Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

What is the right CFL Light Bulb for you?

Compact fluorescent lighting has become quite popular as they save the consumer time and money. Because of their benefit to the environment, they also come highly recommended by the EPA. CFL lights last much longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs, using as little as a third of the energy in the process. They burn extremely cool as well, and all these mean you will be replacing your bulbs less often, reducing the quantity of waste produced; and you’ll be saving on energy and cooling costs. Dimmable Compact Fluorescent lamps allow the flexibility to be used in applications that have a dimmer.

When fluorescent compact bulbs were introduced in the 1980s, their high cost and harsh light were a turn off for most consumers. The original compact bulbs came with magnetic ballasts which was the reason for the flickering of the light and its slow start. However, these have now been replaced by electronic ballasts which remedy the negative situation. There is no noticeable flickering and the start up is much quicker. The price of cfl light bulbs has also reduced appreciably over the years. Although they still cost 3 to 10 times the cost of a comparable incandescent light bulb, they will last 8 to 15 times longer. Power saving light bulbs use less energy to operate, you will notice savings in your energy bills as well.

High efficient light bulbs have two broad categories – integrated and non-integrated. The main benefit of the integrated cfl light bulbs is that they can be used with your existing fixtures for your incandescent bulbs. Non-integrated compact fluorescent light bulbs would require special fixtures which are a bit expensive. However, these fixtures allow for additional features like dimming, less flicker and faster starts.

When deciding on the location in which to use a low energy light bulbs, you need to put some things into consideration. The light output of compact light bulbs drop significantly in cold environments, and in extreme cold, may not even start at all. If you have dimmers controlling your fixtures, you cannot use a cf bulbs unless you use Dimmable CFL Light Bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulb dimmer has to be installed properly and should be designed for CFL Bulbs for optimal results. In places where the CFL light is turned on and off frequently, use of Energy Saver Light Bulbs will not be advisable as this shortens their life. Inexpensive CFL compact fluorescent bulbs should not be used in recessed can lighting because of excessive heat and premature failure. Buy CFL Light bulbs that are commercial grade, these will last longer and save you money and a lot of aggravation. The use of low energy light bulbs in vibrating fixtures is not recommended as well. The CFL bulbs energy savings will not be enough to justify for the premature failures in these types of environments. 3 way compact fluorescent light bulbs are becoming more common where people need different light levels in their home. New energy saving light bulbs are being developed to replace lower wattage Metal Halide and HPS Lamps. These high efficient light bulbs come in wattages up to 200W and replace 250W Metal Halide lamp.

The most readily available "energy bulbs" in stores are the integrated spiral type which will fit into your standard fixtures. Some come with a glass cover to make them look more like an incandescent light bulb which is useful when the bulb is to be used exposed. Be sure to look for the EnergyStar logo on the packaging which indicates that the light saving bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, has a quick start and does not flicker. The downside is the CFL wattages are somewhat limited.

The wattage or energy consumed by power saving light bulbs versus Incandescent lighting is another consideration. Typically you would replace a 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 13 to 15 watt compact bulb; while a 100-watt incandescent should be replaced with a 23 to 27 watt low energy light bulbs.

The last thing to consider when choosing your energy saving light bulb is the color of light (or color temperature) measured in Kelvin. There are five types to choose from. The soft or warm white fluorescent compact light bulbs produce less than 2700K with light similar to the yellow of the incandescent bulb. The white or bright white burns at about 3500K, emitting light that is less yellow. CFL Bulbs operating at 4100K, bluish-white light; and the full spectrum cfl light bulbs operate at over 5000K the emit light that is closest to the mid-day sun. Daylight Bulbs have been shown to improve moods as well as increasing productivity of workers. Natural light CFL light bulbs are also the best for reading or any other task that requires concentration. 6500K CF Bulbs have the blueish spectrum of all the low energy bulbs available today. These energy saving fluorescent lights are used primarily by hobbyist for aquariums and for indoor gardening.

Because the descriptive names and measures are not yet standardized, you should check the packaging carefully. Make sure when you buy CFL light bulbs that the color temperature matches your application. It is easy and cheap to switch to CFL lights nowadays. The savings in time and money are noticeable and the wide adoption of high efficient light bulbs will lead to a huge drop in pollution.

Use Power Saving Light Bulbs and save Big Money

Making the investment in low energy bulbs (CFLs) should be considered if you are looking to cut your electric bill.
In the past, people have had issues with the color of light provided by CFL light bulbs and the flickering of the light. But things are changing. Manufacturers have made improvements in the energy saving fluorescent lights and you can get compact bulbs today that produce light of a similar hue to the traditional incandescent light you’ve been used to, and without the flickering.
A typical low energy light bulbs will give the same amount of light as an incandescent light bulb while using just a quarter of the power. For instance, a 23-watt CFL compact fluorescent bulbs will burn as brightly as a 100-watt incandescent bulb, saving you up to 75 percent of the lighting part of your electric bill.

One of the stronger selling points of high efficient light bulbs is that they last much longer. While most incandescent bulbs have a life of 750 to 1000 hours, on the average last from between 6000 to 15000 hours. The initial high cost of compact fluorescent light bulbs is therefore compensated for with their long life and reduced power consumption. The CFL bulb price is only one factor to consider, actual energy savings should way more heavily in your purchasing decision.

This is not to say that there is not a downside to compact bulbs. They usually take a few minutes to come up to full brightness after being turned on especially in the outdoors and in cold climate regions. Also compact fluorescent light bulbs contain traces of mercury so it would be wise to dispose of them in a proper way. Disposing of fluorescent bulbs can be quite expensive but is mandated by the US government.

Energy Saving Legislation

The new energy bill passed by congress has effectively banned incandescent light bulbs. These bulbs are being gradually phased out starting in 2012 and by 2014, it will be illegal to make or sell incandescent light bulbs. The level of efficiency required by the new law can only be met by compact fluorescent light bulbs which last up to ten times longer than traditional bulbs and are much more efficient. The energy savings for Compact fluorescent lighting can be up to 75%.

Low energy light bulbs however come with their own problems. Being very sensitive to temperatures, they will not work well in cold areas like garages and basements as well as in cooler climates. Most light saving bulbs are 25 percent longer in size than a regular incandescent bulb and as such will not fit in some lighting fixtures like chandeliers and other ceiling mounted lights. This would call for an extra expense in replacing or reconfiguring fixtures to take the light saving light bulbs. Most of the power saving light bulbs can also not be used with currently existing dimmer switches and timers, so another expense will have to be incurred to get the newer CFL adaptable dimmers and timers.

Again, the quality of light produced is different. Most people think low energy light bulbs make for poor reading lights as well as lacking the warmth they are used to with the incandescent light bulb. There are health issues to contend with as well with some people complaining of migraines with the use of CFLs while others experience headaches and eyestrain. People susceptible to epileptic seizures find that the lights can trigger them off, and they can also be a problem for people with lupus. The best compact fluorescent bulb is the one with the highest CRI (Color Rendering Index).

There are problems with the operation as well. Energy saving fluorescent light bulbs usually take a few minutes to reach full illumination, and once turned on, it is recommended that they be left on for at least fifteen minutes because turning them on and off repeatedly shortens the life of the bulb.

When CFL light bulbs burn out, they have to be disposed of properly through designated recycling centers because they contain mercury. The danger of a broken Compact Bulb is apparent and it is recommended by the EPA that you should open the windows and leave a room for at least fifteen minutes before cleaning up the mess, and then not use a vacuum as it would spread the poisonous mercury all over your house.

The bigger worry is that most people will not dispose of their used up CF light Bulbs properly and so mercury could end up in landfills causing the mercury to be emitted into the air and water in the form of methyl-mercury. This can easily get into the food chain causing much more serious environmental problems.

The phosphorous coating on the inside of the glass may also get into your body when there’s an accident. This can cause infections and inflammation.

Reports have it however that some light bulb manufacturers are racing to make a new incandescent light bulb that will meet the standards set by the new energy bill before the deadline expires. Hopefully, they’ll come up with something we can all live with.

If you have any questions about compact fluorescent lighting, Please contact us , we are here to help.