The topic of lamps simply won't go away, and I have recently done some further measurements and tests on alternatives. The page discussing CFLs has been pretty popular, and has become so large to become unwieldy, so it's now in the process of being split into different sections. Because of the latest advances in LED lamps, they are also covered in their own sections in the pages that follow.

It is becoming very clear that the CFL is not only an interim product, but has many flaws that will severely limit its usefulness in the long term. Essentially, and in the not-too-distant future, CFLs will have to compete with LED lamps that have far greater life, are at least as efficient, but don't have anywhere near as many problems. Recycling is simplified (no mercury), and the ability to operate at very low temperatures with instant full brightness and zero ultra-violet radiation will make LEDs the lamp of choice for many applications where CFLs are simply unsuitable.

The humble incandescent lamp still has its uses though, and hopefully governments the world over will realise that it is impractical (and just plain stupid) to place an arbitrary ban on them just because they are less efficient than other forms of lighting. In quite a few applications, there are exactly zero alternatives to incandescent lamps, and the sooner this is recognised the better.

	Title	Topic	Update
	Incandescent Lamps	The worldwide 'incandescent lamp ban' debate - get some facts before you act!	Aug '08
	Fluorescent Lamps	Traditional fluorescent tube lamps and their alternatives.	Sep '08
	LED Lighting	A look at some of the latest applications for LED lighting products.	Sep '08
	ESL Lighting	Electron Stimulated Luminescence Lamps - an overview	23 Sep
	Dimmers	Dimmer technology, past, present and future.	Nov '08
	Main Index	Return to main index page
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