I still wonder the same about the EU and LED lighting. Prohibiting traditional bulbs was highly controversial at the time

▲

dylan604 3 days ago | parent [-]

if we didn't transition through the horrible days of CFLs first. since we did, that's a big knock against

▲

wongarsu 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

If cheap LED light bulbs had been around we wouldn't have need legislation in the first place. Both Germany's solar subsidies and the EU prohibiting (high power) incandescent light bulbs were cases where existing alternatives were bad (solar was way too expensive to be practical, non-incandescent light bulbs sucked), but legislation intentionally created demand for them anyways in hopes that with demand there would be research and scaling effects that create better cheaper products. In both cases it worked, even if the transition was a bit painful in both cases.

▲

Steve10538 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Don't knock CFLs. We still have the very first 2 we brought back in 1985, 13W Philips Prismatics. Been in continuous use, both outdoors under a portico. Still going strong.

	▲	dredmorbius a day ago \| parent [-]
		Efficiency- and longevity-wise, pretty good. They're fragile as heck, though, and contain mercury (albeit a small quantity in a relatively less-harmful form). Breakage needs to be handled appropriately, and disposal is as hazardous waste. LEDs are more efficient, offer better (and often more flexible) light quality, are damndably rugged, and have far less toxic material load. Given the balance, I'd be swapping out CFLs (and have been).