Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs - A Bright Idea

A compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb is an energy-efficient bulb that uses approximately ¼ the energy of a similar incandescent lamp of the same luminous flux (e.g. a 40 watt incandescent light bulb's equivalent would be a 10 watt CFL bulb).

Another advantage of the CFL bulb is their long life.  An incandescent light bulb may have a life of 1000 hours.  A typical compact fluorescent light bulb may have an 8000-10,000 hour life.

Yes, CFL bulbs are more expensive than incandescent light bulbs, but not really.  When you factor in the lower energy costs and the life of the CFL bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulbs are actually much cheaper than incandescent bulbs.

CFL bulbs are the most recognizable green products (they are the easiest to implement and see results - lower electric bill).  They are marketed heavily by companies for their reduction of energy use, which results in less carbon dioxide released by coal-fired power plants, resulting in lower greenhouse gas effects for the planet.  The less we depend on these coal-fired power plants, the less carbons released into the air.  The less carbon dioxide in the air, the cooler Earth will be.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs have become specialized over the years.  Dimmable bulbs are now available, as well as bulbs that can be used in recessed sockets.  Plus there are bulbs shaped like incandescent lights for those who don't like the spiral-shaped CFL bulbs.

On the packaging of a CFL bulb, you may notice a Kelvin temperature, which can typically range from 2500 - 5500K.  A temperature under 3000K is considered "warm white" (yellowish light) and anything greater than 5000K is "daylight" (bright white light).

CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury.  Compact fluorescent light bulbs are completely safe to use, but pose a danger if the mercury vapor inside escapes when a CFL bulb is broken.  Some have said that because of this dangerous mercury content in CFL bulbs, people should continue to use incandescent lights.

However, a study determined that a coal power plant will release 10 mg of mercury (naturally contained in coal) for every incandescent light bulb it powers over a five-year life.  A typical CFL bulb contains 4 mg of mercury and only 2.4 mg of mercury will be released by the same coal power plant to light the energy-efficient CFL bulb.  So, that is 10 mg for an incandescent bulb and only 6.4 mg of mercury for a CFL bulb (and that is considering the CFL bulb breaks and releases its mercury content which is not a factor if the CFL bulb is properly recycled).  The compact fluorescent light bulbs are still safer to operate than an incandescent bulb.

So remember to recycle your CFL bulbs.  Absolutely do NOT allow compact fluorescent light bulbs to be thrown away in your normal trash that will eventually hit a landfill where the mercury will be released into the air or water supply.  Also, plant a tree to help offset your current energy use, even if you use CFL bulbs.  Compact fluorescent light bulbs are cheaper than incandescent bulbs over their lifetime, energy-efficient and if unbroken, CFL bulbs are safer to use.  Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a bright idea to use in your home.