CFLs no good???

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I'm an old member from GardenWeb, hello! Been away for a long time but a post came up in Instructables (on growing onions from discarded onion bottoms) where someone labelled WoundedEgo said this (I'm pasting here as webpages disappear from time to time):

"Never buy or use compact fluorescent bulbs - for any purpose. The
science is very clear and voluminous. They damage health and the
environment through their entire life-cycle, from manufacture through
usage and discard. During usage, they produce unheathy transients in
wiring, also referred to as "dirty electricity". They also produce high
levels of unhealthful 60 (0r 50, in EU) Hz fields, relative to
same-wattage incandescent bulbs. Their light is digital, like a strobe,
which is disruptive to brain function and to the corresponding
functions in plants. By contrast the light of incandescents is rather
constant, closely approximating the signal of natural sunlight. Compact
fluorescents do not last as long as most incandescents, needing more
frequent replacement; and they expose humans, animals and plants to
toxic mercury vapors when broken. Although their combined energy usage
is often less than that of incandescents, their dysfunction is more
frequent. Don't fall for the compact bulb industry's green-masking!
There is NOTHING green about toxic, hazardous compact fluorescent bulbs!"

I'm shocked, although not surprised if this is true <sigh>. Green washing and the new term, to me, of "green masking" is just what one would expect of companies and whole organizations esp. in this day and age.

I switched over to compact fluorescents many years ago and just diligently take the spent bulbs to my hardware store's box set out esp. for the safe disposal of spent bulbs.

To think I used fluorescent tubes at one pint in the early 2000s for several years!

What is the best alternative to CFLs rather than incandescents that DOES WORK and does do what it's supposed to - provide light in a healthful manner that doesn't cost the earth (both literally and figuratively!!), please, please?

Thank you! I'm desperately trying to find solutions to food issues as the prices, as everyone knows, have sky-rocketed so much!

Thank you!

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Comments (3)

aruzinsky
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
"What is the best alternative to CFLs rather than incandescents that DOES WORK and does do what it's supposed to - provide light in a healthful manner that doesn't cost the earth (both literally and figuratively!!), please, please?"

I have seen 8.5 watt, 800 lumen LED bulbs for household lighting advertised for as little as $2 each. Look for "60" watt equivalent and make sure that the bulb doesn't use more than 8.5 watts, unless it is a flood lamp, in which case, the lumens per watt can be a little lower.

"Their (CFL) light is digital, like a strobe,"

Depending on the specific fluorescent phosphors used in a CFL, that is not necessarily true. Some phosphors continue to noticeably emit light for a second after a fluorescent bulb is turned off. That property is called "phosphorescence." If you wave your arm under a modern CFL, you will probably not see multiple images of your arm.
ewwmayo
10 years ago
I'm not sure all the items stated above are facts... CFL ballasts do create harmonics (what above refers to as dirty power) but it's not anything worse than computers and other home electronics.

The electric fields and flicker are also not harmful to your health, regardless if they are 50or 60Hz (and the vast majority of frequencies normal people are exposed to). As mentioned above, CFLs normally don't flicker, if one does it's probably due for replacement.

The mercury and other heavy metals are bad for the environment, at least I agree about that. Most important is proper disposal.

Incandescents are not much better for the environment and depending where you live it is likely to be worse.

LEDs are the shaping up to be the least bad light sources on the market now, but silicon and others metals are still required for their manufacture.

Source: Education and occupation in electromagnetics, electrical power, and power systems.
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Diana G
Original Author
10 years ago
I was worried there. I am aware of electropollution and am concerned about it, and that we leave a footprint of some sort no matter what we do, I just don't want something that is really out there in terms of being no better than incandescents yet that has been green-washed horrifically all these years. (Apparently, borax might be just such a case, just as an example!) Glad ot know this is no worse than anything else <phew>.

My dad has become negative about CFLs and I value his opinion so when I read the statement above and general negativity last weekend from various sources, thought I'd better check it out.

I am relieved to know that it's on par with what is already in our homes! I've been using CFL lightbulbs for many years now and, unlike my dad, have found that I do save money. Yes, they are expensive but unless I get a bum bulb, which has happened, I've had bulbs last a long time. The record is in my kitchen, the most used bulb in the house! I turn that light on and off about 3-4 times a day _and_ and leave it on _all_ night (rather than a nightlight!) since my entire living space is small enough for one bulb. So for one to last 2 years, that's pretty good, I think! And the others have lasted a long time, too, even if not that long.

Thanks for the LED information. I didn't know about these till I was doing that research last weekend. Your confirming means I'll delve into these much more indepth before buying a light setup for my indoor sprouts (fodder style with soil).

Thank you both!