Everything You Really Need to Know About CFL Bulbs
Why switch to CFL's and which ones go where for big savings? The new aray of light bulbs left me confused and the prices wondering if they are worth it.
Well, you can figure it out.
Edison's incandescent bulb had not really changed much in over in 100 yrs.
It turns electricity into heat causing the inside metal element to glow because it's HOT and burning up it's filiment.
The new Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL from here on) turn energy into light by exciting phosphors inside the bulb which then glows.
This chemical process requires only a fraction of the electric energy required by old bulbs to work it's magic.
In addition they rebuild their own filaments to some extent.
So a 15 watt CFL puts out nearly as much light as a 60 watt bulb but lasts about 8,000 hours while incandescents last 750 to 1000 hrs.
The funny socket at the bottom is a ballast just like in your fluorescent shop lights but on a very small scale.
Find the price per killowat on your electric bill and times that by 8,000 hours and deduct your bulb price.
Most of these bulbs will pay for themselves in approx 500 hours at 4 hours per day use.
Now it gets trickier.
Some bulbs put out less light so you want to compare LUMENS rather than watts for the brightest light.
The higher the lumens the more light and you want the maximum lumens as CFL's do lose 20-25% of their lumens during the first 4000 hours of use.
Also, over age 50 eyes take in only half as much light as 20 yr old eyes which explains why you might be able to read in bright outdoor light but not indoors without glasses.
Basically look for at least 20% more lumens output than the incandescent bulb you would have used.
A 25 to 30 watt should replace a 100 W and 35-40 W replaces a 150 W bulb but go for the one with the highest lumens.
If you have a dimmer switch you must buy a special dimmable CFL.
Frequent On and Off, lots of vibration and high humidity put excessive wear on CFL bulbs.
If the light will be off over 5 min it is still a bargain as these same factors also cause incandescents to fail quickly.
For interior light like an incandescent you want the new Soft-White CFL bulbs.
If you want a whiter light with less yellow use the daylight CFL.
There are specialty CFL bulbs like outdoor reflectors, yellow bug lights, decorative round ones, tube ones that last up to 15,000 hours and large loop ones for kitchen fixtures.
CAUTIONS! Always recycle CFL bulbs! Never incinerate them.
NEVER vacuum up a broken bulb, sweep up and use wet paper towels to clean up.
Collect and put ALL glass and paper towel, materials into a heavy sealed plastic bag.
Open your windows.
The bulbs contain tiny tiny amounts of mercury but it takes very little to poison a pet, child or yourself and mercury is absorbed through the skin.
Dispose of CFL's at your local hazardous waste site or call the U.
S.
Environmental Recycling Hotline at 877 327 8491.
Also, Many stores take back used bulbs.
Hope this enlightens and encourages you to help yourself and your clients to GO GREEN!
Well, you can figure it out.
Edison's incandescent bulb had not really changed much in over in 100 yrs.
It turns electricity into heat causing the inside metal element to glow because it's HOT and burning up it's filiment.
The new Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL from here on) turn energy into light by exciting phosphors inside the bulb which then glows.
This chemical process requires only a fraction of the electric energy required by old bulbs to work it's magic.
In addition they rebuild their own filaments to some extent.
So a 15 watt CFL puts out nearly as much light as a 60 watt bulb but lasts about 8,000 hours while incandescents last 750 to 1000 hrs.
The funny socket at the bottom is a ballast just like in your fluorescent shop lights but on a very small scale.
Find the price per killowat on your electric bill and times that by 8,000 hours and deduct your bulb price.
Most of these bulbs will pay for themselves in approx 500 hours at 4 hours per day use.
Now it gets trickier.
Some bulbs put out less light so you want to compare LUMENS rather than watts for the brightest light.
The higher the lumens the more light and you want the maximum lumens as CFL's do lose 20-25% of their lumens during the first 4000 hours of use.
Also, over age 50 eyes take in only half as much light as 20 yr old eyes which explains why you might be able to read in bright outdoor light but not indoors without glasses.
Basically look for at least 20% more lumens output than the incandescent bulb you would have used.
A 25 to 30 watt should replace a 100 W and 35-40 W replaces a 150 W bulb but go for the one with the highest lumens.
If you have a dimmer switch you must buy a special dimmable CFL.
Frequent On and Off, lots of vibration and high humidity put excessive wear on CFL bulbs.
If the light will be off over 5 min it is still a bargain as these same factors also cause incandescents to fail quickly.
For interior light like an incandescent you want the new Soft-White CFL bulbs.
If you want a whiter light with less yellow use the daylight CFL.
There are specialty CFL bulbs like outdoor reflectors, yellow bug lights, decorative round ones, tube ones that last up to 15,000 hours and large loop ones for kitchen fixtures.
CAUTIONS! Always recycle CFL bulbs! Never incinerate them.
NEVER vacuum up a broken bulb, sweep up and use wet paper towels to clean up.
Collect and put ALL glass and paper towel, materials into a heavy sealed plastic bag.
Open your windows.
The bulbs contain tiny tiny amounts of mercury but it takes very little to poison a pet, child or yourself and mercury is absorbed through the skin.
Dispose of CFL's at your local hazardous waste site or call the U.
S.
Environmental Recycling Hotline at 877 327 8491.
Also, Many stores take back used bulbs.
Hope this enlightens and encourages you to help yourself and your clients to GO GREEN!
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