What is a CFL?
CFL stands for Compact Fluorescent Lamp or Compact Fluorescent Light. These special bulbs use 75 percent less energy and lasts 10 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs. The bulbs are available in a variety of light options and wattage so one way to identify what you need is to look for a ...
- How does the light produced by LEDs compare to that of incandescents?
White light is a combination of all wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Incandescent lamps inherently produce white light. LEDs do not. They emit light in a very narrow range of the spectrum, producing nearly monochromatic light—the color depending on the materials used to create the LED ...
- What's different about ENERGYSTAR® qualified lighting fixtures?
Light fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR® label combine quality and attractive design with high levels of energy efficiency. Qualified fixtures (ENERGYSTAR®, n.d.-a): Use one-fourth the energy of traditional lighting; Last at least 10,000 hours (about seven years of regular use) ...
- What's different about an ENERGYSTAR® qualified Compact Fluorescent Bulb?
The U.S. Department of Energy has defined the criteria a CFL must meet to earn the ENERGYSTAR®. These criteria include very specific requirements for efficacy (LPW), CRI, CCT, product packaging, and warranty provisions (U.S. Department of Energy, 2008a). Recently, the U.S. Department of Ene ...
- What should I look for when purchasing compact fluorescent bulbs?
Efficiency Compare brands for price, lumens per watt (LPW) and hours of life. To calculate lumens per watt, divide the lumens by the watts. For instance, an 800-lumen 60-watt incandescent bulb would have a LPW of approximately 13 (800 divided by 60); an 800-lumen 15-watt CFL would have a LPW of ...
- Should I turn off the fluorescent lights when I leave the room to save more?
Contrary to popular belief, turning off fluorescent lights really does save energy. Frequent switching may shorten bulb life, but electric bill savings will more than compensate for the shorter lifespan, especially if you end up using more fluorescents than incandescents. ENERGY STAR® recom ...
- How much would I save by switching to compact fluorescent bulbs?
Let's compare an incandescent bulb and a CFL with the same light output. A 60-watt bulb does not necessarily provide more illumination than a 15-watt bulb. Why? Because watts measure energy use while lumens measure light output. Lumen information appears on bulb packaging. For example, a 60-wat ...
- Can I use dimmers or 3-way switches with compact fluorescent lights?
When you purchase a bulb, check its packaging for any restrictions on use. For example, some bulbs should not be used in enclosed fixtures and some may specify that the base be up or down. Many are for specific fixtures, such as recessed cans, dimmer switches or outdoor fixtures. Bulbs used inc ...
- Is it true that fluorescent lighting is harsher than incandescent?
Let's compare an incandescent bulb and a CFL with the same light output. A 60-watt bulb does not necessarily provide more illumination than a 15-watt bulb. Why? Because watts measure energy use while lumens measure light output. Lumen information appears on bulb packaging. For example, a 60-wat ...
- I have a broken/burned out compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). Can I just throw it out?
A broken CFL has the capacity to release the small amount of mercury contained within it in the form of a gas. Should you accidentally drop a CFL, follow the EPA’s “Cleanup and Disposal Guidelines for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs – June 2008”. First and foremost, as s ...
- I've heard that CFLs (like other fluorescent tubes) contain mercury—how do I dispose of them? What if I accidentally break one?
As a general rule of thumb, CFLs require special handling, so don't throw them away with the regular household trash. While CFLs can be recycled, they should not be thrown into your recycle bin either. Check http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/getridofit/fluorescent_bulbs.pdf for informati ...
- What does ENERGYSTAR® say about LED lighting?
The ENERGY STAR® Web site states, “Solid-State Lighting (SSL) is the future of lighting, and thanks in part to ENERGY STAR, it'll be here faster than you think. The ENERGY STAR label on SSL luminaires will provide consumers with the confidence that these products meet efficiency and p ...
- What are LED lights?
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are part of a comparatively new class of lighting called Solid State Lighting (SSL). Unlike incandescent or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), LEDs are small electronic components that convert electricity into light. LEDs are already being used in a variety of applic ...
- Are LED lights energy efficient?
It depends. The best white light LED lamps can meet or exceed the efficiency of compact fluorescent lamps—but many LEDs currently on the market do not. LEDs are sensitive to temperature and electrical conditions, and LED fixtures must be carefully designed to take this into account; many ...
- Are LED lights an economical choice for home lighting?
Currently, good quality LED products are fairly expensive, compared to standard lighting. But costs are coming down—in 2007, they were roughly one-seventh of costs in 2001—and it's expected that LEDs will be competitive within a few years. Source: UF/IFAS Energy Efficient Homes: Int ...
- How do LED lights work?
LEDs differ from traditional light sources in the way they produce light. In an incandescent lamp, a tungsten filament is heated by electric current until it glows, emitting light. In a fluorescent lamp, an electric current causes the gas inside the tube to emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whic ...
