Are ordinary lightbulbs with a dimmer switch more ecofriendly and economical than low energy bulbs?

Answer 1

"A common misunderstanding is that dimming saves power. While some energy is saved it's not as much as you may think. For example, if you dim an incandescent lamp to 50% you are still using about 75% of the power."
http://elflist.com/article14_dim.htm

Compact flourescents are much more energy-efficient and economical than that. Here's the direct comparison of costs between regular lightbulbs and low-energy compact flourescent bulbs:
http://eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/lighting_daylighting/index.cfm/mytopic=12060

Some compact flourescents have small amounts of radioactive materials, but far less than a computer and monitor. They also contain mercury in small amounts. Recycling programs that take computers will also take these bulbs usually.

By the way, LED technology is the most energy efficient of all.
http://www.toolbase.org/techinv/techDetails.aspx?technologyID=210

Answer 2

Eco friendly, no.

economical...maybe, if you use the dimmer switch for its original purpose, which is to allow electricity to slowly warm the filament in a light bulb.

a light bulb "burns out" when it actually separates or breaks the filament due to too quickly being heated and expanded by a sudden rush of electricity. in Italy, the light switches are actually small dimmer switches that allow the user to slowly turn the current loose and thereby save the bulb from expansion breakage. so a dimmer switch can save money by making the bulb last longer.

Answer 3

both dimmer switches and low energy bulbs emit a lot more radiation than ordinary bulbs

Answer 4

no