What's That Smell?

When we moved in to the house in January we came across a mixture of incandescent and compact fluorescent lightbulbs, presumably the incandescents were being replaced by the newer less energy-hungry bulbs as they burnt out.

However when I was in the shower this morning, I heard a slightly disturbing low-pitched crackling sound, and the roomm got slightly dimmer. One of the newer bulbs had just died a prolongued, painful-sounding death, leaving its twin and one of the old incandescents still running. And here I thought these more expensive bulbs were supposed to last ten times longer than the old style bulbs who's technology hasn't changed in about 100 years or so.

That's all well and good, I continue showering, but then I notice a really strong smell, like a combination of marshmellows left too long on a bonfire and blazing electric death. In about 30 seconds the roomm had filled with this really awful smell from teh dead lightbulb. I figure it was probably wise to take the bulb out, so I get out of the shower, dry off enough so I don't risk being electrocuted, and reach for the now-deceased symbol of modern energy-wise housekeeping. And it's incredibly hot, like much hotter than the other compact fluorescent still alight right next to it. I think this can't be good, and shut the lights off and slowly remove the bulb hwich was pretty clearly still drawing power as the other lights were stil on, and the smell was still coming out of the thing.

Is this the normal end to these little technological beacons or was this one somehow defective? I've actually never been in the roomm when one of these has gone kablooie so I have no idea.

Labels: Conservation, Energy, House Stuff, Lightbulbs