[quote=flu]….So a few years back, as part of an energy conservation program, I exchanged some traditional lamps I had with new “energy efficient” lamps…

The newer lamps don’t use the traditional E26 screw in socket for lightbulbs…..

…. but instead use the new GU24 socket with the two prong….

And that’s the problem…

1. Despite what folks say about CFL, they don’t nearly last as long as folks advertise them say they do. I’ve been getting maybe 1 to 1.5 year out of them before they break (usually the ballast stops working)…

2. While you can find CFL’s with the e26 bulb screw for traditional lamps relatively cheap at $1 each or sometimes even cheaper than that….A CFL with the GU24 base costs anywhere from $4 each to $8!!!! What a big scam….

3. Even ignoring the big scam price difference for CFL with a GU24 base….Disposing CFL’s is a PITA because they have mercury in them and should be properly recycled. Replacing them every 1.5 years to 2 to me doesn’t seem very green to me…..so…..

I’m considering going with LED’s…I see a bunch of newer “bulbs” that uses LED instead, which probably will last longer, and more energy efficient (albeit considerably more expensive…..)…BUT….

The LED lightbulbs sold at stores use the E26 lightbulb fitting, not the GU24!!!…..

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-SlimStyle-60W-Equivalent-Soft-White-2700K-A19-LED-Light-Bulb-4-Pack-433227/204780591?N=bm79Z5yc1v

…So now I’m stuck buying a bunch of GU24->E26 adapters to convert my “green” lamps back into a “not-so-green” lamps, so I can use a “greener” LED light bulb” that’s made to work only on “not-so-green” lamps…

http://www.bulborama.com/GU24-TO-MEDIUM-E26-SOCKET-ADAPTER-INDUSTRIAL-GRADE-p1762.html?AdID=13880cm00cm0N00559

Great…[/quote]

It’s funny that it says it’s not allowed to be sold in nearly every state:

PRODUCT SOLD : Online Only
Item cannot be shipped to the following state(s): AK,AL,AR,AZ,CA,CO,CT,DC,DE,FL,GA,GU,HI,IA,ID
,IL,IN,KS,KY,LA,MA,MD,ME,MI,MN,MO,MS,MT,NC,ND
,NE,NH,NJ,NM,NV,NY,OH,OK,OR,PA,PR,RI,SC,SD,TN
,TX,UT,VA,VI,VT,WI,WV,WY

If someone has more info on where to get all types of CFLs or LED bulbs, please post. Some of the ones I bought to replace the stock ones don’t seem to work as well.

I have a ton of bulbs I need to figure out what to do with and yeah, they last no where near as long as advertised which like you, has prompted me to consider LED as well which maybe 2x-3x as expensive, but maybe worth it for the lack of hassles.

In regards to recycle, Home Depot will typically take it I think.

most municipal dumps will have a tube waste receptable plus for batteries.

[quote=flu]1. Despite what folks say about CFL, they don’t nearly last as long as folks advertise them say they do. I’ve been getting maybe 1 to 1.5 year out of them before they break (usually the ballast stops working)…[/quote]That is strange. I have been getting a lot more life with them. I do try to stay away from off-brand though. I think in something like 8 years, only two CFLs had had to be replaced. One was in my ‘trouble light'(portable light) that suffered an impact, the other was a high power (200 watt equivalent) CFL that was over 8 years old. Most of the lights in the house are CFL, with incandescents in critical areas (where full light is needed immediately – like one lamp out of several in hallway, one lamp in middle of kitchen overhead, one lamp near specific door access.). I pulled the other incandescents out and stored them as replacements for these. I didn’t worry about getting the ‘fast warmup’ versions of CFLs. I was concerned that it might stress the electronics (push higher voltage for a longer time to implement the fast warmup).
[quote=flu]2. While you can find CFL’s with the e26 bulb screw for traditional lamps relatively cheap at $1 each or sometimes even cheaper than that….A CFL with the GU24 base costs anywhere from $4 each to $8!!!! What a big scam….[/quote]Didn’t even know about the GU24 base. I don’t understand the reason unless it is to force people to use CFLs (don’t know of any incandescents using that base). All mine are E26s.
[quote=flu]3. Even ignoring the big scam price difference for CFL with a GU24 base….Disposing CFL’s is a PITA because they have mercury in them and should be properly recycled. Replacing them every 1.5 years to 2 to me doesn’t seem very green to me…..so…..[/quote]I have a box where I ‘store’ the bad ones (only 2 so far), but the hours for hazard recycling are a problem.

Thanks for posting these adapters…I’ll have to buy some myself since the GU24s are so much more expensive.