Philips 40-Watt R20 Halogena Energy Saver Reflector Flood Light

Comment: I have used these bulbs for 4 years now and find them producing exactly as advertised on the package. I use them in the kitchen overhead cans and they produce the same light as the previous 75w incandescents. I also use a dimmer to control the light when I desire. I have found they last longer than 2 years. Some have never been changed since installation 4 years ago. I live in a neighborhood with a constant 120 volts available and that makes all the appliances last longer. If your bulbs are failing prematurely, I would place a voltage monitor on the area. You may find voltage varying during certain times of the day and that is not good. I think these bulbs are a good value.

Comment: As someone who is environmentally inclined but has to date resisted CFLs due to their poorer light quality, I am happy to report that these bulbs are an excellent solution while we all wait for the cost and quality of LED bulbs to improve. I initially replaced 8 R20 bulbs in my office (a particularly demanding application) and was so pleased that I've since ordered more for a couple of other rooms. They are if anything brighter to my eyes than the 60w incandescent and the light quality (judged by myself, my wife, and a couple of designers who have seen them) is indistinguishable.

Assuming average electricity costs, my rough calculation is these bulbs pay for themselves in higher use areas, but barely (3000 hours x $0.1 per Kwh x 20 watts saved is $6 per bulb in lower electric costs, which is a bit more than the cost differential). In low use areas, the economics don't make sense at current prices. If philips can drop the price on these rapidly, they will be great in lower use areas in the long run where LEDs are going to be too expensive a solution.

Comment: Philips Halogena bulbs are incandescent bulbs. They are indistinguishable from standard incandescent, but use 30% less energy. They cost more, and don't really last that much longer than standard. I bought these bulbs as part of my quest to find dimmable bulbs for my kitchen that use less energy, and wrote a full review on my blog, at [...]

Bottom line: use CFL if you don't need dimming, but if you need dimming, this is a good bet.

Comment: First off, these bulbs have no warm up time, I think one reviewer mistook these Halogena bulbs for the look alike fluorescent type. These R20 reflector type Halogena bulbs put out a respectable amount of light for a 40 watt bulb. I just placed them in two different reading lamps that I have and am very pleased with them, good color (sort of soft white) and plenty of light. These bulbs are not the large outdoor reflector type, they are about the size of a standard light bulb and will fit in most any standard indoor light socket. They are reflector type bulbs so the light is directed toward the clear part (front). I am happy with them and glad that someone has finally figured out how to make a halogen bulb fit into the 'energy saver' category. I have dimmer switches throughout my house that just do not work with fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). Way to go Philips Halogena! :)

Comment: Simply great lights compared to what's out there. They save energy and are not those mercury containing CFL bulbs. Contrary to the post by "TheRealDeal", these are halogen lights so they light up right away and dim perfectly on the standard dimmers in my kitchen. These have been installed for almost 1.5 years and are working great.