The compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs that were supposed to save us so much energy a few years ago continue to disappoint.
For example, take Ecosmart bulbs, sold at Home Depot. When we remodeled a bathroom two years ago, we put in new fixtures, a total of six bulbs, and we put CFLs in them. One or two burned out with weeks, and were replaced, and they lasted until one burned out a couple of months ago. So: three of six bulbs, 50%, gone in far less than the promised nine years. Since the longevity of these bulbs is supposed to compensate for their higher price, that's not a good record.
When that latest bulb burned out I went back to Home Depot for more of the same. They're now manufactured under the Ecosmart name, rather than the earlier N:Vision, but they're the same. I bought two packages, a total of 8 bulbs. I replaced the burned out one; in about two days, the new one burned out. I replaced it again; within about two days, that one burned out too. The third time, I swapped bulbs from one socket to another, and tried the new bulb in a different socket. That one burned out a couple of days later.
I took a long pause of several weeks, but finally put Bulb No. 4 in place, and it's still working after almost a week. (Though of course it may burn out tomorrow). So technology has advanced. Now the failure rate for brand-new bulbs is 75% (or maybe 100). The four bulbs are now cheaper - about $ 1.10 apiece - but at that rate, even if the fourth one keeps burning for a while, what I really have is one five-dollar bulb.
There was no noticeable energy usage saving two years ago, when I replaced perhaps 25-30 incandescent bulbs in our house with CFLs. The latest experience shows there's no real cost saving either, since these CFLs won't work long enough to recoup anywhere near their cost.
My policy now is to stay away from CFLs entirely, and especially the "Ecosmart" brand offered by Home Depot these days. We've tried a few of the new LEDs - so far they seem much better.
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