Why do you (not) use energy saving light bulbs?

Question

What annoys you about them and what are the benefits (apart from the financial ones)?

Answer 1

I avoid buying them because they contain mercury, that's why. It's idiotic that we should be so concerned about mercury contamination in the environment, and yet some legistlators are actually proposing to make it a LAW that we only use them! This is insane. As it stands now, it's against the law to even throw these flourescent bulbs away, they have to be disposed as hazardous waste. Forgeddaboudit.

Answer 2

They cost a lot, but last much longer than the other cheap kind. They use much less electricity and help cut down on my expenses for utility bills, but they light v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y on my cold back porch and front porch in the winter. As far as benefits to global warming, NONE, as the electric co. makes the same amount of electricity and sells the surplus to neighboring towns. So where is the benefit of THAT?

Answer 3

I do use energy friendly light bulbs, not for the environment though, because they are cheaper. Im all about saving money anyway I can so that I can dump it all in my 55 Bel Air.

Answer 4

I don't use them anymore because they'd have to last two or three times longer before it's possible to recover their extra cost. The light is about what you'd expect from a fluorescent tube. Bulb mounted lampshades won't clip to them.

Answer 5

I use them in the lights that burn the most. For me it's about not having to replace the bulbs so often. They don't really annoy me.

Answer 6

I use them extensively. The few places where they aren't used:
- Lamps used for less than 5 minutes a day.
- Lamps requiring an intense beam of light.
- Lamps where they won't fit mechanically.

Answer 7

I do use energy saving bulbs because it saves energy and also I'm somehow trying to fight global warming.I think that everybody should use those bulbs.

Answer 8

They need time to heat up(in a cold room they have a dull yellow light) and they contain mercury so they are difficult (impossible?) to recycle
oh yea . and in an antique fixture they are ugly.

Answer 9

for the same wattage you get brighter light.
They do not produce a lot of heat