energy saving light bulbs

[informashun]

can someone please explain the differances between halogen, led etc. and which is best for home lights.
i dont want to spend on unessesary type bulbs being a pensioner.
thanks for any advice.

[Buenchico]

You've not stated what type of light fittings you've got (or intend to get).

For normal ceiling pendants and table lamps (etc), the standard 'energy saving stick', which looks like this
http://ecx.images-ama...1ZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
is usually perfectly adequate for most people's needs. If you watch out for special offers you can buy them incredibly cheaply. Asda were recently selling them at 10p each (instead of their usual price of £1). Although that promotion has now finished, all of the big supermarkets seem to have offers from time to time. (Morrison's sometimes sells 5 bulbs for a pound).

Halogen and LED bulbs are usually associated with more specialist light fittings, such as spotlight, track-lighting, under-shelf lighting and so on. It's hard to advise you about what you might need without knowing where you'll be using the bulbs.

Chris

[DrFilth]

tesco have them new bulbs on sale at 10p at the present

[Prudie]

That's because they're useless and don't give out any light. I don't know what I'll do when I run out of my stockpile of normal bulbs.

[DrFilth]

they hurt my eyes

[margie04]

Hear hear Prudie - how can anyone read under the new type of bulb?

[buildersmate]

Prudie
Since ostriches with heads in the sand don't see the light, perhaps it won't make too much difference.

[Mamyalynne]

I can't read by them and my room looks dingy, not good if like me you are partially sighted, always had 150 watts before.

[Prudie]

Hey builders sure you are making a valid point but it's gone over my head! Are you referring to the environmental improvement??

[DrFilth]

and all the people who use them will have such bad eyesight they will be bumping into the ostriches :)

[Buenchico]

Further to some of the posts above:

The 'equivalent wattage' quoted on some bulbs need to be viewed with caution. For example, you might be seeking to replace a (tungsten) 40W bulb in a table lamp. Manufacturers like Philips will tell you that you require an 8W low-energy bulb for the same light output. That statement is perfectly true but if fails to take into account that the light from low-energy bulbs is in a slightly different part of the spectrum from that from tungsten bulbs. Consequently, the human retina can perceive the light-levels as being slightly lower than would be expected. The solution would be to 'go up to the next step'. i.e. purchase an 11W bulb (which is described as being equivalent to 50W), rather than an 8W one.

It should also be noted that the 'cheapo' low-energy bulbs can't be used with dimmers. You can buy dimmable bulbs but they do cost quite a lot more. (Several pounds, rather than pence).

Similarly, specialist high output bulbs (for people like Mamyalynne, with sight problems) are also available - but not cheap:
http://tinyurl.com/28m7u2u

Chris

[Mamyalynne]

Thanks Chris, yes I do know they are available at a cost, should be available on prescription maybe LOL

[Prudentia]

after two years, we got rid of all the so called 'energy saving' bulbs and went back to the old 100w tungsten, it saved us just under 10% on our electric bill and the added advantage was that when we turned a light on, we could see what we wanted straight away. Yet another labour government con, will Cameron and Prescott II have the guts to own up???

[deggers316]

you can buy the energy saving bulbs equivalent to 150 watts ive got three,not cheap around £7 but very bright

[jaydah]

Mine dont save energy as have to leave them on since they take an hour to reach optimum light levels.

Nor has my electric bill decreased - its all cbbleors

[welshlibranr]

I've tried them, and I really hate them, can't see to read or do any paperwork!.........they're awful!...............

[Andyvon]

We've got energy saving bulbs in all our lights at home, but they took some getting used to. The light is softer and more 'pearly' than a normal fluorescent bulb and it's not easy to read by. Also, energy saving bulbs seem to take two or three minutes to reach full brightness. At least the price has kept coming down in the last few years. We don't have any trouble with our bulbs and it's been a long time since we changed one. However, there are disposal problems with the energy saving bulbs as each one contains a small amount of mercury.

LED bulbs have only recently been developed informashun. I think they are very expensive at the moment. I read recently that the sale of fluorescent bulbs is being stopped in the US from next year as a result of energy saving regulations. The US are hoping to encourage everyone to use the new LED bulbs - but they cost $30 each at the moment! Obviously, they'll come down but I'm sure it won't be too long before fluorescent bulbs are banned Europe for the same reason.

[Andyvon]

That's a point Eddie. You are quite right. I never realised that.

[jaydah]

Eddie can you tell that to the Gov so the shops can re-stock the old bulbs.