So it seems that the Daily Mail readership is up in arms about the fact that 100w incandescent bulbs are being phased out by EU decree in favour of energy saving bulbs.
The reasons for their crocodile tears range from outrage at EU interference to claims that energy saving bulbs cause migraines.
The problem here seems to stem largely from a refusal to evaluate energy saving bulbs in their current incarnation. So much of the criticism levelled at them is based on the evidence shown by the old first generation energy savers, which did indeed have many flaws.
The new generation of energy saving bulbs are cheaper, more reliable, brighter and warm up in so short a space of time as to be almost imperceptible. The issue of flickering which triggered peoples migraines is now also a thing of the past, since modern energy savers operate at much higher frequencies than the old bulbs. They also cast a much warmer light than they used to.
The overall effect of the developments of energy saving bulbs in response to the consumer criticisms levelled at the first generation bulbs is that now an energy saving bulb is all but indistinguishable from an incandescent in terms of lighting qualities.
There is a certain kind of person who, once they get a certain idea in their head, will steadfastly refuse to accept any evidence to the contrary. These are the kind of people crying about the imminent death of the incandescent bulb.
Sensible human beings on the other hand either don’t care because of the total lack of a perceivable change or applaud the march of progress and the advancement of green technologies to try and combat the energy and climate crises that lurk just over the horizon.
