As of the end of this year (I think) we can no longer buy incandescent bulbs in Canada. Everything is CFL, LED etc.

I bought some curly CFL bulbs when they first came out, and was excited over them supposedly lasting longer. I've replaced a number of them, in fixtures that were not enclosed. (They are not to be used in fully enclosed fixtures). I no longer used them, and bought incandescent bulbs.

I got 2 coupons for $5 off a pkg of 3 CFL bulbs, and this week the bulbs were on sale for 30% off. I used my $5 coupons on 2 pkg of bulbs, and got 6 bulbs for $6 and change. Can't beat that.
I have one in my livingroom light that is on a timer. They work with manual timers, but not electronic timers. So I'll see how long they last, and if they help my hydro.

I'm not a proponent for them at all, but with the coupon and the sale price, I'll give them another chance.

My step-father replaced all his bulbs, pot-lights etc with LED's. They are supposed to last 25 years and work for pennies. They are expensive to buy though......$25 and more.

My late Mom hated the twisty bulbs because they were different. The last couple years before her death she went around to every store buying up regular-shaped bulbs. Not sure what happened to all the bulbs she hoarded, her house is now empty.

I agree they do not last! We put only the twisty bulbs in when we moved into this house, we have been here under 4 years and have already replaced at least once most of the bulbs that are used regularly in the house. The few LED ones we bought lasted maybe a year. We are constantly buying new bulbs, I thought we would hardly ever be buying bulbs!
The new light fixture for our bathroom and the new one in the kitchen take a type with 2 prongs on the bottom they are crazy expensive and we have had to replace bulbs in both fixtures in much less than a year. These are brand new fixtures.

My neighbor hoards the old bulbs too, if she sees them she buys them. She does not have a single twisty or led in her house. I am thinking she is the smart one.

FWIW, the 25-year life for most LED bulbs is based on using the bulb 3 hours per day. I switched from incandescent to CFL in my 7 outside lights that are lit all night long. I did see a reduction in my energy bill and the CFLs did last longer than incandescent bulbs. Generally, the incandescent bulbs lasted 6 - 12 months. After 2 years, I've had to replace three of the CFLs. I recently put LED bulbs in 3 of the fixtures. I put the date in my calendar so I can see how long they last. This time, I will save my receipt and bulb package warranty information because at $20 per bulb, they had better last close to the stated life or I will be asking for replacements.

Oh, but you're being so much "greener" using those bulbs. Don't you feel good about that? [much sarcasm]

I've read that the twistees (CFL) contain mercury and should not be tossed in the trash, but taken to a hazardous waste facility. Bad news if you break one in your house! I try to avoid them, but do have some in the house. They don't last in the ceiling fans.

I was at a local diner and noticed that they had those twisty bulbs in all the overhead lights. As I was looking at the bulbs I noticed how terribly bright they were and they actually were hurting my eyes to look at them.

I don't have them in my house and no desire to get them.

Wow murraysmom. That's a gripe I've had with them from day one, is that they aren't bright enough. The ones I bought are Daylight bulbs and it's a much cleaner light.

LOL Rob. Yeah, right. Hazardous disposal, and the mercury in the plants to manufacture them. There were disposal bins at some stores, but I don't see them there anymore.

I got FREE CFL's. I took 19 of my incand. bulbs and traded them/city's energy dept. program. They come on dim then pop up bright which I'm still getting used to. The package says they last 11 years, using them 3 hours a day.

Outside I have 3 fixtures that use high pressure sodium bulbs. I purchased a case of bulbs(lifetime supply), They last about 6 years being on all night. I paid $3 a bulb.

I like the way the CFL twist looks and the energy savings. Home Depot has a package of 4 for $3.

Dollar Tree still sells the incand. bulbs cheap. I'm using 3-ways in the livingroom lamps to read by. 50/75/150watt.

Well, from where I'm sitting, the jury's still out on the 'green' issue--given that they're so dangerous to dispose. Seems that this is definitely one of those times when there's a big question as to whether the supposed benefits (lower electric usage) outweigh the negatives (higher purchase price, burning out faster, environmental danges). I know some will take issue with the negative I mentioned about burning out faster, but we have been giving them a try and I have to say, we've had a lot of them burn out far faster than incandescents ever did for us.

Personally, I think these are like pretty much everything else, not nearly as good as we're being told. And just the fact that there will be legislation preventing us from HAVING a choice at all--says a LOT to me.

I heard that they should be used in locations that one doesn't turn on and off a lot ... so I guess we're supposed to just sit in one spot.

The first one I got went into a table lamp, that had the shade configured to slide over a round bulb, but I managed to get it situated, with some holding of breath, I figure.

Anyway ... within a month (or so) ... I went to swat a fly on the shade - end of bulb!

And I hadn't heard about the hazardous waste situation- who was supposed to tell us: was it to be printed on the carton? Seems to me that if that were true ... it should have been publicized a lot more, especially by the manufacturers.

Another beef of mine - they claim that 13 watts equals 60 of an incandescent bulb ...

... and according to my viewpoint - they lie!

(Or am I the one that's being a dim bulb?).

ole joyful

13 is equivalent to a 60-watt bulb and the 23 is the same as a 100-watt. I bought a package of each.

The instructions say to screw the bulb in by the plastic base....do NOT touch the bulb. Perhaps that's what shortens the life?

I put it in the timer as it's on for 4 hours continuously, no off and on.
The bathroom is just on and off for a few minutes, so I don't see the sense in putting them in there either.

I am trying to like them, but no matter what kind I get, they give off a weird light that makes everything look off.

They don't last that long - are hazardous to dispose of, and I have had one catch on fire at the base.

I will be one of those ladies hoarding incand. in my basement.

I've already burned out several, too, very quickly and had them sitting around waiting to see where to take them. For my money, this link was NOT an option.

Was able to take them to Home Depot for disposal. Just hope they (or someone) keep taking them. And as far as good for the environment, take a look at the "more info" link to see how they are packed.

Here is a link that might be useful: bulb disposal

I have two 3-year-old chandeliers - one in the eating area and one in the family room - and because of the shape of the bowls the twisty bulbs, even the so-called mini ones, don't fit. I have bought a bunch of the old bulbs and when I run out of those I will have to buy new chandeliers. I wonder when the governments who are invoking these new regulations will let the light manufacturers know.

Living here at the Retirement Center, I don't have to buy light bulbs, they are furnished. I have been here 10 years in July, and the buildings were all new then. About a year and a half ago, one bulb in the kitchen ceiling light burned out. Maintenance replaced both since he was "up there" any way. Those twisty bulbs won't work with the present fixtures.

Since then the only bulbs that have burned out are the four over the bathroom vanity, and they went out one at a time. They have all been replaced. Five burned out bulbs in ten years seems pretty good to me. I imagination management is buying up loads of the old bulbs; otherwise the ceiling fixtures will have to be replaced.

The theory about the new light bulbs seems to have been a real dud.

Sue

I have mixed feelings about CFL bulbs. I have been replacing regular incandessent bulbs with CFL in high use places and have noticed a drop in electric useage. I have had my share of early burnouts and yet a few have lasted a long time. I light my computer room with 3 bulbs; one is incandescent and two are CFLs. The oldest CFL has been burning for 7 years while the higher output one lasts about 3 years.

The reason for not using in enclosed fixtures is overheating the electronics in the base of the CFL. In my opinion, the base runs too hot for the electonic components in a free standing lamp. For sure, it get too hot in an enclosed, unvented fixture.

I have not kept records, but it seems that CFL last longer when mounted upright, e.g., base down with curly tube up. It stands to reason that the base runs hotter when the lamp is mounted with the base up and tubes down, and theroetically, this leads to shortened life of the electonic components. The flourescent tube itself is not affected.

I just complained about these on fb. I have never had a CFL last any longer than the incandescent bulbs. And a PITA to drive to a place so you can get rid of it. A lot of places stopped accepting them. Big waste of gas and time.

I put CFL bulbs in the overhead canned lighting in my kitchen. From the outside they look like regular canned light bulbs... but when you first turn them on, they are very dim till they warm up. I just hated the greenish cast they put out, made everything look weird in the kitchen. I thought they would be much better in the summer, not put out as much heat as regular bulbs for canned lights and that was true... but in the winter the darker kitchen was a little depressing maybe?... I need it nice and bright...I also had them burn out faster then regular bulbs. I do like CFL's outside in the yard light and porch light. As for price, they are pricey. Dollar Tree carries regular ole Sunbeam brand light bulbs 4/1.00... and they last as long as any other brand. I would say my kitchen lights are on more then any other lighting in the house, there are 5 canned lights in it and for the two years there were CFL bulbs in them I did not notice any reduction in the electric bill at all.

We get white light (not yellow) 60-watt-equivalent CFL's 6 for $6.00 at BJ's, and they last for years. We just replaced the three in our kitchen fixture for the first time since 2007, and the ones in our living room are at least four years old.

I don't expect them to last for seven years, but am very pleased.

I really hate the light that CFLs give off (not to mention how long they take to turn on!) We bought a house 4 months ago. All the CFLs were replaced with incandescents within a month. I don't know how I will survive when incandescents are gone. Flouerescents have always given me such bad headaches, that when I worked in a hospital, I had my eyeglasses tinted to deal with that. I am so sorry for the country my grandkids are going to have to live in. . . .

So much misinformation, so little time...

"At the price of those bulbs..."
I paid about $1 each for CFLs purchased in the last 8 years or so. Have some and haven't replaced for so long I don't maintain a watch on price but often see them for $1 or less. A decent incandescent is not much less than that. It'd be far more ethically accurate to say they cost "a few cents more" rather than "many times more".

The savings on use is something you can calculate easily. The less you use it, the less the savings. I still have incandescent in the hallway lights because one is seldom used and the other is on and off a lot, on for only a very short time, sometimes seconds only, and that's not good for CFL. Otherwise I've converted my whole house to CFL inside and out for the most part. In 10-12 years of use, I've had 3 bulbs die. I'm not going into detail on the math, but I could see the savings on the electric bill when I put the first 4 CFLs in.

LED is a tougher sell for me. Here the price is still over $20 for a bulb and the cost savings in use between CFL and LED is not as significant as CFL to incandescent. So I'm waiting until LED cost drops and for CFLs to die before I'll consider going LED.

When someone uses the criteria of costing many times, not much difference, and the like, well they're not going to be able to see a savings. Without doing some basic math you'll never know if there's a savings. And I suspect you don't want to see a savings either. Some people are just plain paranoid about energy savings and logic won't change that. Fine, it's their quirk, so be it, but don't try to tell me that I'm not saving money with it. I'd be happy to compare electric bills with you and maybe that would be as good as the consideration that 76% is only "saving a little power".

I should also say that for reading I use less CFL lighting than I required for incandescent adding to savings. The original fluorescent tube bulbs I put in are over 30 years old and going strong. Some of the original CFLs I put in are 14+ years old. I have probably 25+ CFLs in my house. I replaced the outdoor bulbs a few years ago and though they're not supposed to be for outdoor use, even incandescent are not always for outdoor use and I've never replaced them and they work fine, even at -40°F which is about the coldest I've been here with them on. I replaced the outdoor ones about 5 years ago, and none have died. I also have CFLs in swag/globe fixtures since they run cooler. Also use 4 of them in my ceiling fan light fixture (52 watts instead of 240). So 60%-75% electric savings on 25+ bulbs - well, you can do the math on what I've saved. Or not saved. For $1 a bulb, investment lately too. Granted I paid about $5-$6 per bulb on the first 4 or so bulbs. I have no doubt I've recouped that cost many times over. The problem is I have a box of the incandescent bulbs sitting in the basement because incands needed constant replacing in certain areas here. I suppose I could sell them on ebay to the paranoids.

I'm willing to bet that people who have these bulb dying prematurely are mishandling the bulbs. Are you cranking away on them by the spiral glass part? If you do, NO WONDER they die early! LOL Secondly when you put them in, are you running them for a while or just start flipping them on and off? Even incandescents die prematurely when you don't give them the "burn in" they need.

Jannie hit it on the head. Much of the hatred is because they're different and some people cannot deal with change. I bought one of the conventional "bulb shaped" types for the shade that clips onto the bulb. Maybe that would appease the paranoid.

There's also the hysteria over CFLs containing mercury. Yes you should not throw them in the garbage, but you do NOT have to take them to a "hazardous waste facility". That's just more hysteria and misinformation being sent out in emails along with the Nigerian General and the $250 cookie recipe. All you have to do is take them to a recycling place usually or take them to your local hardware or DIY store. They send them in for recycling.

And people should do a little research on the mercury scare rather than taking emails for gospel. Do you live near a coal-fired power plant? If you do, that plant puts more mercury INTO THE AIR, in one day, (or is it one hour?) than is contained in all the CFL bulbs in the world. You're breathing in the mercury in the air but that doesn't concern people. Mercury in a contained bulb scares people into hysteria! Why are people so scared of mercury? It's probably in a lot of the fish you eat. It definitely is in many headlights on cars, thermostats and thermometers. Have you ever heard of mercury vapor lights? Many streetlights are mercvaps. Are you afraid to go outdoors? Pilot light sensors in gas appliances, thermostat probes, gauges, relays, switches, clothes irons, children's chemistry sets, vintage toys can contain mercury. Some batteries and paint contain mercury. It's in some children's shoes for cryin out loud! LOL Oh and when you go into a store you probably have fluorescent lighting shining on you. Guess what they contain! Come on now, you get 3 guesses! (Sniff, sniff), I think I smell red herring.

In fairness, they do advise caution on cleaning up a broken bulb. No caution on breathing near power plants though. I remember in school (and at home) breaking thermometers and handling the mercury. The little silver balls. Anyone else remember fever themometers? Did you ever break one of them? Did you call your house a "hazardous waste site" when it was broken? I'll bet not. BTW, I still have mercury thermometers in my house and I don't run scared from them.

I am so glad here in this country..(USA) that w are not going to ban incandescents after all as was first promoted during the Bush administration....WHY????
I dislike the curly cues too...I use them outside only .

Well said, Cynic! It surprised me to see people talking about how expensive CFLs are. They were in the beginning, though I always used a coupon from the electric company and never paid sticker price. Now, as you say, they're about $1.00 per bulb. Even at the higher price, I got my money's worth.

For those who don't like the light, I highly recommend EcoSmart Soft White - we replaced the bulbs in the bathroom recently and the light is much nicer.

And I use CFLs outside, too. And I know that the mercury risk is neglible, even if you break a bulb. We keep FAR more mercury out of the air by using CFLs in reduced mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants.

Wow, I'd love to know where you guys are buying your CFL's for $1/bulb.

Ours (in Canada) are far more expensive than that. That's why there are downloadable coupons for $5 off a 3-pack of bulbs.

When I bought mine last week, the regular price for 3 23-watt bulbs was $16.95. They were on sale for 30% off, then I used my $5 coupon. That brought it down to about $4 for the package.

I have grown used to the twisty bulbs. I have never had to replace any of them. They do not fit in some of my fixtures, such as the pendant over the sink or the light over my front door.

I have them in my outdoor fixtures in the back and I don't like the way it takes so long for them to get bright. I like to be able to flip those lights on for someone who is arriving or as I leave the house. I want immediate brightness, not two minutes later. It seems worse in cold weather.

Inside, I have a couple overhead fixtures that are a PITA to change and I am so happy that I have not had to climb up there in two years due to the twisty bulbs.

I don't like how they look in my bathroom fixture, but as far as the light they give off, they are fine.

They don't work so well with the kind of lampshades that clamp onto the bulb, as someone mentioned above.

They do not work with dimmers, which I have all over the kitchen and use the dimming feature a lot.

So, they have their pros and cons, for me. Where they work, I do not mind them.

No problem with them....we have them in all lights.. Overhead kitchen fixture has never been changed since we remodeled kitchen 5 years ago...all other bulbs have been changed as the incandescent died.