oh i am green, really i am in many many other ways....but until they can make the new fandangled bulbs to look and feel EXACTLY like the incandescents - I will continue to deplete my stash. The new bulbs seriously make me ugh...can't even explain - just so not happy

I kinda think that CFLS may become the 8-track cassette of the lighting world. As pc as it is to use them, I have always wondered about disposal. And, my eyes seem to need more light than they used to.

I'm going to hoard. I use the fluorescents lots of places but the light is horrible in the bathroom when I trying to put on make-up.

And honestly, this law is another ill-advised example of nickle and diming the consumer (in my experience, the fluorescents fail as often as incandescent at four times the price) while ignoring large scale energy squandering of huge corporations.

Yep, same here. I'm green in many other ways, but if the bulb is visible, I won't do the CFL's. They're an eye sore.

Yep. I am actively hoarding. Funny how many people have revealed themselves as incandescent obsessed...not just visual artists and cheapskates...but regular folk. I am sure technology will eventually prevail...we can build a light that is pleasing, green, and cheap...right?

Another problem Ive found - I have a lot of vintage lamps, and the new bulbs are too tall to fit into some of them! In fact I busted one trying to squeeze it in, possibly giving me who knows what silent cancer.........

The incandescent phase-out just seems punitive - an extreme minority dictating policy just to needle everyone. I am a committed composting, cloth napkin using, thermostat at 63 kind of person, but I totally have an incandescent stash in the basement.

"Green" is just another marketing scheme. If you really want to be green, turn off the lights. Not so "green" anymore, huh? I've been hoarding.

Hoarder here. I don't drive and SUV (use subway mostly), don't own/het/light a McMansion, don't need the house overheated or over-cooled. Don't understand why the hallways in my apt building are lit like an operating room 24 hrs a day. Don't understand lots of wasteful energy use I see all around me, and definitely don't understand why we are being forced to use mercury-laden over-priced bulbs that are horrible and will most-likey be abandoned in just a few years.

That said, I do foresee better, more efficient lighting in the future, but I'd like to see other means of energy savings, too.

The new bulbs are beyond ugly. The light they cast is ugly. They hum. I still use the old xmas lights too. LED xmas lights are a topic I can't even get into.

..My poor future children will never know the joy of beautiful light bulbs.

I will never switch!

I thought they were already gone.

I bought a case of the new type bulbs when I moved. I like them. They are bright, and cheaper to use.

They do look weird in the bathroom, but I had a bathroom with 1050 watts of incandescent bulbs when I moved it. The bathroom was BLINDING! So the new bulbs are an improvement.

As I mentioned above, I only use them in places that you won't see the bulb and that isnt an area I'm in for long periods of time. However, I made the mistake of buying "Daylight" CFL's recently and mother of God, I'm not sure what planet this kind of daylight exists on, but it certainly isn't Earth. It was horrifying. I am hoarding for all my chandeliers....multiple type "G"'s!

Have you used a good LED light? I have one of these panasonic light bulbs (the one that looks yellow when it's off) and it's almost indistinguishable to me from incandescent in the fixture (with a shade of thin wooden slats). Yes it's expensive for a light bulb but the cost is *up front*. The energy cost is the same as CFL. Assuming it lasts it says I have no regrets about spending a little more for better light bulb.

By all means don't do anything you don't want to do - so hoard away. I just think in a few years these differences won't be so important.

I light candles. I'm old school.

@Heathercan - no need to hoard your Type G. They're not included in the phase out.

http://energystar.supportportal.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=24835&hitOffset=156&docID=732

Sigh. I want to use the fluorescent bulbs - I don't feel that passionately about the "old" kind. I've used a few fluorescent bulbs that were OK, but for some reason, lately I can't find a brand that's any good. The light tends to be blinding and kind of green. Does anyone have a recommendation for a fluorescent brand that doesn't suck?

Not all CFLs are created alike. Try some other kinds/brands if you haven't found one that works for you yet.

Hoarding! Especially the 100-watts I need for a specific chandelier. too bad I can't carbon trade for these.

annstarr - the ones currently in our bedside lamps are Feit Electric. I've found them great for reading and not overly harsh. You might want to also consider LED. Test it in the store first if you can though. They're BRIGHT!

Don't panic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/garden/fearing-the-phase-out-of-incandescent-bulbs.html?pagewanted=all

They are not all getting band. Geez.

They have to meet new energy standards, plain and simple. Some newer incandescent do and will remain on the shelf. Lets take a chill pill everybody.

Another hoarder here. Maybe I'm overly sensitive but all of the CFLs I've tried give me migranes after a few hours. Also the cool tones make everything look inaccurate color wise which is a problem if you're a designer. I will go for natural light over all else, but don't see myself using CFLs until the technology improves significantly.

Great article Zinzilove. I had no doubt there would be an incandescent that would meet the new standards. It was interesting to see in that article when they'd hit the shelves.

I have no need or desire to hoard. We've currently got a mix of LED, CFL and specialty incandescent and will most likely continue that mix.

Hoarder here.

I was diagnosed with Lupus five years ago. The new bulbs have been found to trigger flares, butterfly rashes, and overall discomfort in people with Lupus. I've had issues with fluorescent bulbs personally. When I go home, I like the ease of lighting that won't make me ill.

Ridiculous.

I bought an LED bulb for a small lamp that currently flickers a bit with a CFL. But the LED says on the packaging to not use with a dimmer.

Ugh. 90% of my lights are on dimmers.

We recently stocked up on some incandescent bulbs since all the CFLs I've tried (even those little bitty ones) seem too tall to fit into a few of my lamps/fixtures. I don't mind the CFLs in general (although I agree it depends on the brand/color--we just had to return a bunch to Home Depot that were awful, and don't even get me started on that "daylight" one--so jarring and weirdly greeny-blue), but I don't want to have to get rid of my lamps if I don't have to.

I've found plenty of CFLs that give the same kind of light as incandecent and use those everywhere I can. The only exposed bulbs I have are in chandeliers, and I can't seem to find CFLs with the right base to fit those. If I could, I'd probably switch those out too. I love that the CFLs last so much longer than incandescent bulbs and aren't anywhere near as hot to the touch.

I understand complaints about the aesthetics of the bulbs themselves when they're exposed, but the argument that they don't give off the same kind of light is sort of unfounded at this point. And if you have a Home Depot or Lowe's nearby, you can recycle CFLs there. Sure, it's not as convenient as your garbage can, but it is available.

Plus, if you ask me, the lightbulbs in that lead photo don't look terribly different from squiggly CFLs.

Sigh. Please get your facts correct. From the EPA website. "It’s not entirely correct to say "CFLs will be required" or “incandescents will be phased out” because the standards set by the bill are technology neutral, and by 2012, a next generation of incandescent bulbs could satisfy the 30% increased efficiency. "

Source: http://energystar.supportportal.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=24835&hitOffset=156&docID=732

It irritates me to no end that apartment therapy continues to spread this nonsense that all incandescent bulbs are being banned. In addition, I love CFLs. Not only do I love the smaller energy bill, I rather like the cool light. I think warm color palates look country and old lady-ish and the "warm color" of incandescent bulbs only adds to that. I like the cold, sterile light of CFLs. Also, in Texas it is very, very hot, and yes, I can feel the heat from that incandescent bulb from over here. It's nice to have some light that the A/C doesn't have to compete with.

I've spent a small fortune on various CFL lightbulbs that simply won't work or won't fit in the fixtures of my old house. I hate the light they put out, and when I try to do the right thing despite that, they end up in the trash. Talk about counterproductive.

This legislation is GREAT news! It improves the efficiency of incandescent light bulbs and phases out the older, less-efficient models! This is a win-win situation, people. Why would you want to hoard a bunch of inefficient bulbs? Would you go around and buy up all the 1985 Honda Civics when they're selling new ones for practically the same price?

I just ordered a bunch of incandescent bulbs from bulbs.com - mostly 3 way bulbs for reading lamps and 100 watt bulbs for ceiling fixtures on dimmers. I don't really have room for storing lots and lots of bulbs, but I get frustrated not being able to find cheap incandescent bulbs in SF.

Wow. For some reason it never occurred to me to just use incandescents, despite my hatred for CFLs. All 18 bulbs in my smallish apartment were CFLs when I moved in -- I bought more CFLs for two desk lamps, and finally got around to ordering LED bulbs for the desks since that's where we need the best light the most. It seriously never occurred to me to just get some incandescents for where I want the best light (kitchen and bathroom).

I am one of those who have migraines triggered by cfl bulbs. My compromise is cfl's installed on the exterior of my home because of the extended hours of use. I have acquired a stash of my favorite incandescents over the past year when it occured to me they were likely to become difficult to obtain. 60, 75, 100W and a few floods.

Am I the only person that prefers the light from a CFL? I remember having incandescent growing up and the yellow light always bothered me. When my parents switched to CFL, I thought, "I can see clearly now!" LOL OK, an exaggeration, but . . . I'm not fond of yellow light. Perhaps it's because I'm an artist and I like clean light so I know what I'm looking at? Also, I find that doing my make up in CFL helps me achieve the look I want Vs using an incandescent?

Is it really just me?

Otherwise, I'm not sure I understand what the big fuss is about--besides the aesthetic aspect of it--they're ugly and you better make sure your lamp shade will cover it!

This reminds me of the "sponge-worthy" episode of Seinfeld.

I actually like the bright white light of CFLs in the bathroom. But I miss the "yellow" glow from traditional CFLs in other areas - especially the bedroom. I'm hoping they improve this technology soon.

what about the 'reveal' bulbs..everything is clear colored as it really is in 'real life'. I def. can tell I don't understand the bulb types or differences../can I ask someone in the know here? Just for my few lamps about my small aparment..thank you : }

No one here uses halogen bulbs? They aren't affected by the legislation because they are sufficiently efficient. I have confirmed that several times.

CFL bulbs just don't fit in many lamps, especially designer ones. If you manage to find one short enough and dimable, a must for any lamp with a built in dimmer, the amount of light output is pathetic.

Are halogen cooler than incandescent? Yes. Better than CFL? YES!

I'm a little late to the party, but if you're looking for solid alternatives to the incandescent lamps and you don't want to sacrifice, color, dimming or soft white light I strongly encourage you to look into halogen alternatives.

I'm a lighting designer with 13 years experience and I've written a book on the subject jamesbedell.com/pages/losing-edison

Already starting to hoard... incandescent bulbs are much easier on the eyes for reading and we need them for our dimmers. We don't replace them very often and they don't contain mercury which is much better for the environment.

Agree with Taureg and jamesbedell - halogens! Also, thanks to all the voices of reason who reminded us that they are not being banned but required to meet higher efficiency standards!

Thanks @jamesbedell! I'm having trouble identifying the two. I have those swirly cone lightbulbs all throughout my house and, no exaggeration, they give me headaches. I have to sitting directly underneath them or with my back to them in order to be able to focus, "yellow" light in my field of vision drives me batty. My rental kitchen had the long white light bulbs which I ADORED until they broke and I haven't yet gotten around to replacing them. Is there any "white" light alternative I could use for my lamps?

With the end of the Aztec calender just around the corner, who has time to be PC. I look youngest in incandescent light which decides it for me. And thank the Lord above that it has been some time since I visited a landfill.