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Question from Dawn Magstadt

Hi Debra,

Thank you for all you do. Hey, I was wondering, I’ve come upon yet another seemingly simple thing with huge implications, lighting.

I’ve been avoiding the light bulb situation and I won’t buy the curly ones (mercury is mercury–bad enough. I have some in my mouth and the fish I eat, and like who’s gonna really toss the bulbs not in the trash can? please.

Then the Dollar Store, my refuge from Walmart confusion, let me down in that
they burned out within a month this time. So I resigned myself to go to Menards (like Home Depot etc) and saw LED.

Then there’s some kinds (can’t recall–from another excursion) that say they can get hot(I’m thinkin’ that’s Halogen). I had 3 Halogen tall pole lamps in the 90s and I never bought a replacement bulb in 10 years! I take that back, maybe once for one. Then I divorced and who knows, they probably still burned after that. So a few years ago I merely bought a desk Halogen and it burned out in a week! I’m like what gives in a decade? Now they burn out? Made no sense.

I don’t want any bulbs to start a fire in my cheapy Goodwill lamps, my god. Might as well burn beeswax candles; at least it would be healthy and cost about the same as those expensive bulbs. I don’t mind expensive if it lasts, but then I read LED is directional and may keep melatonine from happening. I love the light they give but not on people’s cars (which seems like I’ve seen–too bright, albeit clear, must be hunting snipes, lol). I thought those for melatonine were the UV watcha ma call it clear bulbs. It’s nice they all are in light bulb form now but it was easier to know what was what when their shapes were different. I mean Halogen were little bity, not a bulb.

And then they (the god makers of light) claim regular florescent works for plants when in fact, I read before you’d have to have them no further away than 4″, now they act like any old bulb will do. How can that have changed in only 7 yrs?

Would they just organize it, make up their minds so I can just grab a pack of bulbs and feel comfortable that I won’t burn my apt building down and lose everything and that I won’t get depressed
or end up with a sleep disorder. I mean come on people.

So I’m saying…have you done any research?

It just seems odd, does it not, that when it’s all about light, it’s in the dark. And of course it’s complicated and of course it’s polluted.

Debra’s Answer

I’ve done a lot of research about this over the years and could organize it, and will, but can’t in this blog post today. Lighting is changing so quickly it’s hard to keep up with it.

I’ll just give you a quick answer by telling you what I use.

First, I’ve done things to have more natural light in my home, like install skylights. I have a big skylight over my shower, so I rarely turn on a light when I go in the bathroom. Even at night I have a little nightlight, so there’s no need to turn on the overhead light.

Then, I’ve purchased light fixtures that take incandescent type bulbs. And I use Philips EcoVantage bulbs, which are halogens inside of a bulb that is the same size and shape as an incandescent. I’ve never had a problem with overheating.

I also have a fixture over my kitchen sink that takes small halogens. It’s all metal and glass, so no problem with overheating. The fixture is designed for halogens.

As a rule, I don’t use overhead lights, except in the hallway. I much prefer task lighting, which also saves energy.

Simple.

Hope this helps your dilemma!

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