CFL's are a great way to save a little on your energy bill. CFL's are slower to brighten up than incandescents. They cost a little more initially, but the savings should more than pay for that. Bulb life is much greater than the incandescent bulb, but the compact has dangerous mercury in it.
Pros
- One of the simplest way to save money and energy.
- The cost of these bulbs have gone down dramatically since 1999.
- These fluorescent bulbs last around 8,000 hours, compared to incandescents that last 1,000 hours.
- You get 60 watts of light for 13 watts of power used.
- Each bulb can save you $37.00 in energy savings over the life of the bulb.
Cons
- Compact fluorescent lighting contains mercury. If one breaks, leave the room immediately!
- Disposing of these bulbs may be a little tricky.
- These bulbs tout that they will last seven years, but that is based on three hours of use a day.
- CFL's take a few seconds to reach full brightness, so they are not for every application.
Description
- Initial Cost Higher
- Same Wattage of Light For Less Wattage of Energy Use
- Saves Up To $37.00 Per Life of Each Bulb
- Slower Full Brightness Time
- Contains Mercury
- Hard To Dispose of
Guide Review - Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
In areas where light is needed immediately, CFL's may take too long to reach full brightness. The style takes a little getting used to, but the light it emits is just fine. Getting 60 watts of light for only 13 watts of power is a plus in my book. By using these bulbs in my home, I've shaved about $35.00 off of my electric bill. This is close to what they estimate the average homeowner will save. It all depends on how many lights are used in a home and for how long. The initial cost will range from $2.00 to $3.00 for each bulb, depending on the size and manufacturer. With a life expectancy of eight times the 60 watt incandescent bulb, the cost would actually be cheaper to buy the CFL.
Be very careful with these bulbs! They do contain mercury and can be very dangerous if broken. Read all warning labels and know what to do if this happens before installing one. I have had a few burn out within the first two months, but they are in my ceiling fan. This could be due to vibration from the fan. All in all, I'd have to say I've been happy with the bulbs so far.
To prevent mercury vapor exposure, used fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) should be placed in a mercury-safe package that can both contain and capture vapor if bulbs inside break. A study by NUCON International, Inc. found that vapor levels released by broken fluorescent lamps inside specifically designed mercury packages can be dangerously high. When opened to place more bulbs inside or to empty it out, the package may release mercury vapor, which can be harmful to those who come into contact with it, including consumers, transporters and recyclers—indicating the need for an adsorption technology.
ReplyDeleteThe NUCON study measured mercury vapor levels from 40 broken lamps in a mercury-safe package with a new, patent-pending adsorbent and one without it. Vapor level readings for the package with no adsorbent showed levels harmful to consumer and handler safety and health, with as much as 150 to 300 times the OSHA 8-hour personal exposure limit (PEL). Alternatively, the mercury vapor readings from inside the package that contained the adsorbent technology were reduced to levels that safely approached OSHA’s 8-hour PEL level of 100 micrograms per cubic meter. The adsorbent, recently announced at the Air & Waste Management Association’s Conference & Exhibition, has been tested to effectively capture mercury vapor and reduce vapor levels nearly 60 percent after only 15 minutes, more than 70 percent within an hour and over 95 percent after 12 hours, providing an enhanced layer of protection against incidental mercury exposure. These results demonstrate the need for both containing vapor and capturing it. View a short animated depiction of the adsorption process at http://www.vaporlokproducts.com/capturedemo. This technology will additionally be used in a small consumer-size recycling bag (soon available for purchase) that allows people to safely store three to four used lamps at home before taking them to a retailer or municipality that accepts CFLs for recycling.
Download a detailed White Paper on this technology at http://www.vaporlokproducts.com/capturewhitepaper.pdf.