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In an effort to save electricity (most charitable interpretation of the law) the US has banned incandescent light bulbs for the standard bulb sizes. The lowest

In an effort to save electricity (most charitable interpretation of the law) the US has banned incandescent light bulbs for the standard bulb sizes. The lowest temp LED bulbs one finds in most stores is 2700k (soft white) and, since those cost more than higher temp ones, I bet most people are buying the high temp bulbs. Plus, LEDs don't have anything like a blackbody spectrum like a heated filaments or the sun has. Rather they have bi-modal spectrum with a high blue peak and a lower one[1]. Maybe the lack of low wavelength radiation is also a problem. I wish bulb packaging had to display the spectrum, not just some "temperature" of unknown calculation. It seems like blue light in the evening is not good for human health. I wonder if banning incandescent bulbs will be seen as a horrible health problem caused by an ill informed government. Similar to the anti-fat campaigns of the past that ended up having people eat much more sugar and hydrogenated oils. At least butter was not banned in that case. Anyone know where one can buy low temp incandescent (like the regular old ones) bulbs of the standard sizes and watts in the US? Maybe they could be sold as a special "full spectrum" bulb and one could get special permission from a doctor to buy them. [1]https://www.soundandvision.com/content/led-vs-cfl-bulbs-color-temp-light-spectrum-and-more https://www.soundandvision.com/content/led-vs-cfl-bulbs-colo...

keithpeter 9y ago
UK: 'industrial' ruggedised filament lamps are still available in 40w and 60w ratings in UK. Halogen lamps are available as well and look to have a warm spectrum.
dwringer 9y ago
It appears incandescent bulbs have not been banned, but low-efficiency designs have been. [1] I still see incandescent GE Reveal bulbs at the store all the time. [2] > light bulbs using incandescent lighting technology were not banned by the government. More accurately, save for a few exceptions, any lamp failing to meet the energy standards set by EISA in 2007 could no longer be manufactured. [1] https://insights.regencylighting.com/was-there-actually-an-incandescent-light-bulb-ban https://insights.regencylighting.com/was-there-actually-an-i... [2] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VCLT6G/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VCLT6G/
- njarboe 9y ago
  These low-efficiency designs are low-efficiency because they have a lower temperature. The old ones were around 2400 K while these newer ones are more blue at 3000+ K. This is what I want to avoid for night lighting.
losteric 9y ago
> US has banned incandescent light bulbs for the standard bulb sizes Um, what? They're still all over the place... the supermarket next to my apartment carries incandescent bulbs, as does the city's Home Depot.
- ams6110 9y ago
  You can still get them, labeled as "rugged service" or for other special purpose. They are about 10x the former price. I bought about 100 60-watt bulbs before the ban was imposed.
  - njarboe 9y ago
    Thanks for the info. "Rugged service" or "long life" seem to be the magic words for finding them.
  - dylan604 9y ago
    I just bought bulbs from Home Depot yesterday. Specifically, the chandelier style base. Home Depot had a package of 4 incandescent bulbs for <$5USD[0]. They sold a set of 3 LED bulbs with the same base for just under $7USD[1]. To the average consumer, the LEDs are way too expensive. I'm not sure I'd agree that incandescent bulbs are 10x the former price. However, you may be thinking of the Edison style bulbs that are trendy now. One of these bulbs does cost as much as the multi-packs[2]. They also have these in LED style for even higher prices. [0]:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sylvania-25-Watt-Double-Life-B10-Incandescent-Light-Bulb-4-Pack-10541/303762185 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sylvania-25-Watt-Double-Life-B10... [1]:https://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-40-Watt-Equivalent-B11-Dimmable-Clear-Blunt-Tip-Decorative-Candelabra-LED-Light-Bulb-Soft-White-3-Pack-5cSC300STB1D05/206833455 https://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-40-Watt-Equivalent-B11-... [2]:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Globe-Electric-60-Watt-Incandescent-S60-Vintage-Squirrel-Cage-Medium-Base-Light-Bulb-01321/205143832 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Globe-Electric-60-Watt-Incandesc...
    - diffeomorphism 9y ago
      The LEDs you linked are also about twice as bright at 1/5th the power consumption. Say you have one light bulb running three hours per day (living room, kitchen or office in the evening seems realistic). It uses 20 W more than the LED and using $0.15 per kWh (average rate in California) this gives 20 W* 3h * $0.15/(1000 Wh) * 365 = $3.29 every year If you regularly use two incandescent bulbs the "more expensive package" paid for itself within a year and gives you brighter light at the same time.
ams6110 9y ago
> I wonder if banning incandescent bulbs will be seen as a horrible health problem caused by an ill informed government. Most health problems are. Obeisity, diabetes certainly. Probably many others can be traced to government guidelines on "healthy" diet.
- Retra 9y ago
  This is a very careless thing to say. Most health problems are probably due to accident, contagion, sedentary lifestyle, and old age.
graeme 9y ago
So a 2000K bulb or a 2700K LED bulb is not much better than a warmer one? Or they are, but worse than incandescent? How are halogen bulbs?
sannee 9y ago
> Plus, LEDs don't have anything like a blackbody spectrum like a heated filaments What is the physiological mechanism you suspect makes this matter? I don't see any real way an LED which is metameric with sunlight would be able to make a difference (except possibly for people with some form of color blindness - who could possibly have different metamer "groups")

keithpeter 9y ago

UK: 'industrial' ruggedised filament lamps are still available in 40w and 60w ratings in UK. Halogen lamps are available as well and look to have a warm spectrum.

dwringer 9y ago

It appears incandescent bulbs have not been banned, but low-efficiency designs have been. [1] I still see incandescent GE Reveal bulbs at the store all the time. [2] > light bulbs using incandescent lighting technology were not banned by the government. More accurately, save for a few exceptions, any lamp failing to meet the energy standards set by EISA in 2007 could no longer be manufactured. [1] https://insights.regencylighting.com/was-there-actually-an-incandescent-light-bulb-ban https://insights.regencylighting.com/was-there-actually-an-i... [2] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VCLT6G/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VCLT6G/

njarboe 9y ago
These low-efficiency designs are low-efficiency because they have a lower temperature. The old ones were around 2400 K while these newer ones are more blue at 3000+ K. This is what I want to avoid for night lighting.

losteric 9y ago

> US has banned incandescent light bulbs for the standard bulb sizes Um, what? They're still all over the place... the supermarket next to my apartment carries incandescent bulbs, as does the city's Home Depot.

ams6110 9y ago
You can still get them, labeled as "rugged service" or for other special purpose. They are about 10x the former price. I bought about 100 60-watt bulbs before the ban was imposed.
- njarboe 9y ago
  Thanks for the info. "Rugged service" or "long life" seem to be the magic words for finding them.
- dylan604 9y ago
  I just bought bulbs from Home Depot yesterday. Specifically, the chandelier style base. Home Depot had a package of 4 incandescent bulbs for <$5USD[0]. They sold a set of 3 LED bulbs with the same base for just under $7USD[1]. To the average consumer, the LEDs are way too expensive. I'm not sure I'd agree that incandescent bulbs are 10x the former price. However, you may be thinking of the Edison style bulbs that are trendy now. One of these bulbs does cost as much as the multi-packs[2]. They also have these in LED style for even higher prices. [0]:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sylvania-25-Watt-Double-Life-B10-Incandescent-Light-Bulb-4-Pack-10541/303762185 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sylvania-25-Watt-Double-Life-B10... [1]:https://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-40-Watt-Equivalent-B11-Dimmable-Clear-Blunt-Tip-Decorative-Candelabra-LED-Light-Bulb-Soft-White-3-Pack-5cSC300STB1D05/206833455 https://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-40-Watt-Equivalent-B11-... [2]:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Globe-Electric-60-Watt-Incandescent-S60-Vintage-Squirrel-Cage-Medium-Base-Light-Bulb-01321/205143832 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Globe-Electric-60-Watt-Incandesc...
  - diffeomorphism 9y ago
    The LEDs you linked are also about twice as bright at 1/5th the power consumption. Say you have one light bulb running three hours per day (living room, kitchen or office in the evening seems realistic). It uses 20 W more than the LED and using $0.15 per kWh (average rate in California) this gives 20 W* 3h * $0.15/(1000 Wh) * 365 = $3.29 every year If you regularly use two incandescent bulbs the "more expensive package" paid for itself within a year and gives you brighter light at the same time.

ams6110 9y ago

> I wonder if banning incandescent bulbs will be seen as a horrible health problem caused by an ill informed government. Most health problems are. Obeisity, diabetes certainly. Probably many others can be traced to government guidelines on "healthy" diet.

Retra 9y ago
This is a very careless thing to say. Most health problems are probably due to accident, contagion, sedentary lifestyle, and old age.

graeme 9y ago

So a 2000K bulb or a 2700K LED bulb is not much better than a warmer one? Or they are, but worse than incandescent? How are halogen bulbs?

sannee 9y ago

> Plus, LEDs don't have anything like a blackbody spectrum like a heated filaments What is the physiological mechanism you suspect makes this matter? I don't see any real way an LED which is metameric with sunlight would be able to make a difference (except possibly for people with some form of color blindness - who could possibly have different metamer "groups")