Dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs?

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

So the last incandescent bulbs in our house are the ones on dimmers and neither Tags nor Home Depot sells the dimmable CFLs. Online outlets charge an arm and a leg for shipping and I want to try one before I buy a bunch. Does anyone know of a local source?

Thanks

Comments

[znhoward.livejournal.com]

Sorry this isn't at all useful, just wanted to comment on your icon:

That's a bitchin' icon!

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

Everyone should be aware, if they are not already, that CFLs are chock full of mercury. Breakage can be hazardous to your health!

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

While CFLs should certainly be disposed of properly (i.e. don't throw them in the trash), to state that they are chock full of mercury is a bit of hyperbole. The (voluntary) industry limit on mercury is 5-6 mg for household sizes, and many contain much less. While this is indeed a concern, replacing regular incandescent bulbs with CFLs can reduce total mercury, even if they are not disposed of properly, due to mercury emissions from coal fired powerplants. Here in MA, I think we get 10-20% of our energy from coal so the mercury benefit isn't as great as that.

In any case, don't break CFLs, do recycle them, and please, please replace your incandescent bulbs; you'll save money and help the environment.

Now, anyone know where I can buy a dimmable CFL locally? :)

[ron_newman]

I broke one last year, while trying to screw it into a socket. When should I expect to die? (I assume I should take the wreckage to a hazardous waste collection.)

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

the mercury content in CFL's is more of an environmental issue as a cumulative result of billions of bulbs potentially being thrown away once burned out. you could eat a CFL and the mercury wouldn't be a problem (you might develop other problems though)

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

oh, and try Target or Home Depot.

[overstim.livejournal.com]

Computers have more mercury than a light bulb. Your LJ Comments are killing the Earth!

[elbren]

not local, but ikea has a wide variety of that sort of thing

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

Coincidentally, I was just there buying CF bulbs, and I didn't notice any that were dimmable.

[foxalbers.livejournal.com]

Ditto. Ikea sells plenty of energy saving bulbs, including some in different colors (blue!), but they don't seem to have dimmable CFLs yet.

[bettyw.livejournal.com]

The Ace Online Superstore (http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/ge-compact-fluorescent-dimming-self-ballasted-bulb-p-19345.html?ref=42) has them, so you might inquire at a local Ace - I think you can order online stuff from them and pick it up at the store for no/less shipping cost (Tags is one, but maybe you need to talk to someone else if they didn't suggest this, or you didn't think/know to ask)

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure we got our CFLs from Costco, but I'm not sure if they're dimmable, and you need a Costco membership to shop there (though, depending on what you buy, that membership can be extremely worthwhile).

[xxv.livejournal.com]

I've been looking for daylight-simulating bulbs (or at least something other than the standard yellow/green light) and so far my best source nearby has been Home Depot. I haven't seen any dimmable ones there, but they got a bunch more daylight-ish bulbs in recently (past few months). Perhaps they have gotten some dimmable ones, too?

[heliopsis.livejournal.com]

Tag's in Porter Square does usually have some dimmable CFLs. I have one in my one-and-only dimmable fixture, and it seems to work fine. I also have a dimmable fluorescent torchière that I bought at Tag's, which works well. The dimmable fluorescents don't have as wide a range as the incandescents--their dimmest is still pretty bright.