Tell me about CFLs.

[laohaire]

I've heard they use significantly less energy.

But I've also had them burn out at rates faster than incandescents. And heard other people with similar complaints.

Are we doing something wrong with them?

Next question is a little more vague. My DH suffered from migraines for about 2 years. It was absolutely terrible and debilitating. He tried lots of things with no effect. Then he read online someone's experience, where they found florescents were causing the migraines. He eliminated flourescents (that includes getting rid of ALL LCDs) and very quickly his headaches diminished to something like getting a very mild headache once a week maybe (as opposed to having one he had difficulty even thinking through - all. the. time.)

Soooooooo. Any thoughts or perspectives on that particular issue and switching to CFLs? I understand in 2012 we won't be able to BUY incandescents anymore. I want to switch to CFLs, and at the same time, I want to stock up on 50 years worth of incandescents because I'm afraid for my husband (he's also dreading this).

Thoughts?

[MomToKandE]

I've had trouble with them burning out as fast (or faster) as regular bulbs. I've heard that if you're turning them off and on a lot that can reduce the life but I tried them in my laundry room where we leave the light on most of the time and I still had them burn out quickly.

I also just plain didn't like them. I didn't like the light they cast. It seemed very harsh. I didn't like that they'd take a minute to come up to full brightness. (maybe not actually a full 60 seconds but enough time to be annoying)

Maybe I just didn't have the right kind of bulbs... they were a major brand (GE maybe?) but maybe there are better ones out there? I gave up and returned to incandescent bulbs.

[Denvergirlie]

I've had my CFL's for several years now, maybe bought them in early 2004. It was actually the last thing I bought at Walmart because I had a BOGO coupon on the GE line redeemable only at WalMart.

I've had one burn out but it's the fault of that particular light, the wiring is "faulty", so it's wasn't the light blub issue.

Good luck

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by MomToKandE

I've heard that if you're turning them off and on a lot that can reduce the life ...

Frustrating, if true... people switching to CFLs will be in the habit of turning off the light when the leave the room, for conservation. Kind of defeats the purpose if you can't

[Ygle]

Originally Posted by laohaire

I understand in 2012 we won't be able to BUY incandescents anymore. ?

Please tell me this is not true! I will definitely be stocking up if that's so, I'm like your husband and can barely even function in fluorescent lighting and know of so many others that feel the same.

[laohaire]

Sorry. I found this:

http://biz.yahoo.com/usnews/071219/1...king-budgeting

I guess the process will start 2012 and end 2014, but anyway...

[mamadelbosque]

Hmm wierd, our expereince has been that they last far longer then incandecents?? So I really don't know about that...

As for the headaches bit, that I understand... When I was 17 I started getting migraines like mad... fluroecents definetly seemed to aggravate them. That said, I'm now 23 and they seem to have dissapeared... they're dissapearance coinsided directly with my stop taking phenobarbitol when I was preg, so who knows!!