# How many folks are stocking up on Light Bulbs before the government takes them away? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 3, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534 "2010-01-03T20:16:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/21 "2010-01-04T00:08:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > In 5 years the whole deal will be meaningless, because LEDs will replace everything. I give it more like 10. LEDs are still WAY more expensive than CFLs, and are just now approaching their efficiency. They are point sources, which make them really difficult to use for many situations. They also have lumen maintenance issues, so their lifetimes aren’t any better than CFLs. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/22 "2010-01-04T00:16:20Z")
There is nothing you can do to make a fluorescent look the same as an incandescent under all circumstances, because fluorescents have a discrete spectrum made up of a few individual wavelengths, while incandescents have a continuous spectrum which is a mix of all different visual wavelengths. I believe white LED lights have a continuous spectrum, but I’m not sure about that. CFLs are very bad in places where they get turned on and off frequently. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/23 "2010-01-04T00:57:14Z")
All the methamphetamine smokers and crackheads are gonna be pissed when incandescent light bulbs are banned. [This is why.](http://static.stuff.co.nz/1233108507/024/361024.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/24 "2010-01-04T01:05:14Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > There’s plenty of time to put away a few cases in the attic. Right now they are still easy to find. But, the closer to 2012 the more demand there will be and inventories will get low. > > I’ve tried the new bulbs and despise them. They put out an ugly depressing color of light. I removed mine after a month and threw them out. They have mercury in them. You aren’t supposed to just throw them out in the trash. Our county recycling advises we can drop them off at any of a number of hardware stores. I keep a few plain old light bulbs around for emergencies, when the energy bulbs go out and I have to wait till payday to buy new ones. I also have a metal ring that fits over a light bulb, used for heating perfume-oil room scents. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/25 "2010-01-04T01:12:14Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > That table calculates the price of the initial bulb and replacements, and the cost of electricity. But even if you exclude the electricity cost, you still come out ahead with CFLs, since they last ten times longer than incandescents but don’t cost ten times as much. Before we left the States in 2006, we bought a few CLFs and put them in fixtures. They all burned out within a few weeks of regular usage. Apparently that’s not typical, but it did happen to us. Are they “instant on” now? Here in Japan, pretty much all residential fixtures are fluorescent (and ulgy as hell), and they take a good 5-8 seconds to turn on. Not to reach full brightness (that’s more than a minute), but to emit any light at all. It’s really inconvenient if you’re just stepping into a dark room for a second to look for something. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/26 "2010-01-04T01:30:19Z")
So are my Christmas bubble lights now going to be illegal? They won’t work without heat from the bulb. We need to beat every congressman with a baseball bat. This bill had better have exceptions for when an incandescent the only good bulb to use like in an oven. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/27 "2010-01-04T01:37:30Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Before we left the States in 2006, we bought a few CLFs and put them in fixtures. They all burned out within a few weeks of regular usage. Apparently that’s not typical, but it did happen to us. > > Are they “instant on” now? Here in Japan, pretty much all residential fixtures are fluorescent (and ulgy as hell), and they take a good 5-8 seconds to turn on. Not to reach full brightness (that’s more than a minute), but to emit any light at all. It’s really inconvenient if you’re just stepping into a dark room for a second to look for something. I use CFLs all throughout my house. All of them come on instantly, and except for a huge 3-way 200W-equivalent in one lamp, they all come up to full brightness in seconds - most don’t seem to have any ramp-up at all. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/28 "2010-01-04T01:55:28Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Are they “instant on” now? Here in Japan, pretty much all residential fixtures are fluorescent (and ulgy as hell), and they take a good 5-8 seconds to turn on. The one in my room takes several seconds to produce any light, too. Long enough to make me check to make sure it’s plugged in, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/29 "2010-01-04T01:56:53Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > you still come out ahead with CFLs, since they last ten times longer than incandescents but don’t cost ten times as much. While that’s certainly what I’ve heard, it doesn’t match my own experience. I’ve had several CFL’s burn out within a year or two, sometimes while incandescent bulbs in the same fixture go cheerfully on burning. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/30 "2010-01-04T02:06:02Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > That table calculates the price of the initial bulb and replacements, and the cost of electricity. But even if you exclude the electricity cost, you still come out ahead with CFLs, since they last ten times longer than incandescents but don’t cost ten times as much. Except they don’t last ten times as long. I have been replacing them in my house over time and the CFL’s have burned out FASTER than incandescents. I’ve replaced many CFL’s over incandescents with similar run times. There is a HUGE gap in quality with CFL’s on a number of levels. First, the time it takes them to turn on. Many of them are not instant. Second, the time it takes them to reach full illumination. This is affected greatly by temperature. Third, is flickering. Fourth is color wavelength and fifth is longevity. In my state, they have legislated power companies to reduce consumption of their product and my utility company has underwritten the cost of the bulbs through retail outlets. I can buy a pack of 8 CFL’s for $1.83 and yes I have been buying these up since I’m paying for it anyway on my electrical bill. Unfortunately Cleveland Ohio’s electrical company used a different tactic. They are distributing 2 bulbs directly to each resident. :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack:. It is costing the user a fortune to do this. I just installed a security light inside my detached garage so I have a light that will shut off when I leave at night. It has (2) 60 watt lights in it which should be blindingly bright. :rolleyes: Even in summer they suck and in Winter they are ridiculously dim. When I built the garage I installed 2 conventional light sockets and 4 overhead fluorescent fixtures (dual 4’ tubes). It takes the overhead fixtures forever to reach maximum brightness so I will keep using incandescent bulbs for the main switch. The same goes for the attic lights in both the garage and my house. While I’m on a rant, why are are the 75 watt equivalent CFL bulbs not bulk packed? It seems to be either 60 watt or 100 watt equivalent. I have always felt like the light bulb Nazis not only want to force me to use CFL’s but are trying to get me to use 60 watts instead of 75 watts worth of light. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/31 "2010-01-04T02:21:31Z")
I’ve been replacing all my incandensent bulbs as they blow out for three or four years now. Not a single one has blown out. They oldest ones are slow to light and have odd lighting, but the newer ones light instantly and have great light. On another board I post at, we have these discussions every couple of months. Interestingly, they only people who have issues with the bulbs blowing out are conservatives. And they all have the same problem, despite the statistical unlikeliness. Odd. ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/32 "2010-01-04T03:06:43Z")
Slight hijack, I have two questions on CFLs. First, in my daughter’s room, one CFL has a swirling light tha remains even after the power is off. Any idea why? Secondly, anyone else notice how CFLs take a while to come to full light in cold rooms? ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/33 "2010-01-04T03:17:47Z")
The problem I have with CFLs is their size. The 50-100-150 W 3-way equivalent is much bulkier than their traditional counterpart, and they do not physically fit into both of my lamps that require them. The warm up time required before reaching full brightness is also annoying. I also agree that this seems to be much worse when it is cold. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/34 "2010-01-04T03:38:45Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I point and laugh at people who like outdated technology, but I think a government-mandated switchover is also silly Outdated? So you laugh at those of us who are color-blind and can’t use fluorescents because they don’t work, period. The color spectrum fails me. The flicker fails me. Yeah, I can see flicker in fluorescents. Both cause literal pain in the eyes. At work I’ve removed all ceiling fluorescent lighting within a 30-foot diameter of my desk, and I’m not alone. All over the office are ceiling dark spots where folks removed the lights. Obama and Congress can do all the mandating they want, but it will be at a great cost. Fluorescent lighting is an accessibility issue and my employer can be forced to provide alternative lighting. In time, we will force the issue. Until then, removing them works just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/35 "2010-01-04T03:44:05Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > I’ve been replacing all my incandensent bulbs as they blow out for three or four years now. Not a single one has blown out. They oldest ones are slow to light and have odd lighting, but the newer ones light instantly and have great light. > > On another board I post at, we have these discussions every couple of months. Interestingly, they only people who have issues with the bulbs blowing out are conservatives. And they all have the same problem, despite the statistical unlikeliness. > > Odd. Well, now you’ve met a liberal who’s had problems with them burning out quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/36 "2010-01-04T03:47:59Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Exactly. why not let the free market work? Get the price down on CFL’s. Fix the color issues and the size. At some point they’ll begin to out sell incandescent. Eventually incandescent will go away like the 8 track and reel to reel tape players. > > The free market works when it’s not interfered with. The price on CFLs is already pretty low. Why the clinging to the dinosaur? ---
**Author:** ![valleyofthedolls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a4c791/32.png) [@valleyofthedolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyofthedolls)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/37 "2010-01-04T04:02:44Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Obama and Congress can do all the mandating they want, but it will be at a great cost. Fluorescent lighting is an accessibility issue and my employer can be forced to provide alternative lighting. In time, we will force the issue. Until then, removing them works just fine. What does Obama have to do with this? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/38 "2010-01-04T04:04:20Z")
LEDs are the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/39 "2010-01-04T04:04:49Z")
So, is my antique Tiffany-style lamp going to be obsolete as well? (Or will the CFL’s work with it?) If it is, I’m going to raise holy freaking hell. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534/40 "2010-01-04T04:12:42Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Well, now you’ve met a liberal who’s had problems with them burning out quickly. Add one more liberal with these things burning out very quickly. In my experience, they burn out much faster than incandescents. Also, they are useless for places like closets and bathrooms where you need light on quickly for a short period. I got very sick of doing my business with mood lighting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-folks-are-stocking-up-on-light-bulbs-before-the-government-takes-them-away/523534.md?page=3)