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BBC

A European Union ban on the manufacture and import of 100-watt and frosted incandescent light bulbs, in use since the 19th century, has come into force.

They are being phased out to encourage the switch to more energy-efficient fluorescent or halogen lamps, which use up to 80% less electricity.

Critics say the new bulbs are gloomy, and can trigger headaches and rashes in people with light sensitive disorders.

The ban is one of a series of measures in the EU to tackle climate change.

The less powerful clear bulbs will be progressively banned until all traditional bulbs disappear from shops across Europe in 2012.

The new rules follow an agreement reached by the 27 EU governments last year.

Some consumers have been stockpiling the old-style versions over concerns about the higher cost of the long-life bulbs, or for medical and sentimental reasons.

Several nations including Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada and the Philippines have also announced plans to phase out traditional bulbs.

So in stockpiling the old bulbs, they've already spent more than they would on the new ones as they cost far less over the life span of the bulb itself. People sure are smart.

I don't understand people's objections to the new CFLs. The light on them looks better than a regular incandescent (a nice soothing white vs the yellow of old bulbs) and power on instantly. Maybe there is a headache causing flicker in there, but I can't see it. I can see it in old flurescents, but not the new ones.

I wonder how much of the criticism is based on what the bulbs did a few years ago rather than what they do now.

PS: Did you guys hear about the new LED light bulbs coming out? They make flurescents look like energy hogs! Problem is that they are still super expensive.

edit: I guess the incandescent bulbs might look a bit more like sunlight, and thus feels more natural. The color is certainly different, so it could be anywhere from "they changed it now it sucks" to a built in feeling we have to like the sun.

I guess the incandescent bulbs might look a bit more like sunlight, and thus feels more natural. The color is certainly different, so it could be anywhere from "they changed it now it sucks" to a built in feeling we have to like the sun.

Supposedly thats been an issue for people with visual impairments (there were quite a few phonecalls about it to the local radio station, surprise surprise)

While I can't say I notice a diffrence in the colour one way or the other, it' the OLD bulbs that powered on instantly. The NEW ones take a few minutes to go to full brightness (at least the ones we have here).
That being said, given they live MASSIVELY longer than ordinary bulbs and aren't all THAT much more expensive I fail to see the sense in stockpiling the old stuff.

Batman wrote:While I can't say I notice a diffrence in the colour one way or the other, it' the OLD bulbs that powered on instantly. The NEW ones take a few minutes to go to full brightness (at least the ones we have here).
That being said, given they live MASSIVELY longer than ordinary bulbs and aren't all THAT much more expensive I fail to see the sense in stockpiling the old stuff.

It's obviously so that people in countries living next to the EU can make a fortune selling bulbs to people in the EU! :-D *begins rubbing hands* ooooh yes! This'll be awesome!

Destructionator XV wrote:
PS: Did you guys hear about the new LED light bulbs coming out? They make flurescents look like energy hogs! Problem is that they are still super expensive.

I have and have been keeping my eye out for them, haven't spotted any though. I for one am not sorry to see the old bulbs go, fo rone simple reason; they tend to get stuck in the lamp and the bulb twists out of the metal portion. Resulting in me having to get a pair of pliers and unscrew it the hard way.

Cpl Kendall wrote:I have and have been keeping my eye out for them, haven't spotted any though. I for one am not sorry to see the old bulbs go, fo rone simple reason; they tend to get stuck in the lamp and the bulb twists out of the metal portion. Resulting in me having to get a pair of pliers and unscrew it the hard way.

Next time you have one do that, unplug the lamp and get a potato. Cut it to roughly to where it will fit inside the plug and then use the potato to unscrew it.

Also works when the bulb's broken off.

I think I will just wait and go for the LED bulbs. They will probably be much brighter for less power, and come in every possible color/tint/shade what have you...

LadyTevar wrote:

Cpl Kendall wrote:I have and have been keeping my eye out for them, haven't spotted any though. I for one am not sorry to see the old bulbs go, fo rone simple reason; they tend to get stuck in the lamp and the bulb twists out of the metal portion. Resulting in me having to get a pair of pliers and unscrew it the hard way.

Next time you have one do that, unplug the lamp and get a potato. Cut it to roughly to where it will fit inside the plug and then use the potato to unscrew it.

Also works when the bulb's broken off.

What if it's not in a lamp but in an overhead ceiling light fixture?

The Village Idiot wrote:I think I will just wait and go for the LED bulbs. They will probably be much brighter for less power, and come in every possible color/tint/shade what have you...

Brighter I doubt: LEDs generally work at low power, and if you try to turn them up, they quickly overheat and fail. This will probably be solved down the line, but it is still a ways off.

The LED lamp I saw (from Philips, who are now throwing most their R&D budget in this direction, so awesome) was the same light output as a 60 W incandescent... but only draws 3 watts! It also has a life of about 100,000 hours.

For comparison, Philips' 60W equivalent CFL draws 13 watts and has a 10,000 hour life. A 60W incandescent has an expected life of only about 1,200 hours.


This is just fantastic. However, brighter bulbs in that size aren't yet available. They have LED string tubes that are brighter, but they are obviously much larger than a standard light socket.

Just last year, LED lamps were less efficient than CFLs, and now they are just wiping the floor with them. The next year will be exciting for lighting. The price of this lamp is about $30 each right now, but by next year, that should drop right down.

Remember when the definition of someone "making something of their life" was that they "built a longer-lasting lightbulb"?

... yeah.

Stofsk wrote:

LadyTevar wrote:

Cpl Kendall wrote:I have and have been keeping my eye out for them, haven't spotted any though. I for one am not sorry to see the old bulbs go, fo rone simple reason; they tend to get stuck in the lamp and the bulb twists out of the metal portion. Resulting in me having to get a pair of pliers and unscrew it the hard way.

Next time you have one do that, unplug the lamp and get a potato. Cut it to roughly to where it will fit inside the plug and then use the potato to unscrew it.

Also works when the bulb's broken off.

What if it's not in a lamp but in an overhead ceiling light fixture?

Get a ladder

Stofsk wrote: What if it's not in a lamp but in an overhead ceiling light fixture?

Step ladder dude.

Edit: Damn.