General discussion & info about South Walton, Florida.

All About SoWal

Advertise or find a business, discuss business.

Business & Services

Jobs

Festivals, classes, gatherings, activities.

Events & Music

Food & Dining

Marketplace

property, realtors, builders, development, infrastructure ...

Real Estate

Long Term Rentals

Vacation Rentals

SoWal Lounge

Beach Runner

beats on hood

I bought LED Christmas lights to be "green." I hate them. They are supposed to be white, but they are freakin' blue. :bang: I am a Tulane grad, so I guess they are my Hannukah lights. :idontno:
 
As an alternative, I could add my orange lights to them to invoke a Gator theme to my Christmas decorations.

I bought LED Christmas lights to be &quot;green.&quot; I hate them. They are supposed to be white, but they are freakin&#039; blue. :bang: I am a Tulane grad, so I guess they are my Hannukah lights. :idontno: 
 
As an alternative, I could add my orange lights to them to invoke a Gator theme to my Christmas decorations.

Matt J

SWGB

50,000 hours
2083.33 days
5.71 years

That's if you left it on continuously.

50,000 hours 
2083.33 days 
5.71 years 
 
That&#039;s if you left it on continuously.

[quote="Beach Runner, post: 508226"]I bought LED Christmas lights to be "green." I hate them. They are supposed to be white, but they are freakin' blue. :bang: I am a Tulane grad, so I guess they are my Hannukah lights. :idontno:
 
As an alternative, I could add my orange lights to them to invoke a Gator theme to my Christmas decorations.[/quote]

Look again, they are in fact white.  The eye sees blue since regular bulbs put off a yellow glow.  Hold them up to a piece of white paper.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Beach Runner">I bought LED Christmas lights to be &quot;green.&quot; I hate them. They are supposed to be white, but they are freakin&#039; blue. :bang: I am a Tulane grad, so I guess they are my Hannukah lights. :idontno: 
 
As an alternative, I could add my orange lights to them to invoke a Gator theme to my Christmas decorations.</blockquote> 
Look again, they are in fact white. The eye sees blue since regular bulbs put off a yellow glow. Hold them up to a piece of white paper.

[quote="sowalgayboi, post: 508235"]Look again, they are in fact white. The eye sees blue since regular bulbs put off a yellow glow. Hold them up to a piece of white paper.[/quote]
You are right. The "white" lights to which we are accustomed actually emit a yellow tone. Double-E researcher/future son-in-law says that since the LED lights are directional, it exacerbates this effect. He suggested sanding the bulbs. Like I'll sand 50 lights per strand. They'll just have to look blue.
 
Hey, John R., do the bulbs that Ecogeek suggests require a Hazmat team in case one breaks, as is true with the twirly ones?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="sowalgayboi">Look again, they are in fact white. The eye sees blue since regular bulbs put off a yellow glow. Hold them up to a piece of white paper.</blockquote>You are right. The &quot;white&quot; lights to which we are accustomed actually emit a yellow tone. Double-E researcher/future son-in-law says that since the LED lights are directional, it exacerbates this effect. He suggested sanding the bulbs. Like I&#039;ll sand 50 lights per strand. They&#039;ll just have to look blue. 
 
Hey, John R., do the bulbs that Ecogeek suggests require a Hazmat team in case one breaks, as is true with the twirly ones?

Danny Burns

Beach Fanatic

[quote="Beach Runner, post: 508301"]You are right. The "white" lights to which we are accustomed actually emit a yellow tone. Double-E researcher/future son-in-law says that since the LED lights are directional, it exacerbates this effect. He suggested sanding the bulbs. Like I'll sand 50 lights per strand. They'll just have to look blue.
 
Hey, John R., do the bulbs that Ecogeek suggests require a Hazmat team in case one breaks, as is true with the twirly ones?[/quote]
 
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=2]An excellent question BR, but no, LEDs are light emiting diodes and firmly encased in plastic. You would have to smash them with a hammer to expose the elements. But no mercury, nor anything toxic substance is present to recycle or be concerned about inside the casing. I have handled thousands of them in my 30 year electronic career. They are basically 1/2 of a transistor (one junction instead of two) of "doped" silicon between two metal mounting leads. Doped silicon is silicon that has another element imbedded in it that produces a particular effect when charged with electricity. In this case, light. [/SIZE][/FONT]
 
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=2]Depending upon which element it is doped with, it produces a different color of light. That and the color of the plastic in which it is encased will produce many different colors. LEDs are present in numerous devices that have been used safely for the last 40+ years. You see them in most "on" and "indicator" lights on your VCRs, DVDs and most electronic devices you have in your home. Most are red, green, or blue. Even the numeric indicators on many displays (like alarm clocks) are 7 segment LEDs with different segments lit to display numerals 0 through 9. Look at them clocely and you can see the different sections turn off and on depending on the time or number displayed.[/SIZE][/FONT]
 
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=2]Many LED bulbs made today are omni-directional and will emit light in a 180 degree pattern without any modification like the bulbs demonstrated by ecogeek in the video because there numerous LEDs inside the bulb casing. These things are really a great concept for saving electricity. As soon as my CFLs wear out, I will be replacing them with LED bulbs. But so far, the CFLs have lasted me for 4+ years and saved me over $250 per year. I hope this helps you and did not confuse you even more. I'm also a eco/technogeek and sometimes can get carried away while attempting to explain new great technological innovations like this one. Thanks JR for the video heads up. Good on ya![/SIZE][/FONT]

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Beach Runner">You are right. The &quot;white&quot; lights to which we are accustomed actually emit a yellow tone. Double-E researcher/future son-in-law says that since the LED lights are directional, it exacerbates this effect. He suggested sanding the bulbs. Like I&#039;ll sand 50 lights per strand. They&#039;ll just have to look blue. 
 
Hey, John R., do the bulbs that Ecogeek suggests require a Hazmat team in case one breaks, as is true with the twirly ones?</blockquote> 
An excellent question BR, but no, LEDs are light emiting diodes and firmly encased in plastic. You would have to smash them with a hammer to expose the elements. But no mercury, nor anything toxic substance is present to recycle or be concerned about inside the casing. I have handled thousands of them in my 30 year electronic career. They are basically 1/2 of a transistor (one junction instead of two) of &quot;doped&quot; silicon between two metal mounting leads. Doped silicon is silicon that has another element imbedded in it that produces a particular effect when charged with electricity. In this case, light. 
 
Depending upon which element it is doped with, it produces a different color of light. That and the color of the plastic in which it is encased will produce many different colors. LEDs are present in numerous devices that have been used safely for the last 40+ years. You see them in most &quot;on&quot; and &quot;indicator&quot; lights on your VCRs, DVDs and most electronic devices you have in your home. Most are red, green, or blue. Even the numeric indicators on many displays (like alarm clocks) are 7 segment LEDs with different segments lit to display numerals 0 through 9. Look at them clocely and you can see the different sections turn off and on depending on the time or number displayed. 
 
Many LED bulbs made today are omni-directional and will emit light in a 180 degree pattern without any modification like the bulbs demonstrated by ecogeek in the video because there numerous LEDs inside the bulb casing. These things are really a great concept for saving electricity. As soon as my CFLs wear out, I will be replacing them with LED bulbs. But so far, the CFLs have lasted me for 4+ years and saved me over $250 per year. I hope this helps you and did not confuse you even more. I&#039;m also a eco/technogeek and sometimes can get carried away while attempting to explain new great technological innovations like this one. Thanks JR for the video heads up. Good on ya!

Thanks for the info, analogman (not digitalman?). But what about this which concerns me?
[URL]http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198[/URL]

Thanks for the info, analogman (not digitalman?). But what about this which concerns me? 
<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198</a>

[quote="Beach Runner, post: 508390"]Thanks for the info, analogman (not digitalman?). But what about this which concerns me?
[URL]http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198[/URL][/quote]
 
Home Depot now takes these bulbs and recycles them properly. The LED bulbs have NONE of the toxic mercury elements of CFLs.
 
And it's definitely Analogman. Most commercial digital audio delivery formats sound awful to me! Listen to an mp3 and a 33 1/3 record album of the same material (yes, they're making a dramatic comeback) and you'll hear a startling difference!!

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Beach Runner">Thanks for the info, analogman (not digitalman?). But what about this which concerns me? 
<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198</a></blockquote> 
Home Depot now takes these bulbs and recycles them properly. The LED bulbs have NONE of the toxic mercury elements of CFLs. 
 
And it&#039;s definitely Analogman. Most commercial digital audio delivery formats sound awful to me! Listen to an mp3 and a 33 1/3 record album of the same material (yes, they&#039;re making a dramatic comeback) and you&#039;ll hear a startling difference!!

John R

needs to get out more

From the article you referenced:

"I share your frustration that there isn't a national infrastructure for the proper recycling of this product," says Wendy Reed, who manages EPA's Energy Star program. That programs gives the compact bulbs its "energy star" seal of approval.

She says that even though fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, using them contributes [B]less mercury to the environment than using regular incandescent bulbs.[/B] That's because they use less electricity ? and coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of mercury emissions in the air.

and;

Why Use a CFL?

NPR.org, February 8, 2007 ? According to the federal government, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star approved compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), the United States would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

Energy Star is a joint project with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy that promotes energy efficient ? and thus climate-friendly ? products.

But not all CFLs are created equal. Here, some tips from Energy Star about what to look for and where to use a CFL:

The Benefits

? Energy Star qualified CFLs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer (average lifespan of a CFL is five years).

? CFLs save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb's lifetime.

? CFLs generate 70 percent less heat, making them safer to operate.

Where to Use

? To get the most energy savings, replace bulbs where lights are on the most, such as the family and living rooms, kitchen, dining room and porch.

? Install them in hard to reach fixtures, like ceiling fans.

? Make sure the CFL matches the right fixture by reading any restrictions on the package. Some CFLs work with dimmers, others are specially made for recessed or enclosed fixtures.

Myths

? CFLs have a harsh, cold light quality. Increasingly, this is less of an issue. Over the past few years, manufacturers have worked to provide a warmer color. Some people say they still notice a difference, but the gap is narrowing. For a warmer, white light, look for a color temperature of 2,700?3,000K on the package.

? CFLs aren't for bathrooms. Not necessarily. CFLs can work in bathrooms, but humidity may shorten the bulb's life.

? CFLs can't be used in older houses. In fact, CFLs may work better than incandescent bulbs in houses with older wiring; CFLs generate less heat and draw less electrical current.

The [URL="http://sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=29238&highlight=home+depot"]Home Depot[/URL] has a CFL recycling program, for unbroken bulbs.

I understand your concern regarding the potential impact of a broken CFL, but I'm believing that by the time I break one, there will be a readily available disposal option.  If you're concerned you'll break them, utilize them in out out the way places where they're less likely to get hit.

From the article you referenced: 
 
&quot;I share your frustration that there isn&#039;t a national infrastructure for the proper recycling of this product,&quot; says Wendy Reed, who manages EPA&#039;s Energy Star program. That programs gives the compact bulbs its &quot;energy star&quot; seal of approval. 
 
She says that even though fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, using them contributes less mercury to the environment than using regular incandescent bulbs. That&#039;s because they use less electricity ? and coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of mercury emissions in the air. 
 
and; 
 
Why Use a CFL? 
 
NPR.org, February 8, 2007 ? According to the federal government, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star approved compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), the United States would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars. 
 
Energy Star is a joint project with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy that promotes energy efficient ? and thus climate-friendly ? products. 
 
But not all CFLs are created equal. Here, some tips from Energy Star about what to look for and where to use a CFL: 
 
The Benefits 
 
? Energy Star qualified CFLs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer (average lifespan of a CFL is five years). 
 
? CFLs save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb&#039;s lifetime. 
 
? CFLs generate 70 percent less heat, making them safer to operate. 
 
Where to Use 
 
? To get the most energy savings, replace bulbs where lights are on the most, such as the family and living rooms, kitchen, dining room and porch. 
 
? Install them in hard to reach fixtures, like ceiling fans. 
 
? Make sure the CFL matches the right fixture by reading any restrictions on the package. Some CFLs work with dimmers, others are specially made for recessed or enclosed fixtures. 
 
Myths 
 
? CFLs have a harsh, cold light quality. Increasingly, this is less of an issue. Over the past few years, manufacturers have worked to provide a warmer color. Some people say they still notice a difference, but the gap is narrowing. For a warmer, white light, look for a color temperature of 2,700?3,000K on the package. 
 
? CFLs aren&#039;t for bathrooms. Not necessarily. CFLs can work in bathrooms, but humidity may shorten the bulb&#039;s life. 
 
? CFLs can&#039;t be used in older houses. In fact, CFLs may work better than incandescent bulbs in houses with older wiring; CFLs generate less heat and draw less electrical current. 
 
The <a href="http://sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=29238&amp;highlight=home+depot" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Home Depot</a> has a CFL recycling program, for unbroken bulbs. 
 
I understand your concern regarding the potential impact of a broken CFL, but I&#039;m believing that by the time I break one, there will be a readily available disposal option. If you&#039;re concerned you&#039;ll break them, utilize them in out out the way places where they&#039;re less likely to get hit.

[quote="John R, post: 508398"]From the article you referenced:
 
I understand your concern regarding the potential impact of a broken CFL, but I'm believing that by the time I break one, there will be a readily available disposal option. If you're concerned you'll break them, utilize them in out out the way places where they're less likely to get hit.[/quote]
My take on this is to just keep them away from renters. They break everything and things you can't even imagine. It's like I need to post a sign, "Don't run inside the house with a kitchen knife pointed at your chest. Don't dive into the pool from the roof." Etc., etc.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="John R">From the article you referenced: 
 
I understand your concern regarding the potential impact of a broken CFL, but I&#039;m believing that by the time I break one, there will be a readily available disposal option. If you&#039;re concerned you&#039;ll break them, utilize them in out out the way places where they&#039;re less likely to get hit.</blockquote>My take on this is to just keep them away from renters. They break everything and things you can&#039;t even imagine. It&#039;s like I need to post a sign, &quot;Don&#039;t run inside the house with a kitchen knife pointed at your chest. Don&#039;t dive into the pool from the roof.&quot; Etc., etc.

[quote="Beach Runner, post: 508709"]My take on this is to just keep them away from renters. They break everything and things you can't even imagine. It's like I need to post a sign, "Don't run inside the house with a kitchen knife pointed at your chest. Don't dive into the pool from the roof." Etc., etc.[/quote]

Here you go.

[url]http://www.contractgasketing.com/light_bulb_coating.pdf[/url]

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Beach Runner">My take on this is to just keep them away from renters. They break everything and things you can&#039;t even imagine. It&#039;s like I need to post a sign, &quot;Don&#039;t run inside the house with a kitchen knife pointed at your chest. Don&#039;t dive into the pool from the roof.&quot; Etc., etc.</blockquote> 
Here you go. 
 
<a href="http://www.contractgasketing.com/light_bulb_coating.pdf" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.contractgasketing.com/light_bulb_coating.pdf</a>

Kase626

John R, This just might have been the most educational/hilarious video I have ever seen. :lol:

organicmama

There was a CFL broken here.  Of course, we know who broke it.  Little man.  
 
BUT, it was actually the packaging malfunction that caused it.  Just brought in groceries and he grabbed it while it was still in the package out of the sack.  We weren't in the house more than 2 minutes.  He dropped it just out of my reach, the package opened immediately and it broke.  I freaked out and called Suzanne at FTHOI for help in what to do.  We did everything that we could from what she was telling me and aired out the house for hours.  I had to get over my panic attack about it and realize that his mercury & poisonous substance exposure is probably a lot less than most kids.
 
Aren't those dang plastic packages usually really difficult to open, like you need a freaking secret code?  Not this time.
 
Mr. Clean has a ban on the CFLs for the moment.  When I buy them (in the future), I will keep the bag of groceries on the counter and away from the 2 1/2 foot busy-body from hail.
 
And, no, they don't work well in bathrooms.  They don't light up well.  The info from John R really makes sense.
 
Analogman, thanks for the info on the fact that Home Depot takes the UNBROKEN ones.

There was a CFL broken here. Of course, we know who broke it. Little man. 
 
BUT, it was actually the packaging malfunction that caused it. Just brought in groceries and he grabbed it while it was still in the package out of the sack. We weren&#039;t in the house more than 2 minutes. He dropped it just out of my reach, the package opened immediately and it broke. I freaked out and called Suzanne at FTHOI for help in what to do. We did everything that we could from what she was telling me and aired out the house for hours. I had to get over my panic attack about it and realize that his mercury &amp; poisonous substance exposure is probably a lot less than most kids. 
 
Aren&#039;t those dang plastic packages usually really difficult to open, like you need a freaking secret code? Not this time. 
 
Mr. Clean has a ban on the CFLs for the moment. When I buy them (in the future), I will keep the bag of groceries on the counter and away from the 2 1/2 foot busy-body from hail. 
 
And, no, they don&#039;t work well in bathrooms. They don&#039;t light up well. The info from John R really makes sense. 
 
Analogman, thanks for the info on the fact that Home Depot takes the UNBROKEN ones.

The funny thing is that Neon is even more energy efficient than LED's.  Of course not everyone want's the beer sign motif.

The funny thing is that Neon is even more energy efficient than LED&#039;s.  Of course not everyone want&#039;s the beer sign motif.

great job by ecogeek

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv-mr3VLW34&eurl=http://www.treehugger.com/&feature=player_embedded[/url]

great job by ecogeek 
 
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv-mr3VLW34&amp;eurl=http://www.treehugger.com/&amp;feature=player_embedded" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv-mr3VLW34&amp;eurl=http://www.treehugger.com/&amp;feature=player_embedded</a>

Bulbs 101

Grayton BeachCam

Dune Allen BeachCam

Seagrove Beach SkyCam

Inlet BeachCam

Miramar BeachCam Majestic Sun

Santa Rosa BeachCam

Rosemary Beach Farmers Market

Peddlers Pavilion Farmers Market

Stinky’s Brunch & Live Music

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton

International Coastal Cleanup Day Was A Success In South Walton

Merchants Of Alys Beach Announce New Dining & Shopping Options

No beachcams yet

More cams

Include enough context for a reply on the first pass: who you are, what this is about, and anything time-sensitive we should know.

Write a clear note and we will route it fast

SoWal Contact Form

What helps the SoWal team reply on the first pass

Use these links when your request already has a clear destination.

Prefer a direct route before you write?

Use this when you are not sure where your request belongs and need the SoWal team to route it.

Questions, corrections, and quick help

Share newsworthy updates, corrections, community tips, or photography that can improve SoWal coverage.

Story tips, local leads, and photos

Reach the team for business visibility, partnership planning, or other commercial opportunities.

Listings, sponsorships, and business requests

Use this path for media coordination, press follow-ups, or requests that need a communications contact.

Press outreach and interview requests

Tell us what you need and how to reach you.

Send your note here and the SoWal team will route it appropriately.

Choose the quickest route for your message

Forum account areas

Log in to view member profile, alerts, messages, watched content, bookmarks, preferences, and staff tools.

Member-only forum areas use your SoWal forum account.

Use your forum username or email to post, reply, follow threads, and manage your account.

Log in to the forum

Log in to the SoWal forum

Find people and visit their public forum profiles.

Members

Enter the six-digit code sent to {email}.

Check your email

Join the conversation

Welcome to SoWal

Sign in to SoWal

Signature preview

Ads support our local stories, BeachCams, and community guides. If you use an ad blocker, allow SoWal, then check again.

Help keep SoWal local

Your feedback helps us make SoWal better.

How was this story?

Get local stories, events, and South Walton highlights in your inbox.

Stay close to the coast

Choose whether SoWal may use optional cookies. Necessary cookies keep the site working.

Your privacy, your choice

Site navigation

Submenu

Bite-sized stories, curated itineraries, and community events delivered to your inbox on the regular.

Bulbs 101

Latest conversations

Write a reply

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton