It appears that the UK Government has decided to outlaw traditional "high energy" light bulbs starting next year.

The point of this thread is not to debate the rights and wrongs of either this specific issue, or the contribution (or otherwise) of CO2 emissions to climate change, but simply to ask a question about Low Energy bulbs.

My wife and I have used LE bulbs in our house for all of our married life (15 years+), with the the exception of one light ... the bathroom. The reason we have never used one in here is that all the LE bulbs we have ever used have specifically stated on the packaging that they are not suitable for use here, which I have always assumed was to do with the level of moisture relative to the rest of the house.

Question is ... as the trad bullbs are on the way out, is this whole not using LE bulbs in the bathroom a genuine concern? And, if so, what are our alternatives?

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Dave

Anyone seen my marbles? Anyone ... ?

From what I've seen around the Web (Google cfl bulbs bathroom), some compact fluorescent bulbs are not suitable for bathrooms. Some are. Check the packaging.

EnergyStar: Can I use CFLs in the bathroom?

And if CFLs don't fit, perhaps other low-energy solutions would, like LEDs.

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According to here:

http://members.misty.com/don/cfapp.html#br

A common complaint is short life of compact fluorescent lamps in bathrooms. I blame mainly frequent starting, although many also blame high humidity.
I recommend models that have gentler starting methods to reduce the wear from having a large number of starts.

Ones to avoid in bathrooms: Those with glow switch starters. These are mainly ones where the bulbs are separate from the ballasts and the bulbs have 2 pins with a boxlike protrusion between the pins. This includes mainly "PL", "PLC", "twintube" and "doubletwintube" types.

Others to avoid are GE's older FLB and FLG types - mainly 15 watt and largely obsolete now.

The best ones are probably non-spiral models with electronic ballasts and of the "Big Three" brands - Sylvania, Philips and GE. However, I have seen Sylvania spirals show signs that they have a gentle starting method. In addition, I have noticed 23 watt spirals of a non-"Big 3" brand, namely Feit Electric, have a gentler starting method (updated 4/24/2005).
One model that appears especially good except for one drawback is Sylvania's globe shaped "Dulux EL" models, available at Lowes. The drawback is that the color is slightly whiter, pinker and less yellow than incandescents and most other compact fluorescents.

I've had CFLs in two bathrooms for several years and they haven't died yet. I think they're all Philips. These aren't quite instant start - they come up in under a second, but it's long enough to notice if you're used to incandescents. You get used to it pretty quick, though.

I don't attempt to control the humidity in either bathroom, though in one the bulbs are enclosed.

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I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?

Disclaimer: Avatar is not an official NASA image and does not imply any specific interplanetary or interstellar capability.

The Leif Ericson Cruiser

Hmm..I think I remember a thread that is related to this.

"Banning Light Bulbs" ..?

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Jean
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"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." - Albert Einsteiin

Our school is considering "going green", but I don't think it will happen while I'm studing here.

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"If you think the LHC will create black holes, you might as well believe Hobbits are at the bottom of your garden."- Dr. Mike Inglis
Rovers forever! - ToSeek
"Carl Sagan sent a message to ET,
Neil Armstrong walked in the Sea of Tranquility
Steve Squyers built Spirit and Opportunity
Dan Haylen upchucked in zero gravity." -Brent Simon, The Space Camp Song

You were right Whirlpool.
Banning Light Bulbs

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If it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space.
Contact Carl Sagan

Yeah , you got the link .

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Jean
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"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." - Albert Einsteiin