Compact Fluorescent Lamp

Description

CFLs are A Better Way to Light Your Home with Compact Fluorescent Lamp

In this day and age, saving energy has become not an option but a necessity. CFL is another new way of lighting technology in the market, smartening the mode of lighting for our homes and offices over the traditional incandescent bulbs.

What is a CFL?

A CFL is a fluorescent technology-based energy-saving bulb. This is basically a gas discharge process of light production as against the filament glowing in old-style bulbs. CFL tube contains mercury vapor, and phosphor coating is coated within it. When the electricity touches the gas, it emits ultraviolet (UV) light; then this UV light attacks the phosphor coating to make light that we see.

So what makes the CFL tick?

CFLs work quite a different way from old incandescents. They do not convert energy into heat to light up but into electromagnetic induction. When you switch the CFL on, electric energy goes through a ballast—this small electronics part within the base it starts and moderates the current. The mercury vapour inside the tube is energized by this current into UV light. The UV light then strikes the phosphor coating on the inside of the glass tube, which creates white light that you can see.

1. Energy Efficiency

It’s said that CFL bulbs are claimed to use 70% to 80% less energy than incandescent lights. For example, a CFL can use only 15 watts to produce the same amount of light that a 60-watt incandescent bulb would give off. This saves a considerable amount of money on the electricity bill.

2. Higher Lifespan

The CFL has an 8,000–10,000-hour lifetime versus a measly 1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb. More practical this way since you’d have fewer replacements and waste in the long run.

3. Lower Heat Emission

CFLs give off less heat compared to incandescent bulbs, which makes these appropriate, safe to use and less of a burden to cooling systems during hot weather.

4. Problem and Safety Measures

CFLs contribute less energy to the lighting source as they are not fuelled, so there are fewer emissions of carbon. The lamps do contain a small amount of mercury, but the energy that is saved because they use less electricity usually more than cancels this drawback, especially if the lamps are recycled properly.

1. Contains Mercury

CFLs contain very little mercury (around 4 milligrams), which can be toxic if inhaled or ingested. Even if this is a minimal amount, one should be cautious while dealing with smashed bulbs as well as when discarding old CFLs – ideally in recycling centres.

2. Warm Up Time

Not all some of the CFLs are as fast to full brightness as LEDs or regular bulbs—they take several seconds. But newer models have made a lot of progress in this area too.

3. Not Ideal for All Fixtures

CFLs might not work well in tiny very cold places and the ones that are turned off and on a lot, tend to age fast.

Here is how you can get the maximum out of your CFL by using it safely:

• Do not switch on and off rapidly.
• Put them in fixtures that have a lot of air passing through.
• Carry used or unusable bulbs to a duly authorized e-waste centre for recycling.
• If a bulb breaks, open the windows, clean up without vacuuming.

CFLs and LEDs

CFLs were a huge improvement in energy-saving lighting over old incandescents but their brother-in-law LED is even further. LEDs use less energy even than both of their predecessors, last longer, and have no mercury in them. But unlike most parts of the world, CFLs are still inexpensive and easily sourceable from the market.

The CFL has indeed been considered another sheer efficacy lighting mode, which greatly helps cut global power consumption. Although the likes of LEDs have started gaining market traction, the CFL still makes economic sense for many people due to its affordability and performance. In terms of performance, productivity, and being effective for those still interested in preserving their environment provided they use it and dispose of it properly, it is a good choice.