Energy saving light bulbs
What's wrong with them? Energy Saving Light bulbs, of CFLs (Compact Florescent Lamp) are these slow to get bright, odd coloured flickering replacement to the trusty incandescent light bulb.
It's so we're all green. Or something.
At between £8-£10, they don't come cheap. But apparently saves our energy bills almost a fiver over the year (which really impacts against my £1000 energy bill).
The problem I find though, is the energy saving costs are outweighed by the vast volumes I have to purchase of them.
Living out in the sticks, my electricity is fed by overhead cable and there is a limited pipe. But when I last checked, it never dropped below the 210V allowed tolerances. I also have new internal electrics everywhere including the fuse board. And been through several bulb holders on light fitting just to be sure.
But still - *ping* - goes my energy savers. I bought one the weekend before last to replace one which had amazed me and lasted probably the best part of a year. Alas, the new one (£7.99 from a reputable independent trader, no receipt issued) went ping tonight whilst I was watching TV.
In contrast, I do have some 100Watt bulbs kicking about (the ones that have now been banned by the illustrious EU). And I've found these to be more reliable than their modern alternatives. I've got one in my outside light which went in 3 years ago after it became apparent that the "dimmable" energy saver couldn't handle a dimmed voltage (it just turned off). And it's still going strong.
I've got candle bulbs that are dimmed, turned off, turned on, knocked about etc., which have lasted 4 years. And halogen bulbs that have lasted 2.
Yet some hippy has decided that I should not be allowed to buy these bulbs in order to save the environment. I'm not one for shouting "stealth tax" at everything, but I'm finding it hard to find the benefit of these bulbs.
It's so we're all green. Or something.
At between £8-£10, they don't come cheap. But apparently saves our energy bills almost a fiver over the year (which really impacts against my £1000 energy bill).
The problem I find though, is the energy saving costs are outweighed by the vast volumes I have to purchase of them.
Living out in the sticks, my electricity is fed by overhead cable and there is a limited pipe. But when I last checked, it never dropped below the 210V allowed tolerances. I also have new internal electrics everywhere including the fuse board. And been through several bulb holders on light fitting just to be sure.
But still - *ping* - goes my energy savers. I bought one the weekend before last to replace one which had amazed me and lasted probably the best part of a year. Alas, the new one (£7.99 from a reputable independent trader, no receipt issued) went ping tonight whilst I was watching TV.
In contrast, I do have some 100Watt bulbs kicking about (the ones that have now been banned by the illustrious EU). And I've found these to be more reliable than their modern alternatives. I've got one in my outside light which went in 3 years ago after it became apparent that the "dimmable" energy saver couldn't handle a dimmed voltage (it just turned off). And it's still going strong.
I've got candle bulbs that are dimmed, turned off, turned on, knocked about etc., which have lasted 4 years. And halogen bulbs that have lasted 2.
Yet some hippy has decided that I should not be allowed to buy these bulbs in order to save the environment. I'm not one for shouting "stealth tax" at everything, but I'm finding it hard to find the benefit of these bulbs.