One reason why I have only CFLs is because the power company gave away free ones. (Fair enough, I suppose. You get what you pay for)

The 20w bulbs that I bought myself aren’t quite as bad but these are in a light fitting that has 5 bulbs in it. 5 bulbs- that are supposed to be 100w equivalent – should provide a blinding light in the tiny room they are in. As it is, I reckon they provide probably about 100w equivalent
(which, by an uncanny coincidence, is exactly what 5 times 20w would make.)

but most of the disagreement seems to come from the disappointment of the fact that many CFLs start at a medium brightness and slowly light up to full brightness.

Ah, the mastery of understatement! ( ). In my house, you need to turn the lights on about a week before sunset if you want to be able to see… The idea of eco-lights in transit areas is a total no-go considering how tedious it can be using them in static areas such as the living room/lounge.

One other downside is the rated “strength” is often misleading – I have two lamps one with a CFL bulb that claims to be 100w output, the other a real 100w – even allowing a day or two warm up, the “real” bulb gives more useful light.

I will grant that some CFLs have crappy output, and that older ones (i.e. 10+ years ago) were piss-poor. In general I find they are pretty close in terms of light in comparison with an incandescent with the same output rating. Not everyone in my house agrees with me which is one reason why the house is not 100% CFL…. but most of the disagreement seems to come from the disappointment of the fact that many CFLs start at a medium brightness and slowly light up to full brightness.

As for wasting gas to dispose of CFLs… in theory, at least, you would be able to return them at the store you buy light bulbs at. Which you will presumably be visiting anyway, sooner or later, to buy new bulbs to replace the ones that have blown.

As for maidens, I always thought a maiden was a young woman, the sort who would have once been indentured to wash clothes.

I don’t hate them.. All my lights are indeed “energy-efficient”. I just don’t think they are much use as lights. I am sitting here in a state that it would be hard not to define as darkness.

The idea of a dedicated collection van coming round on the offchance that someone’s lightbulb has worn out seems both farfetched and a hell of a waste of fuel. Or should I buy a car and drive each individual dead bulb to a disposal facility?

I am perfectly prepared to believe that trad fluorescents are just as toxic. I said that I have no idea what the alternative is.

A “maiden” is a contraption that you hang wet washing on. I can’t see that offending women’s groups unless men’s groups are going to have a problem with guy-ropes.

“You really seem to have an irrational hate of CFLs”

It isn’t just CFLs that Heather has an irrational hatred of…..

As for “will there be dedicated hazardous waste collection”… well, yes, in fact, there already is in many places. Yes, even in the UK, and in some cases, including the place you bought them.

As for your washing machine solution, don’t let the women’s groups hear you call for a return to washerwoman maidens.