Comments on: The rocky (buzzy) road to lower energy use

By: Jill Hurst-Wahl

Jill Hurst-Wahl — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:00:42 +0000

I notice the “buzz” when we switched some of our bathroom lights to more efficient ones. Since these are the lights over the vanity (and not the ceiling light), I am likely the only person affected in the household (being the only female) and the sound has not yet driven me made. Thank the heavens that these bulbs aren’t in a fixture that is used more often!

By: walt

walt — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:36:17 +0000

Mary Beth: Regular CFL’s shouldn’t buzz; my wife’s stood within inches of my four-CFL light (and regularly stands right next to the kitchen CFL) with no reports of trouble.

The migraine problem is different, I suspect, and may have to do with very high frequency flicker or even the odd color spectrum of some CFLs. This is an area I know nothing about.

I really hope LEDs (which would not flicker and should have a proper 6500K white) come down in price soon enough…they’re the “preferred future,” I think.

By: Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran

Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:10:08 +0000

Oh,dear – that’s what I was afraid of. I’m like you wife, with what my husband affectionately calls Bat Hearing. That buzzing will drive me….well, batty.

Interestingly, we have two CFL lamps in the kitchen that aren’t dimmable, and they don’t buzz at all.

I must admit, I’ve been tempted to buy a bunch of incandescent bulbs before they’re extinct…..

By: GeekChic

GeekChic — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:54:33 +0000

Yick. I loathe CFLs because they trigger my migraines (just like standard fluorescent lights). I have not tried LED lights but I can only hope that they are better than CFLs or I’ll have to start hoarding incandescent bulbs!