CFL’s often require different lighting fixtures, and not merely due to the base or size compatibility. They run hotter in the electronics base than can be safely carried off. If your old fixture isn’t vented very well, your CFL won’t last anywhere near as long as a standard light bulb. Ceiling fixtures in particular are problematic, especially the expensive designer ones. (Apparently the sought after designers know a great deal about decor and warm piss about practical stuff like convection. Who *are* these morons? Wouldn’t designing a light fixture by definition factor in the idea that the lighting it’s designed for gets hot?)
Something you rarely see published —
CFL’s are also not cost effective. Factor the total energy budget, from natural resource extraction and refining to finished product and disposal, the CFL requires more total energy than the standard light bulb. The consumer, if lucky, saves a few pennies on his/her electrical bill, but there’s a lot more energy used upstream and downstream. If you never look at upstream or downstream energy costs, the CFL appears to be greener. It’s not.
On the plus side –
CFL’s are not HAZMAT problems. Consumers can clean up broken ones themselves using some common sense and a bit of caution. Plenty of newer web sites with that info. Do try to keep up.
