Beware the hype | 12:49 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
The green movement is really pushing CFLs and LEDs to completely replace the incandescent bulb. In some cases, there are attempts being made to eventually make it illegal to manufacture regular light bulbs.

In this effort, there has been a fair amount of exaggeration and some outright lies propagated. I am very suspicious of claims of "You will save X dollars every year if you buy our $10 bulb." Often, they don't save that much money, and they don't last as long as they claim.

There are some applications where CFLs and LEDs make perfect sense. They save power over the long run if your lighting needs meet specific requirements. Unfortunately, the same is not true for all applications.

I have a few lights in my home that are probably on only a few hours each year (i.e. closets, storage shed, etc.) In those cases, the power savings will NEVER pay for the premium that the newer bulbs cost.
Anonymous | 12:49 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
LED's will change lighting as we know it today. There will be light emitting ceiling and lighting appliances that will make the light bulb seem like a dial phone.

LED proves, though science and technology we can get more from less.

If your a dittohead you will be morning the death of incandescent light bulbs that cost 20 times more to run and only last a few months. .
Anonymous | 1:22 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
You can buy a 5 pack of CF lights at home depot for less than 2 dollars, the cost premium is not nearly as high as most make it out to be. Save some money and conserve resources, not a bad idea.
Comments continue below
itsjustme | 1:25 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
I use the CFL bulbs for outdoor lighting, but will continue to use incandescent bulbs inside the house. The quality of light, to me, from a CFL is not good for interior lighting.

Maybe if I lived in a warehouse I would appreciate them, but I don't.
HarryL | 1:26 p.m. Nov. 2, 2009
When Costco began offering CFLs in our area with a huge discount I switched most of our bulbs to CFL's. I use them just about everywhere.

We live in a complex and the lighting in the parking area was weak. I put in 100 watt equivalent CFLs and the place lit up. Some of those bulbs have been burning bright for over two years. They are remarkable. Plus some give off a kind of hue that makes for a more subtle light.

I still use incandescent bulbs in the bathroom and so on, but everywhere I can I use CFLs because they are in many ways so much better--even in my study areas.

Plus you don't mind at all leaving one or two on for longer periods which I believe increases personal safety and home security.
LED's are permanent | 5:25 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Change is hard, even when it is for the better. LED's still have some room for improvement, but the potential is amazing, and government policies requiring mass adoption and advancement of the technology will bring improvement and economies of scale (e.g., lower prices). LED's use only 10 percent of the energy of a regular incandescent, and they can last for 20 years or more. Imagine lighting that is as permanent as your kitchen counters or plumbing fixtures!

We have LED rope lights in light coves around our main living areas and master bedroom. They give a nice ambiant glow to the rooms, and I may never replace them in my lifetime!

I am waiting for an improved LED bulb for my can ceiling lights, but with CFLs expected to last another few years, I can wait! CFLs have improved significantly over the past two decades, and they are virtually impossible to tell the difference between them and incandescents in light fixtures and under lamp shades.

The day of buying cheap lights and then paying hundreds of dollars to power them up are over!
Anonymous | 9:29 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009
Compact flourescents are a miserable in-home light source. They take forever to acheive full brightness and they are difficult for many of us to read by.
LED - Yes and No, buyer beware | 5:16 a.m. Dec. 2, 2009
I am a big fan of LED lighting. Choose a bulb that fits the application (lumens and color) and you will be happy. Unfortunatly many manufacturers and vendors overstate (I'm being kind here) their products specifications.

I have purchased 45 LED bulbs and have had mixed reliability.
The good news - some are very reliable. I have five LED bulbs outside that have run dusk to dawn for two years with no problems.
The bad news - some bulbs are VERY unreliable. VERY high failure rates.
I purchased 12 of one type LED bulb and 9 have failed (8.5W product 47856 from LEDLight.com). To make matters worse they are refusing to replace them now.
Beware of LEDLight.com. This company is selling products that they know are defective. No support for failed LED bulbs. These bulbs are very expensive ($20 - $105) and in some cases last only two or three weeks. They refuse to replace defective bulbs. LEDLight.com is selling known defective products and has bad customer service.
ledlight.com, LED, problem, fail, failure, burnout, quit, reliability, unreliable

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