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9:04:00 AM EDT
Fluorescent Bulbs Shine in Tests, Not With Women
Popular Mechanics Surprised by Results: Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are in two recent, seemingly contradictory stories.
In the first, Popular Mechanics tested eight energy-efficient light bulbs (seven of them fluorescents) for brightness and light quality. Their findings:
"The results surprised us. Even though the incandescent bulb measured slightly brighter than the equivalent CFLs, our subjects didn’t see any dramatic difference in brightness. And here was the real shocker: When it came to the overall quality of the light, all the CFLs scored higher than our incandescent control bulb. In other words, the new fluorescent bulbs aren’t just better for both your wallet and the environment, they produce better light."
In the second story, Blaine Harden of the Washington Post reports that even thought CFLs are affordable and save on energy costs, consumers are not adopting them quickly in the United States -- in part because the lights don't pass the "wife test." Many women don't like the type of light these bulbs produce. But the Popular Mechanics tests showed that light from fluorescents is of higher quality. What gives?
We have a bunch of CFLs at home and I like them. They will save you money, $30 or more over its lifetime of five years (see "EPA Wants You to Change a Light to Change the World"). Start by replacing the lights you use most often; I recommend this light-bulb finder from Environmental Defense. Here you can find bulbs that work on dimmers, three-way bulbs, bulbs that can be enclosed and more.
Do you use compact fluorescents? Why or why not? Post your thoughts here.
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i HEARD THE NEW BULBS HAVE HARMFUL TOXINS IF BROKE. IT WAS A RECENT STORY ON CNN.... EVERYONE IS OUSHING FOR THE BULBS AND THEY ARE NOT SAFE AROUND CHILDREN.
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I agree with gzda when she noted that "There is just something wrong with the light ... my texts show that it's their inability to show us all colors in the spectrum." I have started to use the new bulbs in various parts of my house to save energy. But the difference in the quality of light is startling. In my living room, which is decorated in beige and wine colors, the red looks washed out. In my family room, which is yellow and blue, the yellow looks faded and dingy. Given the emergency nature of global warming, I think replacing regular bulbs with the fluorescent bulbs is the right thing to do. But I spend a great deal of time at home -I operate a home tutoring business - and I can't stand to stay in a room with the fluorescent bulbs for very long. I wonder whether researchers can find a way to enhance the color spectrum of the new, energy-saving bulbs? That would solve the problem.
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Interesting piece. As a former free-lance photographer, I can see/have seen the difference between the bulb types immediately, but I note that photos (film) taken under the fluorescents, does not differ much as under incandescents. Way back in the day, we used to use special filters to get normal color balance on film. Not so with the new bulbs, but the color balance is not the same as sunlight (just like incandescents). We have them all over the house -- and, no, my wife does not have a say in this matter, because I pay all the bills and replace all the bulbs. She doesn't love them, but she don't hate 'em either.
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When I studied interior design at Parsons School of Design in NYC, I took a course on lighting. In my textbooks, I found the graphs that indicate the light rendering capacity of the various lamps (the correct word -- the bulb is only the glass part, and the thing it gets screwed into is a light fixture) most interesting -- not only incandescents, but also fluorescents, and HID lamps: metal halide, high and low-pressure sodium, and mercury lamps. Some of those are the kind of lamp used on streets and parking lots. The smoothest curve for the entire spectrum was produced only by the incandescent lamp (although it also favors the red and yellow side of the spectrum), while all the others showed huge spikes in a few specific colors, and dips in others. This is why sometimes, a red dress in a parking lot will look black to the human eye. Fluorescents aren't as bad as HID lamps in their ability to show color, but they are not normal, and people FEEL that difference. They don't have to have seen the graphs I saw. There is just something wrong with the light, and they think it has something to do with the light it gives off, but my texts show that it's their inability to show us all colors in the spectrum -- and are so unpredictable that way. This is why I won't let my husband use those things anywhere I spend any amount of time. Yup, I'm a woman.
5/28/07 8:31 AM
Because if your buying one light bulb made by one company, you may be putting another one out of business by not buying theirs.
I am wondering why we just don't go back to using candles? And making them last longer. Or better yet, go to bed earlier and you wont need a light bulb or a candle to see. we can save a lot of money that way if that is what its all about. But its not. Its all about putting more money in the pockets of those who know someone in government <Thats how I see it, for I tried the light bulbs and feel they don't last any longer than the regular ones.> <And they cost more. So whose behind this one? > <I think whenever we get someone new in a powerful position they promote their friends and friends of friends. <I have seen that in Politics all the time. You scratch my back and I will scratch yours.>