Although some companies like Sylvania managed to make small CFLs containing only 1. Mercury is widely known to be a health risk if inhaled or ingested, especially in small children, and has always been one of the downsides to CFLs.
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, and it's especially dangerous for children and fetuses. Most exposure to mercury comes from eating fish contaminated with mercury, The use of mercury in CFLs has been the concern of several consumer-advocacy groups, and the EPA has guidelines on how to handle broken CFLs , which can release a small amount of mercury if its tubes are broken.
Some manufacturers have even made a CFL light bulb that can contain its mercury even in the event of a tube breakage. The EPA offers a checklist at epa. They suggest that the next time you vacuum the area, you should then immediately dispose of the vacuum bag. Waste collection agencies Local retailers Mail-back services.
Some states, cities and counties have outlawed putting CFL bulbs in the trash, but in most states the practice is legal. As of January , California, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin are the only states that ban disposing of fluorescent bulbs as general household waste. Effectively this means that compact fluorescent lamps will replace traditional incandescent light bulbs, since by law, the incandescent light bulbs will not be allowed to be sold after California began phasing out sales of incandescent bulbs in January , one year ahead of the rest of the nation.
Toggle navigation Home. CFL design details CFLs have two main components: a gas-filled tube also called bulb or burner and a magnetic or electronic ballast. Why ballasts? Lumens, efficiency and longevity Light is measured by lumens. On average, CFLs contain abut four milligrams of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. By comparison, older thermometers contain about milligrams of mercury an amount equal to the mercury in over CFLs.
Manufacturers of fluorescent lighting products are working to reduce the amount of mercury content in CFLs. No meNo mercury is released when the bulbs are intact i. For most compact fluorescent lamps, the ballast is built directly into the lamp in its base. This allows CFLs to be used as direct replacements for classic incandescent lamps in the same fitting. In comparison, CFLs give off less heat and use much less electricity while maintaining the same amount of light as incandescents.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs also last much longer than incandescent bulbs. This means that CFLs can help you save on electricity costs, replacement bulbs, and time and effort. For an even longer lasting bulb, consider buying LEDs. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the quality of the light from any light bulb depends on who is using the light, how they are using it, and how they like it. Some people like clear bulbs in some applications, while others prefer a softer light. Different CFL bulbs produce shades of light.
Lower numbers mean the light has a softer, cooler, more yellowish colour. Most CFLs offer soft or warm white light at K to K, which is comparable to incandescent bulbs. These bulbs work well in most home settings and enhance warm colours. In contrast, higher colour temperature lights emit a white to bluish-white light. If you need clean, soft illumination for the kitchen or bathroom, a cool white K— K CFL is a good choice. And for reading areas and workspaces that require more light, daylight K — K CFL bulbs cast a bright, cool glow that is ideal for detail-oriented activities.
Look for higher colour temperatures where you would like a bright light, but consider opting for lower colour temperatures in other locations. The amount of mercury in a low-energy CFL bulb could fit on the tip of a ballpoint pen, but because of its hazardous nature, used low-energy bulbs need to be recycled rather than put in the bin.
All CFLs should be treated as hazardous waste and should not be disposed of in the bin. All local councils have an obligation to make arrangements for the disposal of household hazardous waste at a civic amenity site or household waste-recycling centre.
For technical reasons, the glass used in the manufacture of household energy saving light bulbs has to be opaque, not transparent like the glass that is used in many traditional incandescent bulbs. Many CFLs will last for 8,, hours of use. This is significantly greater than traditional incandescent bulbs, which often last for less than 1, hours. You can extend the life of your CFLs by leaving them on for at least 15 minutes at a time — turning them off and on frequently will shorten the life of the bulb.
Energy use is measured in watts, but light output is measured in lumens. Simply put, the more lumens, the brighter the light. Because CFLs are so much more efficient, they use less energy watts to produce the same amount of light lumens.
In general, you will need 1 watt from a CFL bulb for every 4 watts from an incandescent bulb. The table below provides a guide for replacing different watt incandescent bulbs with a CFL:. If you are replacing a watt incandescent light bulb, you will only need a 9 to 13 watt CFL bulb.
Fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, which can be released into the environment if the bulb is broken. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads.
The worst won't last as long as our Best Buys, and won't match the claims on their packaging. Pros : Warm, soft light close to traditional incandescent, affordable, long lifetime, more energy efficient than halogens. Cons : Can take time to brighten, difficult to dispose of, can look ugly when switched off.
Test score. Find out everything you need to know about classic energy-saving CFL light bulbs. HB Haddi Browne. In this article What are CFL lights? What are CFL light bulbs great at? What are the downsides of CFL bulbs? Should I buy CFL bulbs?
What are CFL lights? Newer CFLs are better at this, but it does mean that CFLs aren't always the best choice for lighting on stairs or bathrooms, where you want your light bright and instant.
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