Part 8/11:
Managing Expectations: Performance Limitations
Despite the clever engineering, the performance of decorative and specialty CFLs demonstrates significant caveats. The aggressive amalgamation used to limit vapor pressure means these CFLs struggle during cold starts and take longer to achieve full brightness, creating a user experience that can be frustrating. Those expecting immediate, bright light upon flipping a switch can instead face a dim glow that increases gradually—a reminder that energy efficiency sometimes comes with trade-offs in practicality.