tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post2887807365410789476..comments2023-10-12T01:58:49.433-07:00Comments on Free Range Living: My light bulb moment (and holiday wishes)Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08034794313638177847noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post-34628183224957247382007-10-17T11:14:00.000-07:002007-10-17T11:14:00.000-07:00DO NOT USE 2700K CFLs !!!In your post and readers'...DO NOT USE 2700K CFLs !!!<BR/><BR/>In your post and readers' comments, the recommended color value for the compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) is discussed as ''2700K'' to avoid the green hue. Modern CFLs have improved the green hue problem from being ~really awful~ to being ~tolerable~. But at 2700K, the yellow/green is still there and most noticeable in places such as near bathroom mirrors. Trust me... no matter what your ethnicity, your skin doesn’t look good under that illumination.<BR/><BR/>In the current hype, I heard that new CFL colors were ''improved'', but my experience from many years ago with the truly ugly CFLs made me cautious. Instead of buying many replacements at once (foregoing the cheaper price of multi-packs), I bought a CFL from my local hardware store and another from a department store... one was made by GE and the other by Phillips... both rated at 2700K (they are 23Watt, equivalent to 100Watt incandescent). I'm glad I didn't buy more. Both are merely yellow-green instead of sickening green (the Phillips slightly better).<BR/><BR/>I then read up on the subject and saw that full spectrum white light such as outdoor natural sunlight is >6500 Kelvin. Generally consumers can find the tube fluorescent bulb choices as ''WARM White'' (~2500-3000K) and ''COOL White'' (~4100K). There is also supposed to be''DAYLIGHT'' or ''FULL SPECTRUM'' (5000-5900K) but I've never seen that in any store. <BR/><BR/>But the problem wasn't tube bulbs, the problem was CFLs, and while I did see packaging labeled as ''warm'', I couldn’t find anything in stores labeled as ''cool'' or ''daylight''. So I turned to the web. I got a 24Watt, 5900K CFL from: http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/compact_fluorescent_32_ctg.htm <BR/><BR/>I'm not endorsing that company... there are others out there such as:<BR/>http://www.naturallighting.com/web/shop.php?crn=617<BR/><BR/>...here’s another:<BR/>http://www.1000bulbs.com/23-Watt-Compact-Fluorescents/33711/ <BR/><BR/>At first, the light seemed slightly bluish, but I believe this is a misperception based on familiarity with the warm glow of incandescent lights (present in other light fixtures in the room). My junior high-aged son tested this by putting three lamps together, one with a 100Watt incandescent, one with a 23Watt 2700K CFL, and one with the 24Watt 5900K CFL. Then holding up a white piece of paper we compared what it looked like. It was obvious that ''true'' white appeared with the 5900K bulb. He then screwed in a 150Watt incandescent ''grow-bulb'' floodlight (we bring a few cacti and succulents indoors for the winter) and that one appeared to have an actual bluish hue. <BR/><BR/>A final detail. There is another index of how the color of light appears known as ''CRI''... the closer to 100 the better. I didn’t see packaging in stores that listed CRI, but the more detailed listings ON THE WEB all showed CRI values... I saw ones ranging from 82-95. The one I bought was rated at 94.<BR/><BR/>In the future , as my incandescents burn out, I’m going to replace them CFLs >5000K (and CRIs >90)... I'll have to wait longer for those two 2700K CFLs, which I’ve moved to the basement.<BR/><BR/>QUICK SUMMARY:<BR/>(1) Don't buy widely available ''warm'' bulbs thinking the green tint problem has been solved... it's been improved but not solved.<BR/>(2) For actual white light, shop online for CFLs with a color rated at >5000K<BR/>(3) Don't buy all at once, test it out yourself because you'll have these bulbs for years to come.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post-68459356978857528462007-01-31T12:32:00.000-08:002007-01-31T12:32:00.000-08:00oh this is fabulous, thank you! I have searched in...oh this is fabulous, thank you! I have searched in vain for an energy efficient bulb that didn't cast that awful green hue. Hopefully I'll find this one you're showing here in the states.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post-44460681190072400872006-12-05T14:15:00.000-08:002006-12-05T14:15:00.000-08:00We tested a bunch of bulbs recently to create a se...We tested a bunch of bulbs recently to create a <a href="http://www.ed.org/go/cflguide">searchable guide to compact fluorescent lights</a> and definitely found that the color makes a big difference. All the bulbs listed on our site include details on how many degrees Kelvin they are. Also, you can find <a href="http://www.environmentaldefense.org/page.cfm?tagID=633&campaign=mts&fixture=0&shape=1&brightness=0&color=0&matchingBulbCount=3">covered compact fluorescent bulbs</a> that will work with the lamp shades that fit onto the bulb, so no need to ditch your lamp shade!Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08825919117420097129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post-91753335284810866252006-11-25T08:31:00.000-08:002006-11-25T08:31:00.000-08:00We made the switch over to flourscent bulbs this y...We made the switch over to flourscent bulbs this year. The only problem we've noticed is that we can't use our motion sensor switches, because the bulbs flicker. Other than that, we love them, and see no reason to return to incandescent bulbs.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642417312794814066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post-19279791160801814782006-11-24T17:25:00.000-08:002006-11-24T17:25:00.000-08:00Phelan - Everything looks so delicious!
Burdockbo...Phelan - Everything looks so delicious!<br /><br />Burdockboy - It's a weird kind of light, isn't it? The shadows are harsher or something.<br /><br />Stephanie - I have that same problem with a couple of my lamps. I guess I'll have to get some different shades.Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034794313638177847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post-77124550939795853342006-11-24T10:10:00.000-08:002006-11-24T10:10:00.000-08:00well, that makes me feel hopeful. I've had those ...well, that makes me feel hopeful. I've had those in 60watt versions and the amount of light they throw off is inadequate for my needs. Still I think all of my bulbs have now been switched over. My only complain is that my lamps with shades that fit over the bulb, they don't play nicely with these bulbs. I'll have to get a higher wattage next time I need bulbs.Mutablebluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06398088494734220817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post-14563403416434125442006-11-24T09:37:00.000-08:002006-11-24T09:37:00.000-08:00It's good to know about the 2700k number. Most of ...It's good to know about the 2700k number. Most of the lights in our house are CF, but I had to get used to the strange lighting. At first I fellt as though I was in a laundromat or something. But I will keep my eye open for the ones you recommend.BurdockBoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01174758566322248274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30711036.post-12935324084179898872006-11-24T08:35:00.000-08:002006-11-24T08:35:00.000-08:00I just got the post up. I was having problems load...I just got the post up. I was having problems loading pictures ~sigh~ But it turned out wonderfully!Phelanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250080326099834661noreply@blogger.com