High Efficiency and Long Lasting Lighting Products
What are compact fluorescent lamps? How do they work?
Compact fluorescent lamps are an exciting new family of lighting
products. They incorporate the best features of fluorescent tubes
- high efficiency and long life. Compact fluorescent lamps also
have improved color characteristics and a compact size. The result
is a variety of products that replace common standard incandescent
bulbs and consume only one-fourth the energy.
Compact fluorescent lamps contain a small fluorescent tube and
a ballast The ballast is an electric device required to start
and operate the bulb.
Compact fluorescent lamps come in two basic configurations. Modular
units contain a screw-in base and a replaceable bulb. The base
houses the ballast. The bulb can be replaced when needed for a
fraction of the cost of the original unit. Modular compact fluorescent
lamps tend to be larger and heavier than standard incandescent.
Integral compact fluorescent lamps contain the bulb and ballast
in a self-contained package. They are smaller and lighter than
modular units. Most use an electronic ballast that eliminates
the start up flicker and hum associated with modular units. The
disadvantage of integral lamps is that the whole unit must be
discarded at the end of its life.
Will my lighting fixtures accept compact fluorescent bulbs?
What about their color?
Compact fluorescent bulbs screw into standard lamp sockets. They
are in available in sizes to replace incandescent bulbs of 40,
60, 75 and 100 watts. Compact fluorescent bulbs duplicate the
natural color produced by standard bulbs. They are free of the
bluish light given off from cool white fluorescent tubes.
How long do compact fluorescent bulbs last?
Compact fluorescent bulbs last a long time-most have a rated
life of 10,000 hours. This is eight to 13 times the life of standard
incandescent . For example, the rated life of a 100 watt incandescent
bulb is 750 hours. In average home use, a compact fluorescent
bulb can be expected to last for over eight years!
Why pay $20 for a light bulb? Compact fluorescent bulbs
are a good investment even though good quality products sell for
$15-$25. While that seems a lot to pay for a bulb, it will eliminate
the need to purchase 8-13 standard incandescent bulbs.
Important Note: OMLPS offers 23 watt compact fluorescent
bulbs through their Energy Conservation Kit program for $10.00. THIS
IS A GREAT DEAL. Go to Customer Programs for more information on the
Energy Conservation Kit.
But that's only part of the story! Most of the cost
of providing light goes to pay for the electricity used by the
bulb. A standard incandescent bulb consumes six times its cost
for electricity! That means that a cheap bulb is not a good deal.
Compact fluorescent bulbs are four times more efficient at producing
light. They consume only one-fourth of the electricity used by
standard incandescent. This amounts to a significant cost savings.
Let's look at a typical case where an 18 watt compact fluorescent
bulb replaces a standard 75 watt incandescent. Over the life of
the $20 compact fluorescent bulb, it saves about $8.00 worth of
light bulbs and $37 worth of electricity. Thus, the net savings
is $25.00!
Where can I use compact fluorescent bulbs in my home?
The best candidates for a switch to compact fluorescent bulbs
are areas that are lighted at least two hours per day. These include
the kitchen, family room, bathroom and hallways.
What else do I need to consider when using compact fluorescent
bulbs?
Compact fluorescent bulbs are usually a little larger and heavier
than the bulbs they replace. This makes using them a bit of a challenge
because current models won't fit into small fixtures. In addition,
they cannot be used in fixtures controlled by dimmer switches.
Compact fluorescent bulbs come in different shapes and sizes.
Experiment with one or two compact fluorescent bulbs by trying
them in various fixtures in your dwelling to see where they fit.
Compact fluorescent bulbs have temperature restrictions. Generally,
modular units can't be used below freezing. Integral units will
usually operate down to zero degrees and lower in an enclosed
fixture. Follow the manufacturer's temperature restrictions provided
with the bulb.
Recently, fixture manufacturers have begun producing fixtures
designed for compact fluorescent lamps. Instead of an incandescent
socket, they contain a ballast and socket for the fluorescent
lamp. Many fixtures are decorative and are appropriate for use
in homes.
Oberlin Municipal Light and Power
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