Fluorescent Lighting
Facts Pros/Cons
FAQ Links
The term
"fluorescent lighting" usually is associated with the image of ugly, flickering
light boxes in classrooms and office spaces. But in recent years, the fluorescent industry
has developed, small, non-flickering bulbs for use in homes. These bulbs,
known as "Compact Fluorescent Lamps," are becoming increasingly popular in
residential and commerical buildings for a number of reasons. First, they are much more
energy-efficient than normal incandescent lighting; using only 18 Watts of electricity to
produce the same amount of light as a 75 Watt incandescent bulb. Compact Fluorescent Lamps
(CFLs) also have a longer lifespan; up to 10 times that of a normal bulb. Because of the
fact that CFLs use so much less electricity to do the same job, it is estimated that the
average household will save about $45 per year on their electricity bill by switching to
fluorescent bulbs.
to top
Facts
CO2:
- CO2 (or carbon dioxide) is one of several
gases that cause global
warming.
- 2.5 lbs of CO2 are emitted to generate 1 Kilowatt-hour (kWh) of
energy.
- 1 kWh runs one 100 Watt incandescent bulb for 10 hrs.
- The average home has 34 incandescent bulbs.
- If powered for 5 hours each day, the bulbs would produce 294 lbs of
CO2 each week.
- If all 34 bulbs were replaced with 30 Watt CFLs, the CO2 output
per week would be reduced to
95 lbs.
- In its lifetime, a single CFL can cut CO2 emissions by 1,300 lbs.
Visible Light Production:
- Incandescent bulbs use 90% of the electricity they receive in
producing heat.
Only 10% goes to doing their real job:
making visible
light.
- Fluorescent bulbs put nearly all their energy into producing
visible light.
Costs:
- Fluorescent bulbs cost $10-$30 U.S. dollars, depending on the
specific
function of the bulb.
- Incandescent bulbs usually cost about $3 U.S.
- It costs $2.60 less per year to power a fluorescent bulb than an
incandescent
one.
- After 10,000 hours of use, a fluorescent bulb will have cost the
user about $39
dollars worth of electricity. An incandescent
bulb, after the
same amount of usage would have needed
$86 dollars
worth.
to top
Pros/Cons
| Pros |
Cons |
| CFLS are 3 to 4 times
more efficient than incandescent bulbs. |
Fluorescent lights are
currently made with mercury inside them. If improperly disposed of after use, this could
create an environmental hazard. |
| Fluorescent bulbs last
8 to 10 times longer than incandescent ones. |
The initial cost of a
fluorescent bulb can be 10 times greater than that of an incandescent. |
| Less replacing of
bulbs means less garbage in the landfills. |
Some fluorescents put
out considerably less light in below freezing temperatures. |
| It costs $2.60 less
per year to power a fluorescent bulb than an incandescent one. |
Every time fluorescent
lights get switched on or off, their life-span decreases a little. |
| Fluorescent lighting
is available with a full spectrum of color, proven to be more relaxing to the eyes. |
|
| Flourescent bulbs
greatly decrease the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. |
|
to
top
FAQ
Where should fluorescent lights be used?
In frequently used areas, where lights are on for long
periods of time.
Since the lifetime of a
fluorescent bulb descreases slightly
each time it is turned on or off,
fluorescent bulbs are best
used in areas which people
frequently inhabit.
In locations where the heat from regular
lightbulbs
creates a hazard.
In crowded storage areas, or
cluttered closets, the heat from
incandescent lightbulbs can cause
a fire hazard, so CFLs,
which produce far less heat, are a
good substitute.
What should be done with fluorescent
lights after they're
no longer useful?
They should be recycled.
Fluorescent lights
contain mercury, and should not be thrown
away. They need to be taken to a
recycling center which
has the facilities to recycle
fluorescent bulbs.
to top
Links
All About Compact Fluorescent
Lamps:
- Information on how both fluorescent and incandescent
lights
work, the advantages of
CFLs, and a cost comparison.
A
Report on Fluorescent Lighting:
- Information on mercury, its hazards, alternatives
to the traditional
fluorescent lamp, a
comaprison of fluorescent products, costs,
and a recommendation for
action.
CO2 Emissions:
- Information on CO2 and what it does to the
atmosphere.
Compact Fluorescent Discounts:
- How CFLs save energy and money, and a FAQ.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps:
- A guide tothe different options available
with CFLs.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps: What
You Should Know:
- A ton of technical info, also discusses
pros and cons of CFLs.
Compact
Fluorescent Lighting:
- Information on CFLs: why to use them, where to
use them, how
to use them, technical
info, and what to avoid.
Compact
Fluorescent Lighting II:
- From Co-op America, an article on CFLs and their
benefits.
Compact Fluorescent
Lighting III:
- A short article with condensed facts.
Compact
Fluorescent Whole-Life Cost Analysis:
- A nice graph, simple chart and explanation
of the cost of a CFL
and incandescent lighting
compared.
Comparison Chart:
- Compares fluorescent bulbs to incandescent ones.
Disposal of
Fluorescent Lamps and Ballasts:
- Technical info.
Fluorescent Lighting New Again:
- Facts, benefits, drawbacks, shopping tips.
This site is a bit
outdated however.
Fluorescent Lighting Outshines HIDs:
- Info on fluorescent lights desgined
especially for high ceilinged
rooms.
Full Spectrum Compact
Fluorescents:
- A site selling full-spectrum lamps, but includes some
information.
Full Spectrum
Fluorescent Lamps:
- Details, installation, costs, benefits, limitations and
several
resources listed.
Full Spectrum
Fluorescents:
- A commerical site, but with information on full
specturm lighting
and its benefits.
Global
Warming:
- An encarta encylopedia article.
Handling Wastes: Fluorescent
Lighting and PCB Ballasts:
- What to do with fluorescent lights after you're
done using them.
Lightbulb
Savings a Real "Turn-on"
- An article from "Realty Times" about
CFLs.
Some
Questions and Some Answers:
- . . . about CFLs.
to top
|
