# Do the new compact fluorescent lights approximate the color of incandescent bulbs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856 "2006-12-28T14:00:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/1 "2006-12-28T14:00:37Z")
I recently saw a new generation of compact fluorescent bulbs at Home Depot, all seemingly with different color temperatures, including “cool white,” “warm white,” “daylight,” etc. Do any of these come close to the white-golden glow of incandescent bulbs–or is replicating this color temperature practically impossible? Some of the older, tube FL units produce a muddy-white color, which to me doesn’t look incandescent at all. Also this: Fluorescent tubes/bulbs are said to contain mercury. Are there any potential health hazards, should a person accidentally break a bulb inside one’s house? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/2 "2006-12-28T14:24:12Z")
[QUOTE=Carnac the Magnificent!] I recently saw a new generation of compact fluorescent bulbs at Home Depot, all seemingly with different color temperatures, including “cool white,” “warm white,” “daylight,” etc. Do any of these come close to the white-golden glow of incandescent bulbs–or is replicating this color temperature practically impossible? Some of the older, tube FL units produce a muddy-white color, which to me doesn’t look incandescent at all. Also this: Fluorescent tubes/bulbs are said to contain mercury. Are there any potential health hazards, should a person accidentally break a bulb inside one’s house? [/QUOTE] To answer your questions from experience, no cites; Some of the newer fluorescent bulbs come pretty close to replicating a frosted incandescent bulb, but not a clear one. I’ve installed these newer fl bulbs in the same fixture (like two can lights, one with a regular bulb and one with a fl bulb) as a regular bulb and once it burns in you could barely tell the different between the two. By burning in, I mean it takes a few minutes for the bulb to reach peak lumen output. The easiest on the eyes is probably the ‘daylight’ lamps since color reproduction is fairly natural and your eyes/brain won’t have to adjust much if at all. Non-Mercury has been an option for fl lamps for a number of years now, although most will still have some mercury in them. > [@](#): > > Even though mercury in fluorescent lamps is a problem, the solution is not to stop using energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. The largest man-made source of mercury in the atmosphere is fossil fuel combustion (58% of total). When the mercury in a fossil fuel is heated in a combustor, it turns into a vapor and escapes into the atmosphere. When moisture vapor in the atmosphere turns to rain, mercury returns to the earth and is deposited in streams, lakes, and other waterways. On average, fossil-fueled power plants emit 0.04 milligrams of mercury per kilowatt-hour sold. So the energy-savings reduces more mercury in the environment than is added by the potential disposal problem of the bulb. When fluorescent bulbs are properly recycled, there is a major reduction in environmental mercury from the energy savings, with little or no added mercury from the bulb. [From here.](http://www.worldwise.com/recfluorlig.html) The health issue is non-existent unless you’re into smashing bulbs as a hobby. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/3 "2006-12-28T14:26:14Z")
Oh, and be sure not to install fl lamps in a dimmed circuit unless they are rated for dimming - it’ll say on the box if they’re rated for dimming and they’ll cost much more. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/4 "2006-12-28T15:20:33Z")
I’ve found a significant difference between two different brands. I tried GE and liked its colour - couldn’t tell the difference from an incandescent. Then I tried Noma and it was obviously a fluorescent - that harsh blue-green tinge to the light, plus a noticeable humming noise. I took it out and put it in a fixture down in the basement laundry room, where I don’t worry about aesthetics as much. ---
**Author:** ![Emerald\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Emerald\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emerald_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/5 "2006-12-28T15:55:37Z")
I’ve bought a few made by Technical Consumer Products that supposedly had a color temperature of 2700K, but my girlfriend and I could both tell that they were noticeably whiter than our GE incandescents. Also, one of them burnt out after only 3 months, but since I had ordered it online it wasn’t worth shipping it back for a refund. Perhaps next time I will try picking up some GE florescent bulbs from Home Depot. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/6 "2006-12-28T16:24:43Z")
[QUOTE=Northern Piper] I’ve found a significant difference between two different brands. I tried GE and liked its colour - couldn’t tell the difference from an incandescent. Then I tried Noma and it was obviously a fluorescent - that harsh blue-green tinge to the light, plus a noticeable humming noise. I took it out and put it in a fixture down in the basement laundry room, where I don’t worry about aesthetics as much. [/QUOTE] BTW, I wonder if it makes sense for me to use FL in a large storage room that I visit maybe 4 x/week and usually use for no more than 10 minutes each time? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/7 "2006-12-28T17:54:50Z")
[QUOTE=Carnac the Magnificent!] BTW, I wonder if it makes sense for me to use FL in a large storage room that I visit maybe 4 x/week and usually use for no more than 10 minutes each time? [/QUOTE] Not really, your talking pennies a year, maybe. Since fl lamps take a while to brighten up you’re better off with a 100w bulb in a storage closet if you need lots of light _right now_ so you can see what the heck you’re looking for. So long as you don’t forget and leave it on for three weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/8 "2006-12-28T18:49:41Z")
So, if I want a CF bulb from GE that duplicates a normal incandescent lightbulb, what is it called? “Warm white”? I haven’t looked at CF bulbs for a while, but I bought one a year ago and it was too flourescenty. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/9 "2006-12-28T18:55:29Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] So, if I want a CF bulb from GE that duplicates a normal incandescent lightbulb, what is it called? “Warm white”? I haven’t looked at CF bulbs for a while, but I bought one a year ago and it was too flourescenty. [/QUOTE] Warm white is probably the closest, since it’s slightly more towards the red than “cool white”, which tends towards blue. Oddly enough, “warm” actually means a _lower_ color temperature, an irony which always amuses me in discussions about lighting and color temperature. It’s really a preference thing; personally, I prefer bluer lighting, since it’s closer to natural sunlight. I’d try a few different once to see which works best for you. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/10 "2006-12-28T18:58:40Z")
Errr…“once” = “ones.” ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/11 "2006-12-28T20:08:02Z")
The standard ‘soft white’ bulbs (2700K) are very close to standard incandecent light IMHO. I’m actually going to get some of the ‘cool white’ (4700K or something) bulbs today to put in the bathroom and a reading lamp, as I’d like a ‘whiter’ light for those applications. The initial behaviour of bulbs differs greatly by brand and form factor. The Globe brand standard spiral CFLs I have take a second when cold to do anything, but reach peak brightness almost instantly. The Luminus brand bulbs my parents use start making light right away, but can take a few seconds to get brighter when cold. The ‘floodlight’ style bulbs (spiral inside with an outer glass casing) all seem to take 20 seconds or so to warm up no matter who makes them. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-new-compact-fluorescent-lights-approximate-the-color-of-incandescent-bulbs/385856/12 "2006-12-29T03:58:23Z")
We recently tried replacing most of the bulbs in our house with CFs. I quickly discovered that the light from the “daylight” bulbs makes me want to kill myself. Even the standard CFs make me feel like someone’s about to come in and ask me to put my feet in the stirrups, but I’m adjusting to those. The only bulbs I’ve found in town so far are 3000 and up. This thread gives me hope I’ll be able to track down some 2700s, since we’re committed to changing over.