I'm beginning to hate low energy light bulbs!

Primrose

Maybe it's a case of deteriorating eyesight but I really hate the lower light levels which energy saving light bulbs seem to generate. I find reading under them much more difficult and somehow the dimmer light level seems more depressing, especially now the long dark nights have arrived. Does anybody have a solution to this? Are there any low energy light bulbs that have a "daytime or sunshine" light effect?

annie123

check your wattage
you need 20w bulbs = 100w

lots of the free bulbs given out by the energy companies were 9w and 11w, fine for bedrooms but not bright enough for living rooms etc

ariba10

They do tend to get brighter after they have been on for a while but I must admit I do not like them.

Biggles

annie123 wrote: »

check your wattage
you need 20w bulbs = 100w

That's what's often quoted, but most of the time a 20w low energy bulb will be noticably dimmer than a 100w incandescent bulb.

The average incandescent bulb gives out something like 1300 lumens or more, but the average low energy bulb only something like 1100, especially the cheap 'special offers' we've been flooded with over the last few years.

If you want something as bright as a 100w bulb, look for a 23w low energy bulb. Or, to answer you question about daylight, google 'BioBulb', it's only 25w but gives out 1750 lumens.

blackwidowz

I have been changing all mine back slowly the light they give off gives me a headache.

gazza975526570

As stated above i think it depends where you have them. In a lamp im not sure why you would need masses of light so they are fine. Kitchen or bathroom needs to be a lot brighter and id stick with normal light fittings.

i certainly wouldnt change the low energy ones back - saves a decent amount of money

champys

I have gradually been coming to terms with them - DH is an outright fan, and the way things are going with the necessity to save energy etc. they simply are a fact of life. I get around the lack of brightness for reading/sewing by having a halogen reading light near the sofa which I can switch on when I need it.
My main complaint is that they distort the colour of food so much: I love cooking and feel so disheartened when a colourful dish turns drab under the low energy lighting. For day-to-day I accept this now, but whenever we have guests I temporarily sneak an incandescent bulb in the light fitting over the dining table :-)

savingholmes

I agree with you re the low energy bulbs - I find them depressing too! I accept I may just have bought to low a wattage tho...

junior_j

hello!

Yeah im not keen on ours , the bathroom seems to look depressing , like when im in the bath i love to read , now i dont because its so dim , but after 30+minutes they seem to brighten up! great for a babies or childs room though!
Jess x

oystercatcher

I had a low energy 'daylight ' bulb , it was much brighter. I think I bought it in the big Eco centre in mid Wales, sorry I can't remember the name of the place this time of night. I'm sure you can get them by mail order as well. They're not particularly cheap though.

I'll pop back tomorrow if I remember

Oystercatcher

Biggles

junior_j wrote: »

Yeah im not keen on ours , the bathroom seems to look depressing , like when im in the bath i love to read , now i dont because its so dim , but after 30+minutes they seem to brighten up!

Then you've probably got a fairly old one in your bathroom (or possibly a very cheap one!); nearly all the ones made recently get to full brightness in under a minute or so.