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Low energy light bulbs - Alan Baker (18th Dec 2008 - 18:54:08) So, we hear the death knoll for the good old incandescent lamp. Soon we will only be able to buy dangerous low energy bulbs with mercury in them - great ! BUT, I'm sure we all have dimmers in use with our existing light bulbs, which cannot be used with the Low Energy Bulbs, so we are all going to have to buy replacement switches when our stock of normal bulbs run out. We dim our lights right down in the evening to watch tv - it will take some getting used to having lights that can only be ON or OFF. I wonder if the energy saving when the bubs are ON will compensate for the costs of changing them and disposing of them when they fail - you must not just 'bin' them. Alan [I stand corrected - have just discovered that you CAN buy dimmable low energy bulbs - about £10 each though]

Re: Low energy light bulbs - Mike Grimes (19th Dec 2008 - 01:55:00) I expect that this is an EEC directive and I expect that the 30p incandescent bulbs will be obtainable in Greece and Spain and even Estonia for a number of years yet. At the moment Sainsbury's Basics 60W bulbs are an absolute bargain and an investment of a few quid will probably give you a lifetime's supply. But, more importantly, for those with an environmental conciousness, the energy used by any light bulb is emitted as heat so if you use lower wattage bulbs your central heating will use the equivalent amount of energy to make up the shortfall.

Re: Low energy light bulbs - Eneida (19th Dec 2008 - 09:18:48) I don't think enough thought has been given to the future consequences of making everybody change to these low energy light bulbs....a typical 'knee-jerk' reaction to be seen to be green!! They may only contain a tiny amount of mercury each, but do you really think everybody is going to make the effort to recycle them properly? I bet many will just be put in the waste bin and end up in land fill sites and eventually a great deal of mercury will find it's way into rivers and the sea. Mercury is highly poisonous to human beings and affects the brain....did you know that it was used in the making of felt hats in the past.....hence the expression 'as mad as a hatter' !! Eneida

Re: Low energy light bulbs - Paul Robinson (19th Dec 2008 - 11:22:21) I am puzzled. Why would you want a dimmer switch on a light with a low energy light bulb? I have just started using these and find that despite the description of 60w the light emitting from it is somewhere less than 40w! Great for a romantic evening in but no good at all for close work or reading. Paul Robinson

Re: Low energy light bulbs - Alan Baker (19th Dec 2008 - 12:28:39) Hi Paul When watching TV we have the wall lights dimmed to about 10 Watts (estimate), even 40 Watts (x2) would be bright either side of it. I guess investing in a box of mixed bulbs (but no daffodils !) would be the best idea. Alan

Re: Low energy light bulbs - Chris (20th Dec 2008 - 07:50:08) LED bulbs are supposed to be even more efficient, potentially cheaper and do not contain harmful substances. Not sure how readily available they are or how they rate price wise.

Re: Low energy light bulbs - Eneida (6th Jan 2009 - 09:30:03) According to the papers today all 100W incandescent light bulbs will be phased out by super markets from now on....a spokesman for Tesco says he expects all their present stock to be sold within the next 2 weeks and will not be replaced.... Very bad news in my opinion :(

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