CFL Bulbs "consumers were being misled by the bulbs' packaging"

Now that the ban on incandescent light bulbs has gone into effect in the UK - it is being discovered that CFL bulbs are a poor lighting alternative. 

From the BBC and Fox News -

Study Casts Dim Light on Energy-Efficient Bulbs

They're billed as energy-efficient, but compact fluorescent bulbs are getting a dim review in a new study.   The study, published in Engineering and Technology magazine, shows the energy-efficient light bulbs lose on average 22 percent of their brightness over their lifetime, the BBC reports.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,575858,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8367933.stm

Wait until the true environmental cost of a "green" technology that requires Mercury to work starts piling up.

CFL Analysis Summary - Actual Savings

We were just advised of a very informative site discussing the many issues with CFL lights -   at the GreenerLights Blog.  There is excellent information on actual performance, safety and power factor (actual delivered energy savings to The Grid).


CFL Analysis Summary - Actual Savings



With all the factors below added together, it should be more than obvious that CFLs
a) don't save as much energy as claimed;
b) don't give the same quality light as incandescent and halogen lamps;
c) cannot be used in any light fitting (luminaires); and
d) are not as environmentally friendly and safe as previously assumed.
 
http://greenerlights.blogspot.com/2009/03/3m-cfl-analysis-summary-actual-savings.html
 

" Paying a premium for new technology, but $70 for one bulb?"

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune

• Color is still a work in progress. LED lights can also have that commercial cool blue tint and other less desirable hues of green or pink, depending on the manufacturer.
• LEDs are more directional, which makes them good for task and spot lighting, but not as general light in a table lamp or ceiling fixture.
• It will also be years before the common LED bulb will cost $20 to $25 instead of $60 or $70.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/yourmoney/68671562.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUsX

Please return the LED bulb to your nearest Costco location

A few months ago our phones began ringing off the hook with friends and acquaintances telling us about the inexpensive LED flood lights that they had seen at Costco. Many expressed great concern that these would prove the viability of affordable, well performing LEDs aggressively coming to market. Based on the price point and the description of the LEDs (no heat sinking) we responded that these would likely be very poor performers both in light quality and life. However, I went down to my local Costco to purchase one for our competitive products collection. I first took it home and when I put it into a recessed can in the kitchen - my wife politely told me to get it out of our house. It had terrible glare, produced a color of light similar to LED headlights and was made of all plastic with no heat sinking. On Friday I received a letter from Costco (attached) offering a refund since it appears these LED bulbs are not performing to required standards. We predict this will the first of many of these types of “recalls” as LED lights stumble onto the market and start to fail.