Why are there so many different types of lightbulbs? We all know what light bulbs look like don't we? Not really as the traditional, incandescent light bulb pictured on the left wastes 90% of the energy generated because it's as heat while only 10% of the energy actually produces light.
We're Wasting Too Much Energy
As people have been slow to adopt the new CFL (compact florescent lightbulbs) and now there are LED (light emitting diode) bulbs, the government is taking our traditional lightbulbs off the shelf!
- After December 31, 2011, you can't buy 100-watt incandescent light bulbs.
- After December 31, 2013m you can't buy 40 or 60-watt incandescent light bulbs.
Change doesn't come easy for many of us, and yet life today is VERY different from just 10 years ago. You might not recall that 50 years ago, most people had a single television and it was black & white! More than 20% of households today rely solely on cell phones, which very few people had 10 years ago.
Learn About CFL Bulbs and Start Saving Energy
Yes, I really do find the videos from CommonCraft.com short, great at delivering sometimes hard to understand concepts and … fun to watch. Enjoy the show and if you have other questions about CFLs, just leave a comment below and I'll get back to you.
Safety Note: CFL bulbs contain mercury so you need to dispose of the lightbulbs carefully. You should check the EPA map to find the rules governing disposal in your area … and even breaking a bulb by accident, requires special precautions.
I read that CFLs do not work (they burn out immediately) with dimmers. My exterior light fixtures contain dimmers — the light is usually dim, but becomes bright when motion is detected. What is a person to use in a fixture with a dimmer once incandescent bulbs are phased out?
Lani, You are correct that regular CFLs do not last long with dimmer switches, and the bulb’s warranty is voided if you use with a dimmer. Some manufacturers like GE make a special “dimming CFL” specially designed to work with dimming switches. Check the package label to find the correct CFL to buy, i.e. GE’s Longlife Plus Soft White Energy Saving Bulb.
PS Further reading indicates there are more than 40 CFLs on the market that will work with dimmer switches but you still want to check & make sure you’re buying the right kind.