Hum Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 The once ubiquitous 60W light bulb is about to plop off the production line for the last time across Europe. But while its light may be dimming, it is still illuminating many of our homes. It is at once a thing of delicate beauty and robust science. Encased in its own glass world, a miniature laboratory keeps a tiny thread of tungsten burning brightly. There is even a touch of romance in its soft flare, as it casts a painterly glow over the room and the faces of its occupants. The 60W has long been the bulb of choice for the modestly-sized rooms in the typical British home. But this very domestic species will be put on the endangered list on Thursday 1 September, when an EU-wide ban on the manufacturing and importing of 60W incandescent clear light bulbs comes into force. Customers will still be able to get hold of a 60W bulb but once stocks run out, it will go the same way as candlelight and gaslight before it. People are being forced to use energy-saving light bulbs. And no matter how much fans of compact fluorescent lamps proclaim their virtues, there will be some who will see Thursday as the day which consigned their homes to eternal dimness. But the 60W tungsten bulb means more than a warm glow, it is a beacon of modernity. The "perfect demonstration of a brilliant idea" is how cultural commentator Stephen Bayley describes it. "Because it is such a very legible design, the tungsten light bulb became a symbol of switched-on genius. It's literally, as well as metaphorically, illuminating. "Its one fault? Like many a genius, it gives off as much heat as light. So it now joins tallow and the gas mantle on technology's scrapheap." more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 My house value will go up, yay! Many rare bulbs here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoadorable Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 well, science and tech must move on, but the 60W's contribution i'm sure will always be remembered in Europe. kind of a strange ban, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted September 1, 2011 Member Share Posted September 1, 2011 I'm all for moving on but a ban seems a wee bit silly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neufuse Veteran Posted September 1, 2011 Veteran Share Posted September 1, 2011 They have LED bulbs now that have mimiced filiments and glow at the same 2700K color temp, and actually look nice! just put a couple in the other week... brightness seems about the same,and dimmable too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PyX Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 It?ll be good for the environment and our wallets though, on long term. The only really bad thing about that is, how many people will actually recycle them after they die? That gives us an additional step that I know a lot of people won?t care about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charisma Veteran Posted September 1, 2011 Veteran Share Posted September 1, 2011 I'm all for moving on but a ban seems a wee bit silly. Exactly. The fluorescents kind of hurt my eyes sometimes--I prefer incandescent for my home, at least in the bedroom and room where I work on the PC and read. I hope I don't have to resort to stockpiling if a ban goes into effect here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeta_immersion Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 actually, i have adjusted the other way ... incandescent hurts my eyes now ... go europe ... NA suck ass for bein lazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevember Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I changed every bulb with my house about two years ago, now I have got used to them I prefer them. Plus, it has saved me a small fortune. Great idea banning them, if people don't do things voluntarily governments need to take action. Although I don't believe global warming is a human thing, I don't think it hurts to act anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJerman Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 It's not a weird ban. Sometimes we need to move on from old technology that's incredibly wasteful. New bulbs use a fraction of the power, and last much longer. While they may cost more up front to buy, they save a fair amount of money for you, and a TON for the world as a whole while trying to reduce energy usage. The incandescent bulb, while it was a wonderful invention, is outdated and pointless now. New bulbs can be purchased that look identical to incandescents when installed, so there's no argument at all for incandescent bulbs anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaP Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 But the 60W tungsten bulb means more than a warm glow, it is a beacon of modernity. The "perfect demonstration of a brilliant idea" is how cultural commentator Stephen Bayley describes it. I was skeptical when i moved from incandescent bulb to compact fluorescent but i do not regret it. From my own experience compact fluorescent last a lot longer than long life branded incandescent bulb. I love not needing to change them every month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Mostly CF and LED here, but for some things they cannot yet replace incandescents - floods etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexcyn Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Canada is doing the same thing but ours comes into effect in 2012. I just bought some Philips 3w LED GU10 spotlight bulbs and they are AMAZING. Produce no heat, just as bright as a 35w, and last 20 years? YES THANK YOU! Also in the process of replacing CFL's with that new Philips bulb in which they won the prize in the US for (they are on-sale here in Canada for $39). While I do like CFL's for their efficiency, the mercury and lead used in them are why I want to go full LED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaP Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Future is with LED no doubt about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Canada is doing the same thing but ours comes into effect in 2012. I just bought some Philips 3w LED GU10 spotlight bulbs and they are AMAZING. Produce no heat, just as bright as a 35w, and last 20 years? YES THANK YOU! Also in the process of replacing CFL's with that new Philips bulb in which they won the prize in the US for (they are on-sale here in Canada for $39). While I do like CFL's for their efficiency, the mercury and lead used in them are why I want to go full LED. That's the problem with LED bulbs though, they price is outrageous. Once the price comes down it will be the best option though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliott Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 That's the problem with LED bulbs though, they price is outrageous. Once the price comes down it will be the best option though One bulb that can last longer than you'll probably own the lamp is worth it, I'd say. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 They're not expensive if you consider that they use 1/10th the power and last 20+ times as long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 One bulb that can last longer than you'll probably own the lamp is worth it, I'd say. :p I move way too often.... And I'm not going to start taking all the bulbs when I move lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelar Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I move way too often.... And I'm not going to start taking all the bulbs when I move lol LOL! I've already considered this for the next time that I move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelington Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 They do have warm colored CFLs, i have some in my house and they're just lovely :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbary Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 The once ubiquitous 60W light bulb is about to plop off the production line for the last time across Europe. But while its light may be dimming, it is still illuminating many of our homes. It is at once a thing of delicate beauty and robust science. Encased in its own glass world, a miniature laboratory keeps a tiny thread of tungsten burning brightly. There is even a touch of romance in its soft flare, as it casts a painterly glow over the room and the faces of its occupants. The 60W has long been the bulb of choice for the modestly-sized rooms in the typical British home. But this very domestic species will be put on the endangered list on Thursday 1 September, when an EU-wide ban on the manufacturing and importing of 60W incandescent clear light bulbs comes into force. Customers will still be able to get hold of a 60W bulb but once stocks run out, it will go the same way as candlelight and gaslight before it. People are being forced to use energy-saving light bulbs. And no matter how much fans of compact fluorescent lamps proclaim their virtues, there will be some who will see Thursday as the day which consigned their homes to eternal dimness. But the 60W tungsten bulb means more than a warm glow, it is a beacon of modernity. The "perfect demonstration of a brilliant idea" is how cultural commentator Stephen Bayley describes it. "Because it is such a very legible design, the tungsten light bulb became a symbol of switched-on genius. It's literally, as well as metaphorically, illuminating. "Its one fault? Like many a genius, it gives off as much heat as light. So it now joins tallow and the gas mantle on technology's scrapheap." more This is nerd poetry. I loved this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger H. Veteran Posted September 1, 2011 Veteran Share Posted September 1, 2011 I went to Home Depot a while back (few months) and they were selling 4 packs of 60w replacement (14w actual) in "Soft White" which is similar to the normal 60W incadecent bulbs for $0.99. My state discounts those bulbs heavily so there's basically no reason not to get em. Now the ones i ended up liking were the "Bright White" ones which to me made my room nice and white instead of the yellowish tinge the others have, i hate those! The other option is what they call "Daylight" - which are too "bright" for me. I know it's the kelvin that they give off but yikes. To the old 60W bulbs, i say see ya! I read somewhere (in a story about the 100W version being banned starting January 2012). that they cost like 300% less per year to operate which is prolly why my light bill is only $29/month (minus summer months for Air Conditioning). I can't really complain about the savings i'm getting for sure, and i generally run my lights on most of the time in the house as i'm there alone so i hate dark corners :unsure: As for the move too often discussion - haha i plan on taking my bulbs with me (and my hangers damnit!) I saved all the old bulbs and just put them in a box in the bottom of the closet. When it's time to move they are going right back in! (prolly wont cuz as i said, a 4 pack costs 99 cents - i spent about $9 on bulbs when i moved in, some fixtures are those dual/tripple bulbs ones.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 Edison is rolling over in his grave :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey_richie Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 They have LED bulbs now that have mimiced filiments and glow at the same 2700K color temp, and actually look nice! just put a couple in the other week... brightness seems about the same,and dimmable too! I have one of these in my study http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-2700k-Master-LEDbulb-Endura/dp/B004KZCKQI/ref=sr_1_80?s=lighting&ie=UTF8&qid=1314902482&sr=1-80 4 of these in our kitchen http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Dimmable-Master-GU10-equivalent/dp/B002TSS8QE/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt And one of these in the bedroom http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-AccentWhite-Standard-Shape-Light/dp/B002MCZL4E/ref=sr_1_31?s=lighting&ie=UTF8&qid=1314902535&sr=1-31 Phillips do some quite tasty LED bulbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windows95isg8 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I hate energy saving light bulbs when your on the computer and the like, there no where near as good as normal bulbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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