# Experiences with G.E. Energy Smart bulbs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660 "2007-06-12T03:08:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/1 "2007-06-12T03:08:57Z")
My wife and I just replaced the(heavily used) bathroom lightbulb in our…bathroom. Anyway, we bought a Energy Smart bulb that uses 26 Watts, but burns at 1750 lumens and compares to a 100 watt bulb. It seems to work as well, so far, and we were wondering if we should convert all heavlily used bulbs to Energy Savers. They run $3.88 a bulb(on sale), but use less Watts/Joules and last longer. The light seems great and all, but I’m wondering if there is a downside? Any experiences, Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/2 "2007-06-12T03:31:14Z")
First of all, they have a bit of mercury. Depending on your local laws, you might want to save them up and take them to a hazmat center for disposal. The mercury is less than the amount of mercury they save from the environment by using less coal-based electricity, on average, though. They generally last longer, but not if they’re flipped on and off all the time. Closet lights and things like that might be better as incandescents. Also they have to warm up sometimes, so they might not be best in cold areas. Personally I don’t like the light that much, it’s a discrete spectrum which isn’t natural. I mix them with incansdescents in some places, as a compromise. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/3 "2007-06-12T03:44:12Z")
We’ve replaced a lot of lights with them. They’re a bit odd, because they don’t turn on immediately, and the light is dimmer(?) or something - but they work just fine, and the light is adequate. Hubby says they’ll save us big bucks, so… ---
**Author:** ![Like\_Fry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@Like\_Fry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Like_Fry)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/4 "2007-06-12T16:12:34Z")
I bought one in my last apartment shortly after moving in (from wally world for about $16, yes, they were spendy in 1997), when I moved out of that apartment after nine years it still worked, though it did flicker for a minute when warming up after the first 6 years of use. The light was my main overhead light for the room. The experience with it sold me on those bulbs, plus, in a hot climate they tend to not heat up the room as much. Fry ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/5 "2007-06-12T18:48:23Z")
Very good idea, yes. Good for environment, goor for your power bill. Make sure that you like to read by that light before you replace your “reading lamp” however. ---
**Author:** ![Sofaspud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sofaspud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofaspud)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/6 "2007-06-12T21:46:19Z")
[QUOTE=Mahaloth] Any experiences, Dopers? [/QUOTE] Well, I’ve found that the “years” of use are actually quite misleading, depending on your “use”. The fine print on the side of my box says the figures are calculated based on an average of no more than 4 hours use per day at such-and-such on/off cycles, blah. What it comes down to is, I like them for my kitchen and that’s about it. In the kitchen they get turned on and off just a couple times a day – when I’m cooking, basically. Everywhere else I’ve found that good old incandescents actually last longer and give me better light (hallways, bedrooms, basements – especially the frikken’ basement, ye gods!) I’d say save your money, myself, and get the LED-based bulbs instead. Considerably more expensive, but they actually, y’know, work. 🙂 At $15+ per bulb, it’ll take a while for me to replace all the lights in the house with 'em, but I’m a lot less cranky about my lightbulb lifetime now. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/7 "2007-06-12T22:07:26Z")
Where does one FIND LED bulbs? I checked recently, and WalMonster, Home Despot and Blows don’t have them on the shelves. And the Google link at the bottom of the page goes nowhere… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/8 "2007-06-12T23:39:18Z")
Ebay. I got some for $22 each. Real Goods: my catalog shows them @ $35 and $45. Right now, they are not worth it for general use. I am all for saving the Earth and better technology, but only get these if you need a rather dim bulb in some location where you need it to burn nearly forever. I have one in my closet, where the way this old building is hooked up has to be on 24/7 or off. They are much tougher than any other bulb, and they last nearly forever. But the price is just too fucking high. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/9 "2007-06-13T00:33:57Z")
I realy hope they have gotten better—I got a few for a nightlight at 'rents house. They used a real small amount of power, and gave off a weird blue light. For about a week. Then they used no power. Lather, rinse, repeat. There are only 5 fixtures in Casa Vorlon that have old school bulbs in them. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/10 "2007-06-13T12:34:27Z")
My wife and I just moved into our new house. We needed a couple light bulbs in heavy usage areas(bathroom, kitchen, etc.). I decided to try a 26 Watt light bulb that GE makes. It spirals around and is called their energy saver. It puts out ~ 1700 Lumens and compares to a 60 Watt bulb. It’s amazing. It works(so far) as well as any regular bulb we have in the house. It cost $3.88, however. Anyone else find that you can actually save money in the long run by using GE Energy Savers? If so, we plan to buy three or four more for other heavily used areas of our house. On the other hand, if they don’t actually work, we’d rather not waste the money. Any opinions or experiences? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/11 "2007-06-13T12:43:38Z")
[A few people do.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=424516) ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/12 "2007-06-13T12:52:41Z")
I just bought a house in Baltimore, where the local energy company just “readjusted” their rates after deregulation – that’s a 50% increase. I went out to Home Depot and switched almost every incandescent in the house over to compact fluorescent. We haven’t gotten our first power bill yet, but if the bulbs you’re using are CFLs and are advertised as using “26 watts” then they must meet that description. If you use it to replace a 60-watt bulb, then you’re saving 34 watts when the bulb is on. At Baltimore prices (13.6 cents per kWh) you’re saving $0.004624 per hour per bulb. It will take about 216 bulb-hours to save you a dollar, or nine consecutive days of operation. The bulb pays for its entire cost in 840 hours of use. The ones we bought have a nine-year warranty, so as long as we use them for at least 100 hours per year, we’ll come out ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/13 "2007-06-13T14:43:18Z")
[QUOTE=riker1384] [A few people do.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=424516) [/QUOTE] :eek: I forgot I already posted this topic! Embarassing! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/14 "2007-06-13T15:18:09Z")
I’m not sure which thread to post this in, but I think those numbers are off. My 60-watt equivalents are 13 watts, not 26. 100W types are 17 watts. That works in favor of the CFL bulbs, paying off quicker. ---
**Author:** ![Sofaspud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sofaspud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofaspud)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/15 "2007-06-13T17:42:25Z")
[QUOTE=The Vorlon] Where does one FIND LED bulbs? I checked recently, and WalMonster, Home Despot and Blows don’t have them on the shelves. And the Google link at the bottom of the page goes nowhere… [/QUOTE] Huh. I bought [this one](http://www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?ID=13973&Ref=Category&RefId=13) , and have been happy with it. My living room is lit by a ceiling fan (4 angled bulbs w/shades + 1 center bulb in a globe) and a floor lamp with 5 bulbs on flexible necks. I’m using this one as the center bulb in the ceiling lamp and it works wonderfully (the globe around it softens the light somewhat); I plan to replace all of the bulbs with more of these as I get the money to do so. I’m starting with the ceiling fan because (I suspect) the high vibration has contributed to the other bulbs I’ve tried in there burning out so quickly, and of course LED bulbs are hardly as susceptible to that. Typically, the center socket is the only one in the room that’s on, unless my wife or I is reading in the corner (where the floor lamp is stationed). It’s quite bright enough to light the room comfortably (about 12x14 or thereabouts), and I don’t notice any odd coloration but that may be due to the globe. At an average (stated) lifetime of 50000 hours, which comes out to more than 5 years of constant 24/7 use, I’m pretty sure I won’t have to replace this sucker any time soon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/16 "2007-06-13T20:19:28Z")
The quivers in the space-time continuum are due to me merging duplicate threads and deleting the spare OP. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/17 "2007-06-13T23:00:43Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] The quivers in the space-time continuum are due to me merging duplicate threads and deleting the spare OP. [/QUOTE] Ok, so maybe I wasn’t hallucinating when my floor lamp was momentarily replaced with a whale oil lamp? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/18 "2007-06-13T23:19:42Z")
[QUOTE=Sofaspud] Huh. I bought [this one](http://www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?ID=13973&Ref=Category&RefId=13) , and have been happy with it. [/QUOTE] I couldn’t tell from that link, but what’s the equivalent light output for that bulb? (In other words, is it the equivalent of a 25 watt incandenscent bulb, or what?) Because I’d like to get an LED bulb for comparison. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/19 "2007-06-14T14:25:42Z")
Do these work on lights with dimmers? ---
**Author:** ![Sofaspud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sofaspud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofaspud)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660/20 "2007-06-14T22:45:04Z")
[QUOTE=Dewey Finn] I couldn’t tell from that link, but what’s the equivalent light output for that bulb? (In other words, is it the equivalent of a 25 watt incandenscent bulb, or what?) Because I’d like to get an LED bulb for comparison. [/quote] Um, I don’t know exactly. I can tell you that it’s a little less bright than the bulb I used to have in there, which was a 60w incandescent. The light is sharper, too, if that makes sense. But it lights the room well enough on its own that I’m comfortable doing anything except reading or fiddling with electronics or other finicky stuff like that. [QUOTE=phungi] Do these work on lights with dimmers? [/QUOTE] Yes. Quite well, in fact – unlike CFs, which, um, don’t. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experiences-with-g-e-energy-smart-bulbs/407660.md?page=2)