Are there any eco-friendly light bulbs out there that have more natural or softer light?

Question

I would love to use eco-friendly lights, but they tend to make me nauseated after a few hours. Being near them is awful.
I use reveal light bulbs in my house because I'm extremely photosensitive. Even in direct sunlight I feel faint.
Does anyone know if more efficient bulbs out there that give off a softer, less nauseating light? Bluer or more GE reveal lights would be preferred over "sunlight" like bulbs.

Answer 1

I know this isn't an answer per say but it is in a way...

eco-"friendly" light bulbs are just that friendly... but in a back stabbing green party thinking MTBE is good for us sort of way. fluorescent light bulbs became wide spread simple cause they used less power. The truth is companies only love them so much cause it saves them so much money. Which means nothing to the average consumer since you wont be using thousands of bulbs in an office building you'll be using roughly 10-15.

In reality fluorescent bulbs are flashing lights with a frequency varying at the same frequency as your electricity. which is why they cause so many people to feel uncomfortable around them. Don't let people tell you it's in your head. It is not. Incandescent Bulbs use a small piece of wire being given more electricity then it can sustain in a vacuum of space causing to glow giving off low level radiation i.e. light. (This is also why they get hot and is the same way your electric stove works too just for a fun fact.)

Your eyes pick up on the flashing of fluorescent bulbs and eventually will become more used to it. unfortunately it also causes your eyes to de-sensitize themselves from other luminous things such as the SUN. So, after growing accustomed to these bulbs you are likely to have trouble peering over sand at the ocean... or playing in a field without squinting.

The reason they call them eco-friendly is because the save on electricity which means less power plants which means less pollution... which is a very fascist way of thinking about it. California has what is called a nuclear ban. Meaning that we cannot have any nuclear facilities or enrichment taking place in any civilian ares in our borders, this does not however stop us from buying power from other states that do. The reason i bring this up is because we do not use nuclear energy we are forced to build about 25 coal burning and oil burning facilities to make up for each one of those nuclear we decide we cannot build for good conscience. Coal and Oil are among the top 3 most pollutant ways of making electricity known to the planet, leaving only one higher which is using incinerators to burn trash. They figure taking away 80 watts per bulb over about 10 bulbs per house... and 4.5 million house holds would make a huge difference and they are right. Each coal plant produces about 1500 Mega Watts meaning even if every bulb in California was suddenly transformed into an eco-bulb using 80 less watts each it would turn off 2.4 power plants. The irony and fun part is since California is declared a nuclear ban zone...

"Coal also contains low levels of uranium, thorium, and other naturally-occurring radioactive isotopes whose release into the environment lead to radioactive contamination. While these substances are present as very small trace impurities, enough coal is burned that significant amounts of these substances are released. A 1,000 MW coal-burning power plant could release as much as 5.2 tons/year of uranium (containing 74 pounds of uranium-235) and 12.8 tons/year of thorium.[5]" - wiki

interesting no? Since we use 1500 MW meaning more coal burned than that statistic.

So, your probably confused on what I'm trying to say, am I for eco-bulbs or against. My answer is simple amazingly since my studies are not, and my rantings are confusing at times.

Eco bulbs -
---Pro's---
Lower Wattage
Naturally brighter
cost is equal if not lower compare to normal bulbs
Save a small amount of money
They look more fun
It's the conscience-safe way to go

---Con's ---
Flickering will harm your eyes in the long run.
Limited selection of color, i.e. cannot produce natural light
Cannot work with a dimmer without costly adaptations.
Contains harmful chemicals i.e. mercury
Buzzing or Hum produced
Has trouble under temperature extremes such as cold or hot.

In short...
It's a matter of perspective. Do I want the polluting to come from my bulb, while making me feel sick or feel great and have the pollution come from the power plant running it?

Answer 2

If one breaks in your home, there is no problem. Just sweep it up and dispose of it in the same way you are suppose to dispose of other toxic chemicals like paint in your local town. There is enough mercury in the bulb to make you sick, but probably not enough to kill you. That is assuming you consume all of what is in the bulb. What you wipe up and dispose as required by local ordinance, will not hurt you unless you choose to eat it. If it all vaporizes(and it won't) like another answer comments on, it still will not exceed safe levels in the air. That is assuming you have no ventilation. There is simply not enough mercury to make this overly dangerous. The stories about how dangerous these bulbs are are being spread by people who rant about "treehuggers". They have no basis in reality. Whole bulbs can be recycled and there is little or no waste. I believe another answer provides a link to that information. Also the generation of the electricity used to power normal light bulbs pollutes the environment far far more than if you were to bury a dead or broken compact florescent in the ground after using it. Your husband is worried about nothing. CFL are a good way to help the environment.

Answer 3

YES, Call your local electric company or go to your local hardware company... I went to Lowe's and Home depot and found many varying types from soft to sun... including dimmable...

I Installed fluorescent all through my house many were soft light and some were sun for areas needing more light, but with different types fluorescent light i reduced my electric bill by 33%, it was $126 per month now it is $84...

in CA SCE has a program at local Hardware stores to reduce the cost of the bulbs (some of them)... My Wife and I swear by these things now...

Answer 4

I have the same problem. If eco-friendly bulbs are made or already exisit that do not give off horrible light, then I'm all for them.

Answer 5

TCP makes a full line of Cf lamps in many colors. there are new LED light in 7 colors. Search TCP and then LED.

Answer 6

Well yes the simple endoplmic would be discoverd from exco rock o chemicail or simple radio waves acros the areaa

Answer 7

I replaced all my bulbs, they made my newly painted living room walls look pink.

Answer 8

THESE ARE PROBABLY WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR