few walls knowing that incandescent bulbs will still be around

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:17:12 +0000

What many people dont seem to realize is that incandescent bulbs are NOT… i repeat.. are NOT being phased out. They only want more efficiency into incandescents. There are already light bulbs that meet the energy efficient standard such as Halogen. There are many incandescents that are not included in the efficiency standards such as….. Anything under 40watts, over 100watts, 3way lighting, appliance lights, flood lights, colored lights, specialty lights (such as candelabra, decorative and globe lights)

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:57:44 +0000

If the US bans Incandescent bulbs and pushes CL bulbs, sounds great, however, not only will it cut jobs in the US but will encourage trade with China. They have the only CF bulb manufacturing plants in the world.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:06:28 +0000

BILL, u serously wana talk about rediculous?? The rediculous thing is the greenies and eco friendly nut cases who CLAIM that cfls will clean up the planet and stop global warming. Now, if u like CFLs for what ever reason, then u have the right to use them. They have been trying to improve on the light quality on these cfls for many years and their lighting still sucks. Anybody who cant tell the difference between an incandescent or a cfl needs to get their eyes checked out. If u have good vision, then u can defitnetly see the difference in the kind of light they put out. Maybe YOU don’t mind congress running ur life and telling u how to live but most ppl would rather choose for themselves. And if these CFLs were really inproving like u claim they are, then people will buy them with out anybody’s REGULATIONS. My grandmother bought a beautiful crystal chandelier a month ago. I think that most ppl would agree that a crystal chandelier looks much nicer with incandescents. Who the hell would wana put flourecent lights on a chandelier??? Over a stupid belief that cfls will save the planet????? U must be out ur mind! Until these moron greenies and liberals start paying for my light bill, I will decide what bulbs best suit me. In my opinion, incandescent lights are much more pleasent and nicer. I dont know about u but im proud of my home and i will not convert my home looking like the inside of a gas station or office. I think they’re other ways to save the environment. If u wana talk about rediculious, the bulb ban is whats rediculious. I can accept change as long as its reasonable. The ban is not only unreasonable, but stupid and yes, I have also stocked up on hundreds of boxes of good old edisons. The only way i wont use incandescents anymore is if the light bulb police comes to my door and arrests me.

By: bill

bill — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:57:05 +0000

Are you people seriously stocking up on hundreds of light bulbs? Thats probably the most rediculous thing I’ve ever heard of. I’ve used CFL’s for years and by taking a long time to come on you must mean the amount of time it takes you to flip the switch. Also Cfl lights are white now unless you go out and specifically buy a yellow colored one. These lights aren’t from the 60′s although it sounds like most people on here havn’t seen a flourescent light since then. Things change and you just have to accept it.

By: John

John — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:26:58 +0000

I read in the Wall Street Journal a while ago that 60% of greenhouse gases come from electricity production, while only 20% come from transportation.

While a Prius may be eco-cool, the real way to help the enviornment is focusing on electricity – I pay more to have a “green” electricity supply, and I am trying to transition to LED lights…

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:04:25 +0000

I will have serious issues if it becomes impossible to continue to get incandescents since CFLs give me serious migraines. It’s already a serious hindrance in the workplace (luckily I have an office where we have a LOT of natural daylighting and they allow me to use an incandescent lamp instead of the overhead fluorescents) but I refuse to use them in my home except in spaces where I need bright light but do not spend a lot of time (porch lights, garage, etc.). Besides the migraines, I wouldn’t want them in my home anyway because of the terrible quality of light so I seriously hope they come up with some new solutions like others have mentioned in their comments. I also wonder what will happen with all of those lamps and sconces that take small candelabra incandescent bulbs since there is currently no CFL options for those?

Oh, and PS to the author, halogen bulbs technically ARE incandescent bulbs so to say that they are trying to phase out incandescents in favor of halogens does not make sense.

By: Bob Jahanson

Bob Jahanson — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:15:57 +0000

Fluorescent bulbs have too many problems and they contain mercury. That is why they are illegal to produce in the United States. In my opinion, LED lights are the new future. They use a lot less energy, can be dim-able, they are near impossible to break and if they do, there is no special procedure for cleaning them up. For all those hippies that are jumping on the band-wagon saying that they are better for the environment, you need to wake the fuck up! More energy is required to produce a cfl bulb than an incandescent one and disposing them will wreak havoc on our ecosystem. Also, by making this a law, we are outsourcing jobs to China because we can not make cfl bulbs in the US.