http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200802/ea20080227a.html

Health Sciences Institute has something to say about the forced removal of incandescent light bulbs. 

"CFLs don't work well (or sometimes at all) in very cold weather, so operation of porch lights and outdoor security lights in northern states may be erratic in wintertime If a CFL is turned on and off frequently, its energy efficiency drops and its highly- touted life expectancy decreases Most CFLs can't be used with dimmer switches or timers CFLs won't fit in many existing lighting fixtures CFLs may smoke or smolder, but don't worry - we're assured they won't catch fire." We have experienced 4 out of 5 of these problems already. Its like everything else. Get everyone on the bandwagon and then discover that one wheel is broken.

 This sounds like a law that the new adminstration needs to rescind. You just can't make laws about products already in use that deal in absolutes.  There are too many different types of lighting systems that require different light bulbs, so to say that no more incandescents will be made is destroying the usefulness of otherwise perfectly good products. But then if laws can force new products to be made that then just pumps up more spending and more money for big business.

My CFL's are much brighter than any incandescents I've had but now after having used them for most of a year, they still don't seem to give a good enough light to see fine detail. It's a funny kind of light, super bright but muted at the same time, and this is with bare bulbs shining forth. I can see better, more fine detail, outside under a patio roof during the day then I can ever see in my den at night with 8 CFL 75 watt bulbs on around the room. The Ott lights weren't any better, and their bragging of being able to see true colors with the Ott light didn't seem to be true with my experience. Besides $25.00 for a replacment Ott light bulb was way too extreme for me.

Maybe I should just get out my kerosene lanterns, not that I could breathe kerosene fumes.  Edey

Toni B.:

CFLs won't fit in many existing lighting fixtures CFLs may smoke or smolder, but don't worry - we're assured they won't catch fire."

I tell ya, if a bulb causes smoke, I am NOT waiting around to see if it catches fire. Out it will go!

 

Brandy:

I tell ya, if a bulb causes smoke, I am NOT waiting around to see if it catches fire. Out it will go!

 

From the article: "

When a CFL in my home starts smoking I'm going to get rid of the foul thing. I'm not going to send Energy Star an e-mail, and I'm not going to tell them how I was using it, and I'm not going to visit the manufacturer's web site.

But then maybe someone is busy right now writing a law that will force me to do those things."

You know... I just might send them an email. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I would. I'd be tempted to send the bulb to them.

  I'm with you ... in fact,  I just might be on the phone to them if that bulb starts smoking!

There's a company that's had two complaints from me because their bulbs died before the warranty expired.  To their credit, they did replace both bulbs.

To be honest, we put one in a lamp that's on a mechanical timer ...  so far, so good.

We have a few CFL's - mostly in places where the lights stay on for a while (or get left on by DH and/or kiddos).   However I think that I might just go grab some of the 10/10 lightbulbs on sale at Shaws and not feel so bad about it - I didn't get them because I was trying to switch....but just like everyone else I'm seeing this latest and greatest isn't as great as promised.

ArielDawn:

However I think that I might just go grab some of the 10/10 lightbulbs on sale at Shaws and not feel so bad about it

 

I have this awful urge to stock up like crazy on incandescent bulbs. I wonder how many it would take for the rest of my life??  

 A few months ago, I heard Glenn Beck suggest stocking up on light bulbs. I have thought about it. Dont know where I would store them. Babs

Pat:

I have this awful urge to stock up like crazy on incandescent bulbs

 

That sounds like a good thing to do to me.  Edey