Hi Robin,

I thought I was doing well replacing many of my light bulbs with efficient, fluorescent, energy saving light bulbs.

I have dimmer switches in my kitchen and dining room. The new fluorescent bulbs all blew out within a short period of time, so I, too, asked the question.

In fine print on some packaging, and as I asked in the hardware stores and also electricians, they made it clear that dimmer switches and fluorescent bulbs do not match. My solution was not to replace the dimmer switch, but the bulbs. To replace the switch is probably a greener solution.I do use the dimmer.

I put in a combination light-fan in my bedroom. Dimmer switch simply doesn't work with that, so that turns into an on/off, no more dimming, but the trade off is having the fan. The bulbs are being replaced with fluorescent energy saving bulbs.

I am disappointed the energy saving bulbs can't be dimmed.

thanks Sally. For now I will tape the dimmer switch so it's only on full.

Energy saving technology can be dimmed, it's just you have to go a little further ($$) to get there.

The general compact fluorescent is incompatible with general dimming technology.

The switch alone won't "fix" your situation. The compact fluorescent design is actually more pivotal.

-DJ

Engineer Speak:

A dimmer usually chops up the AC voltage in a way that a burning filament (incandescent bulb) doesn't care about. The chopped up voltage, however, is NOT friendly to the transformer in a compact fluorescent nor the circuits inside designed for full nominal voltage. It will generally burn the compact fluorescent and there is a certain danger associated with this. Usually you just end up "letting the smoke out" of the compact fluorescent.

Nothing electronic works after the smoke gets out. It's the smoke that makes them work. ;)

they also burn out and overheat quickly in covered lights like glass ceiling fixtures

about the only place we use them are in lamps and spot lights

I have replaced most all light bulbs in my house with the energy efficient flourescent bulbs. I have one bedroom left that has a dimmer switch, have replaced all others with a regular on/off switch. I also have 2 exterior flood lights with the flourescent flood lights.

We also separate most of our garbage, paper,glass & plastic, metal for Chicago's blue bag program. We are now trying to reduce paper waste, paper towels, napkins, paper plates, paper & plastic grocery bags.

YES ..dimmers can be used with a special CFL designed to work with a dimmer. These bulbs typically can only be dimmed by about 20%..

From an article on CFL's and dimmers:

To use a compact fluorescent bulb on a dimmer switch, you must buy a bulb that's specifically made to work with dimmers (check the package). GE makes a dimming compact fluorescent light bulb (called the GE Longlife Plus Soft White Energy Saving Bulb) that is specially designed for use with dimming switches. We don't recommend using regular compact fluorescent bulbs with dimming switches, since this can shorten bulb life. (Using a regular compact fluorescent bulb with a dimmer will also nullify the bulb's warranty.)

Wow Froggy...if anyone should know about being green....IT'S YOU!

You know stuff!