Should We Use Energy Saving Light Bulbs?

Most light bulbs in use today are the old incandescent bulbs invented more than 100 years ago. They are cheap and available for a wide range of power ratings. Unfortunately, only a very small amount of this power is converted into light. This makes them very inefficient. Because there are used all around the world and each room has at least one of them there is a significant amount of produced electrical energy that is wasted. It is converted into heat which is not needed. Because energy is not cheap and its production contributes to the global warming many governments have decided to replace conventional incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient replacements.

The most common choice is the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). They are designed to fit into the same fixture used for incandescent bulbs. Such lamps also include a small electronic circuit which acts as an electronic ballast. Compact fluorescent lamps are 3 to 4 times more efficient comparing to incandescent bulbs with the same luminosity. Also the rated life of compact fluorescent lamp is 10 to 15 times longer than for the incandescent ones and is usually between 6000 and 15000 hours. Despite its higher prices they can save a lot of money during its life time. Another benefit of CFLs is the type of light they produce. It is much closer to natural white light. This is because they radiate a light spectrum which depends on the phosphor coating. Usually few different types of phosphor coatings are used to create a wider light spectrum close to sunlight.

But fluorescent lighting has also some drawbacks. Lamps contain small amounts of mercury. Mercury is a very toxic element and we should take extra care not to come in touch with it. This complicates disposal of broken fluorescent lamps which should be stored in special containers for dangerous materials. CFLs do reach full brightness immediately after they are switch on. Therefore, it is not advised to use them where lighting is needed only for short times. Another drawback is that compact fluorescent lamps can not be dimmed. For such purpose we should use special CFLs designed to be used with dimmers.

Because of high efficiency and many other advantages many countries have prepared plans to replace old and inefficient incandescent bulbs with energy efficient fluorescent lamps. Typical measures include bans on production or selling of incandescent lamps. Using energy efficient lighting can save a lot of energy. And saving energy also reduces emissions of CO2. In other words, fluorescent lighting can help to reduce global warming.