We have all heard the buzz lately on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, or CFL's, that are supposed to save you money utility bills. They use less watts to put out the same amount of light. Well, it occurred to me that not all of us know exactly how to use these, why to use these, and the real deal on the Mercury inside. So, as you know me, I went to research.
First, Incandescent Light Bulbs. The "Normal" Light Bulbs that we have used for years really work off of heat instead of light. Depending on what report you read the incandescent light bulb is 90-95% Heat and 5-10% Light. Thus making it a rather inefficient bulb that can heat up your room. If you are in the Southern part of the United States, that is probably one of the last things you want to do in the Summer.
These new Spiral Bulbs actually have their own Ballast in them. According to Wikipedia, these bulbs can save up to 2000 times their weight in Greenhouse Gases. On an equivalent 60 Watt Bulb it will only use 13 Watts thus using an average of 75% less electricity and saving money. Now, how much will you save? That is really hard to say because everyone has different household habits, but if you read the package it has a Dollar Amount. This dollar amount is based on using the bulb for 3 hours per day and usually at .10 per kwh. If you are in Houston, you probably pay WAY more than that. There are ways to make sure that you get the most bang for your buck. That is what I researched.
Here are a few things that you might not know:
- Use the bulbs in areas where you will have the light on for longer than 15 minutes at a time. The Restroom, for example, may not be the most effective place to use this type. Using these bulbs for less than 15 minutes at a time can shorten the life of them making your dollar not go as far.
- Do not use these bulbs in closed Fixtures such as Flush Mount lights in the Hallway. No air will get to it and it can shorten the life of the bulb or worst, cause it to get too hot.
- They make Outdoor CFL's for use at night. However, if you are in a region where the temperature stays below 41 Degrees for several weeks at a time, you may encounter problems with the bulb.
- You can not use this bulb if the light is connected to a Dimmer.
- They do make CFL bulbs now for 3-Way Lamps
With all positives there are negatives. The negative with these bulbs is that they contain a very small amount of Mercury inside. As little as 1 teaspoon of Mercury can contaminate Lake forever. There is a minute amount (appx. 5 mg) of Mercury in these bulbs which means that:
- If one breaks, you need to clean it up properly
- It is best not to send these bulbs on the Truck to the Landfill
I am going to place Helpful Links at the bottom of this post for more information on both of these topics.
So, these new funny looking bulbs, all in all are a great product and really can save money on your electric bill. Just be aware handle them properly.
Helpful Links for more information on Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs:
- Where can I send spent CFL Bulbs to be Recycled? Local Centers in US and Canada Also, your local Lowe's or Home Depot may have a drop.
- How should I clean up a Broken CFL? Mercury Cleanup
- Detailed Information on CFL's
- Detailed Information on Mercury Pollution
- My area is not on the Website of local Providers. What are my options? Light Bulb Recycling by Mail
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Wikipedia- This web page had an amazing amount of information on this topic. Outstanding!
The above Links are my Resources for this post with loads of other information regarding these bulbs. I changed out several in my house yesterday, 8 to be exact. I look forward to see how my Electric Bill Drops!
Thank You Maruchan313 on Flickr for the Wonderful Photo of this CFL Bulb!
Hey Matt, :) No need to be worried, just make sure you try and recycle them...and don't let your son clean them up if they break.
By the way, I posted the results of my insulation too.
Hi Pamela, Thanks!! Don't be freaked out about the Mercury. It is a matter of knowing how to handle it. The advantages of the bulb out weigh the Mercury issue. Like I said, just try and recycle them or dispose of them properly.
If enough go to a landfill, there is not just an issue of releasing Mercury in the air, but getting high levels of Mercury in the Water Table. That would not be good for anyone.
Figures... I should have read this an hour ago. I just put two bulbs in the outside fixture over the front door, strike one is the fixture is enclosed and strike two is we're heading into winter in a few months where temps will certainly drop below 41 for extended periods... On the plus side anyone looking for bulbs may find a bargain at BJ's Wholesale.... They are normally $10 a four-pack but in Connecticut have a instant rebate at the register for an out the door price of about $3.50....
Stephanie- I am freaking about the mercury thinking about all the people who don't know and don't care and are just going to throw them out in the trash! I read somewhere that florescent was not good for you. Are these ones different? I read once that people who work in places with them in those long tubes, are suffering depression and other ailments. Is that another negative to them? I only use full spectrum lighting that has been certified health safe.The reason I love the full spectrum is that it looks just like natural daylight. It helps alleviate depression, helps with sleep issues and is healthy for the eyes. I even have them in my laundry room and I can see the white clothes as white. I care about saving energy but not at the expense of my family's health. Katerina
Hi Steph,
At home we use the CFL's everywhere possible. It does make a difference. We also dispose of them properly at the recycling center near us.
Hi Katerina, I know what you are talking about. I believe it is called Electrical Sensitivity. That is what I wrote about in my off the grid post...until we hijacked it. :) I have not heard anything like that about these. Hopefully more states will make it illegal to put these bulbs in the landfill.
Stephanie,
We initially put these in our house in the hard to reach lights because they last so much longer. When we found out they also save money we started replacing all of our bulbs with CFLs. Have you read anything about LED lights? I heard a radio commentator saying once those come down in price they will have the advantages of CFLs without the mercury issues.