General Chat

Steve, for goodness sake - don't get that lather on the bathroom floor!!
You won't be able to see it in the dim light shed by the energy saving light bulb and may slip!

That's a thought, if we are forced to buy these poxy bulbs that will probably save as much power as one MP uses in unecessary air flights, and we get injured through lack of light - can we sue those who forced us to use them?

Maggie, you jest of course!!

More seriously though, we are not alone in facing another potential problem. Our lounge and dining room have matching fittings that take small bayonet cap bulbs. We also followed the manufacturer's advice and fitted dimmer switches in line with saving energy. Looks like we will be faced with scrapping 2 lovely, and hideeously expensive light fittings as it seems small bayonet cap energy saving bulbs that will actually fit will not be available. So much for carbon footprint credentials.

All of this current debacle is down to the whims of a bunch of cardboard Hitlers in Brussels. Our MEP's should unite to take action on our behalf.

As my light bulbs have died, I have replaced them with low energy. I haven't noticed any difference at all in light output.

My living room proved a problem as I have dimmers and the light fittings are small bayonet. We only I ever used the dimmers on full, so it wasn't a big deal for me to change the switches....................and yes, I did it all myself.

I eventually found some bulbs that had the small fitting, but they give out strange light.

All the rooms have a orangey glow to them when the lights are on, but the living room has a bluey-grey glow. For some reason it makes me feel sick and dizzy

Joanne...are you a migrane suffer?
There has been recent reports (I dont know how accurate they are) that these lights affect people whi suffer with migranes.

Steve.

Hi Steve
**touching wood**. I have never had a migraine in my life, and rarely get headaches.

joanne

Oh Joanne!! I have a 3 bulb light in the living room- with small bayonet fittings, as are most of my lamps :o(
I DO suffer from migrane and am not loooking forward to having to change. I wonder if us migrane sufferers will have to go to the doctor for a 'normal lighbulb' prescription!
Can you get daylight bulbs in energy-saving format? I may have to resort to them!!

Maggie

That's the same as my living room. 3 bulb lights with small bayonet.

I don't know why these bulbs give out the blue-grey light, when the rest of the energy savers throughout the house give out an orangey glow just like normal bulbs

We have had nothing but energy saving bulbs for the past 25 years. Now the type of light they give out varies from warm light to bright white. According to OH this is dependant on the number of Lumens which is written on the box. I'm sure a quick google will explain.

As for the lamp shade problem, they are rated for regular bulbs because of the heat they givee off. So if a shade says it can't be used with anything over 60 watts you can safely put a 100 watt equivalent bulb in. Thats why they save energy, instead of heating your ceiling the energy is lighting your room.

As for the migraine thing, I suffer from migraines and have never had one triggered by an energy saving bulb but have had plenty triggered by halogen bulbs and fluorescent tubes.

As for the mercury issue, there's no more mercury than an old fashioned thermometer contained and as someone who broke a few of those as a kid I don't think I'm barking yet!

Thanks for explanation Janet. I still have the packets, so will compare the lumens.

Hi Ann,
I first put a thread up about 100w light bulbs a few months ago after not being able to find any to buy.
An electrician friend,who works for NEEB told us (reluctantly) we wouldn't be able to buy any,as they were being phased out! Haven't read or seen anything about it in news or 'papers.
I hate the low energy ones as I don't feel they give good enough light,especially on stairs,which is why I wonder at Gov. giving them out so freely to the old and vulnerable folk.

Hi Mau

D Mail have had a lot of articles about this. They have acquired a stock of 100W bulbs and if you collect so many vouchers they will give you (I think) 5 free bulbs.

Ann
Glos

Thanks for the info. Ann,don't get the DMail but know some of my family do,so they'll more than likely collect vouchers
Mau

I don't have halogen bulbs or flourescent lights in my house as they give me migranes - nothing worse than a gently pulsating flourescent light!!
I'm dreading having to replace all my bulbs.

I hate with passion the low energy ones, in fact if I am doing knitting, cross stitch, reading have to have another lamp on. With the low energy bulbs feel I must go out and purchase more lamps to make the room as bright as possible, so therefore defeating the object of saving energy!

I also did not know about the health risk - mercury and leaving a room for 15 mins - why has this not been printed on the packets?

I hope to see a petition for downing street "Save our Lighbulbs".

Anyone near Tunbridge Wells or Berwick on Tweed can have my 100w s for free.
They were on their way to the recyling dump but still in the boot of the car!

Well that's progress for you Mick. Saving the world with eco friendly bulbs??? Has to be done to off set the hot air given off by MPs.

Steve

Ann. Thought this when I saw it on the news.
Must be lots of people in the area of the shop use them lol

nudge this up in case anyone ant to take up 'bigoom's' offer.

Ann
Glos

Low energy fluorescent type bulbs (CFL) are a sacred cow for the green brigade, but their energy saving properties are as much a matter of faith than science. It is also likely that they require more energy to produce them than could ever be saved in their lifetime of use..

They are unsuitable for situations where the light is tuned on and off frequently, they take some time to reach their full intensity, and they their light output reduces after just a few months.

I have done some comparative tests and believe that the so called equivalent ratings are over egged. We currently have two lights in our hallway. One is a standard 60 watt tungsten bulb, the other a 75 watt equivalent CFL bulb, and which give approx the same light output. A so called 60 watt equivalent CFL bulb is more like 40 watts and is noticable dimmer than the standard 60 watt bulb. This would explain why many people find them rather dim.

The alleged energy saving is also questionable. since electric lighting is used mostly in the winter or evenings, the so called waste heat from incandescent lamps is not wasted at all. It actually helps to reduce your heating bill.

CFL bulbs contain mercury, and should be disposed of as hazardous waste, not thrown into the bin. Local authorities are supposed to provide disposal facilities, at the taxpayers expense, of course.

By all means make use of them if it suits you situation, but don't be fooled into thinking you are saving the planet, or will see any significant reduction in fuel bills.

In reality, what its likely to happen is a move to Halogen bulbs. These are already available as replacements for standard bayonet cap tungsten bulbs, cost around £1.20 for an equivalent 60 w bulb and are dimmable too. These are warm white bulbs and not to be confused with the more harsher GU10 type spotlight bulbs.

If anyone is interested there is a petition against low energy bulbs at
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/lightbulbs


ann
Glos