Fluorescent Bulbs that Last 13,000 hrs by Panasonic
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
on 06.18.08
Lighting the Future
Time flies. It was only a few years ago that compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) were these "weird looking new things". Now they are everywhere and most people who look to the future are keeping an eye on LED bulbs.
Panasonic's New Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb
But that doesn't mean that CFLs aren't improving anymore! Their cost certainly has gone down with mass production, but their performance is also getting better. The latest announcement on that front is by Panasonic with the "Pa-Look Ball Premium Q" CFL (what a horrible name). What's special about it? It is a hybrid lightbulb that uses a "quick lamp" to help it reach full brightness about 50% faster than other fluorescents. It also has a longer life (rated at 13,000 hours, and 40,000 cycles). Only downside is that so far there's only a 10-watt model (which is equivalent to 54-watt incandescent). Panasonic develops new fluorescent bulbs that last for 13,000 hours, via Engadget. See also: Is Mercury from a Broken CFL Dangerous?
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I don't get the story here. I have had instant on CFLs for years in my house. Flip switch..full brightness.
@bulgarian solicitors says "I have had instant on CFLs for years in my house. Flip switch..full brightness."
ok.. so what brand do you have?
Although I agree we need to look for new ways to conserve our electricity consumption, I don't think CFLs are such a great idea. The tiny amount of mercury in each bulb doesn't pose much health risk, but when you look at the potential TOTAL number of CFLs being used in the US, and consider how many of them will most likely end up in landfills, that is a lot of additional mercury being introduced into our environment. Many towns and cities do not make recycling such products easy, and for most people, the trash bin is MUCH easier than driving across town to a recycling center.
Currently there are no ENERGY STAR qualified CFL bulbs manufactured in the United States. In fact, almost ALL of the CFLs available for purchase in the USA are made in China--a nation which is notorious for shoddy manufacturing quality, complete disregard for environmental laws, and the use of dangerous and toxic chemicals in their products. China oppresses it's own people, has slave-like labor conditions, and is actively engaged in computer-hacking espionage against the USA. Why would ANYONE in the USA agree to buy CFLS when their purchase is supporting such a nation?
At one time, the USA was the most technologically advanced nation on the planet. We had a top-notch industrial base, some of the best scientific minds doing research, and our citizens were proud, hard-working, and innovative. If we put HALF the effort into alternative energy and green technology that we put into the Apollo program, or one 10th of the effort we put into fighting wars for oil, we could be completely energy self-sufficient in under 10 years.
People in industrialized nations need to stop looking to their governments for solutions. We have the power, the knowledge, and the skills to take charge of this situation on our own.
I'd much rather live in a "green" world than in a world full of pollution and waste. On the other hand, given the choice, I'd rather keep my incandescent lights and NOT live in a "big brother" state that did business with one of the most oppressive tyranies on the planet...
Richard, that is true that collectively the CFLs are a hazard, which is why you should dispose of them correctly. But in the US, more mercury is coming out of coal power plants, so CFLs actually reduce the number of mercury..
Still, LED bulbs will be much better. Can't wait for them to be a bit better and less expensive.