There are some "compacter" compact fluorescents out there, for example:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/Screw-In-Compact-Fluorescents/

is where I buy from. See the microbrite and neolite lines..

I was wondering about this as well. I think use of more eco-friendly lighting should be encouraged, but am a little worried about a government imposed phase-out.

The current generation of CFLs are not suitable replacements for incandescents across the board. CFLs are great in kitchens and living rooms where lights are left on for long periods of time. However, in other applications such as bathrooms and hallways-- where lights are switched on and off for short periods of time-- CFLs drastically fall short.

However, it is likely that, by the time the incandescents are banned, technology will have produced a more suitable replacement.

Wait until you see what's coming for ceiling fan lights. The government is already sticking their hands in it.

We use the small CFLs in ceiling fans now. They have some nicely shaped and fit well with a nice warm light color. Not the cold spirals.

I recently made the mistake of putting a CFL in a fixture on a dimmer. Lasted a few minutes. I see now that some are and some are not rated for use on dimmers.

I have a CF twisty bulb on an old original emmerson 52 inch paddle fans with a nutone varible motor speed control on it. Looks like a dimmer. Bulb stays full brilliance no matter where the conrol is twisted.

Think we'll have fluor replacements for the 15watt appliance lamps inside ovens/refrigs?

mikie, I have the same questions about the range and frig lamps. Not much energy to be saved there anyway.

What about the enclosed fixture restrictions with CF's? A few years ago I know you couldnt put them in enclosed fixtures. I recently bought some 'Feit' brand CF's at the Evil Orange (Homer Depot) in a value pack and cant find anything on the packaging saying I cant put them in enclosed fixtures. I know this is probably still a serious issue with CF's??

I have 2 fixtures I want to put them....

one is a flush mount ceiling light with a covered globe around the bulb that allows for 60 watt bulb. The other is a recessed fixture over my kitchen sink, I think rated also for 60. Both of which I use 40w incandecent in now, but would love the added lumens but lesser wattage the CF's offer.

Is this now OK to do?

I have 2 2 bulb fixtures and 2 one bulb fixtures in the kitchen which normally take 60w bulbs. I put one 27w twist bulb in each fixture. Fixtures are enclosed but I didn't know you couldn't use CFs in there so I just put them in, been two years and still going strong.

Found this yesterday.

Here is a link that might be useful: Article

Man, scary stuff. When you read that.

Eight foot tubes must instantly poison ya when you bust one of those. How many fluor tubes have you wiped that white powder off of with your bare hands ? UtOh... must be a real slow death.

bus: that article has been floating around for a while. The person overreacted based on bad info. The amount of mercury is very minute if I understand correctly.

PS: One summer I worked as a Janitor at a high school, they were replacing all the ballasts and fluorescent tubes with more energy efficient ones. My job was to take huge garbage can loads of the old bulbs to the dumpster and bust them up. I am not dead yet.