We wasted more on robots that would drive by themselves unguided.

At least this time we got something that actually performs as requested.

/seriously, if 10 million is all we're spending to push this along, it's a bargain

3 years in, and I've never had a CFL go bad. Mix of Phillips and generic Home Depot brand.

50 bucks is not affordable, why would they award the prize to a maker who did not fulfill the requirements of the contest. That is why it does deserve the fail tag.

I love how we ban things in order to get more freedom.

the_sidewinder: Why not these?

[www.switchlightbulbs.com image 576x768]

/They're promising that they will be a damn sight more affordable than $50 a bulb
//Think it's supposed to be $20 for a 60W equivalent

link to the manufacturers web page?

fark that. Bring back my goddamn incandescent bulbs!! They were cheap, lasted a long time, and were bright. Work on lowering MPGs on vehicles while maintaining affordability, then you can talk to me, you chickenfarkers.

Already bought and am buying bulbs by the carton (the 420 of the coming times). 100w, 60w. Already created quite a market at $3 each for the 100's. Those curly Q things can catch on fire and stink when they burn out. Personal experience!

/Screw Obama even though the mandate was made under Douch. Obama could have changed it but he needs the green zombie vote.

My Prius runs on the tears of unborn Polar Bears.

So the government put up a pittance and drug the entire industry forward, leaving ripples of cheap and almost-as-good Chinese ripoffs in the wake of the winner? And the winning technology is expensive on day one (and is based almost entirely on microchips, which never get cheaper over time, right?)?

Boo farking hoo.

I already have a bulb like this one in my bedroom (the Phillips AmbientLED - probably 12.5W instead of 10W though). Wanted to try out the new tech since my CFLs are all about 6 years old (changed them out en masse when I bought the house) and a few are starting to go in high cycle areas.

I'm quite happy with the tech. Instant on, dimmable, and cycles like a champ (I had to give up on CFLs in the bathroom since the high cycles caused failures), Can't wait to watch their prices continue to come down.

Calmamity: So the answer to long life in CFLs appears to be to leave them running all the time.

This may negatively affect the energy savings.

Case in point, my front porch light:

Before, 60-watt incandescent - would run 12 hours a night. With a 2,000 hour life, I have to replace it twice a year. It consumes ~0.75 kWh a day.

Now, 12-watt CFL. They don't like starting in cold temperatures, so I just leave it on 24/7 now. 15,000 hour life = replace every two years. Consumes 0.29 kWh a day.

Even running a CFL 24/7, I end up replacing it a quarter as much and still cut the energy use by 1/3rd.

Fortunately this type continues to be available:

The Shatner Incident: Bring back my goddamn incandescent bulbs!! They were cheap, lasted a long time, and were bright.

Bring back from where? Have you visited the store recently? They're still there. Seriously, go look - swing buy on your way to stock up on more ammo because Obama is double pinky swear sure to ban it if he's elected president (again).

There is no incandescent ban, just a ban on the lowest efficiency crap bulbs regardless of tech.

GORDON: I love how we ban things in order to get more freedom.

Freedom isn't free you know.
It costs 50$ a bulb.
Welcome to the United States of Philips.

50 bucks for a lightbulb! Not too bright.

AlanSmithee: Fallout Zone: 3 years in, and I've never had a CFL go bad. Mix of Phillips and generic Home Depot brand.

Four years for me. No noticeable dimming, either.
Money well spent.

shiat, I wish I had that.

In the winter when the sun rises at 8:45 sets at 2:45 in the afternoon, I want bright as shiat bulbs, but I can't get them here. The brightest bulb I could find in the country I spent 20 bucks on a few months ago and it has already dimmed, and I only have so many fixtures in my apartment, so I can only get so much light.

But my electric bill is low as hell, so I shouldn't be complaining.

If I go to my local DIY store I can get CFL bulbs for £0.10 each. I don`t care where they are from.

Why would you be willing to pay $50 just to have `made in america` on it?

I could sell you some CFL bulbs for $25 that say that (stuck over the `made in china`)

Hell for a mark up of 33333% I`ll print any damn thing you want on them.

between my tv, computer and an ass load of glow and the dark stickers I don't use lightbulbs anyway,

Do good LED bulbs exist yet? Ones that have comfortable yellow light and don't feel like you're reading using a search light?

toddalmighty: When I moved into my apartment there were lots of CFLs. And then the farking things started burning out. 6 year lifespan my ass.

They'll last around 15,000 hours or for 8,000 strikes (turn-ons) - whichever comes first. Placing standard CFL's in enclosed fixtures or vibrating locations (namely ceiling fans or garage door openers) will dramatically reduce their life. When buying gigantic bulbs, make sure to check they can be mounted upside down. I made that mistake when I bought a ~200-watt equivalent CFL for my garage. It melted after a couple weeks. The packaging said it was designed to be only mounted upright, in a table lamp.

Essentially, read the farking the directions listed on the packaging and you won't have a problem.

I've been slowly replacing all the bulbs in my house with CFL's and now LEDs as they go bad, starting with the more pain in the ass locations that require ladders and screwdrivers to get too. I think the oldest one I've had is over 4 years now and not one as gone bad.

dready zim: I could sell you some CFL bulbs for $25

You cannot sell me CFLs that offer the same performance. Never mind the efficiency, color spectrum, and dimmability, CFLs don't offer the cycling ability and instant on at that price point.

It's like scoffing at someone buying a car since a motorcycle is less than half the cost. Not the same capabilities at all.

I like CFLs, but I'm happy to be moving to LEDs now.

I find that 5 x 14w lights is bright enough to work under in my living room. It works out about as bright as a 100W bulb but less harsh.

You just can`t get the lumens these days

timujin: Lets see, it's made in America, lasts 10 years and reduces energy costs by 75%. I'd pay $40* for that.

*price after rebate, but I'd pay $50 anyway.

Compared to incandescents, yes. But, as the article explained, compared to other LED bulbs it's still about $20-$30 more expensive. When you're talking 10w versus 12.5w, does it really make much of a difference at that point? Of course we'll have to see what the long-term reliability is, but for most people they're better off using the money to buy twice as many of the other LEDs... it's going to take an awful long time to recoup the $20 difference per bulb at 10w versus 12.5w.

We just bought a recently-remodeled house with all CFLs and I'll be slowly switching them over to LEDs as they go on special. We have a few now in the following:

Bathroom light over the sink. CFLs take way too long to warm up and the light sucks. I replaced the CFLs with two 40w-equivalent LEDs. They light right up and are quite nice (and they look like "real" bulbs).

The CFL in our back porch light went out this winter (wondering if temperature impacts their longevity or this one was just a dud). I replaced it with a 60w-equivalent LED I got for $10 during a Home Depot promo. So far so good, but we'll see how it holds up.

Our boys' room had two wall sconces. I replaced them with the plastic star and moon wall lights from Ikea (I snipped the power cords and wired them into the wall), but didn't want to use an incandescent because of the heat (I don't trust whatever cheap plastic the covers are made of) and because the light covers are a pain to take on and off. I used two small 25w-equivalent LEDs and they are working great so far.

Doesn't seem like it should be all that expensive.

Surpheon: You cannot sell me CFLs that offer the same performance

I could sell you a hundred for the price of one of these bulbs. That means something to some people.

GORDON: I love how we ban things in order to get more freedom.

I can vote for the party of debateably invasive lightbulb rules, or the guys who hate women and gays and exchange welfare reduction savings for direct giveaways to the wealthy in tax breaks.

I'll take the environazis, thanks.

Well, another light bulb thread; how amusing!

If you want to buy a real light bulb, go HERE: Link (new window)

They are made in the USA, do not contain poison and you don't need a HAZMAT team to clean up if you break one. Just sweep up the glass and throw it away.

What will they think of next?

timujin: Lets see, it's made in America, lasts 10 years and reduces energy costs by 75%. I'd pay $40* for that.


*price after rebate, but I'd pay $50 anyway.

But you could buy 50 years of regular bulbs for that. Also, LEDs fade, so the length the say they last they emit 70% of the light they did as new, which could mean you actually replace them quite sooner. They shouldn't fail too much though, just dim over time. I have a mix of CFLs and incandescents, depending on the setting. I also have some LED arrays, but those are for indoor gardening.

beta_plus: Ones that have comfortable yellow light and don't feel like you're reading using a search light?

Yes. Personally, I find Phillips AmbientLED to be great, as are many of the Cree canlights. Often a LED bulb contains many different color LEDs that are tuned to produce the exact spectrum you want, making their color rendering capability far superior to any other technology out there.

I think CFLs are fine and have very definite, solid applications, but LEDs are just a flat out superior tech. And they're coming down in price. I paid $100 for my first one; I can now get the exact same one for $25 (and I may do that - I bought the first to try it out and it's cycling and working out great; I'll be ready to jump when my 12 kitchen can light CFLs die). In 20 years, I can not imagine incandescents being use anywhere but in very niche applications (ovens, exposed decor, etc).

You can buy the 12 watt version now for $25. (new window)

Have one and it's as good as advertised. Nice, warm light. Puts out a little heat but less than CFL. I also bought a bunch of the cheaper non-phillips LEDs and they were mostly good, but inconsistent, and less warm.