A Few Faqs On Energy Saving Light Bulbs Answered
Nowadays, energy efficiency in light bulbs is a popular buzzword and we can only be thankful for it
. With the rising prices of energy and the rising impact of human activity on Mother Earth, adopting an energy-efficient attitude in our homes is a good start toward offsetting the negative impact of these events.
Still, there are many questions about energy-efficient light bulbs that remain in the minds of home owners and businessmen. In this article, we shall seek to answer a few of these questions and, hopefully, get the ball rolling toward the adoption of these bulbs in homes and offices.
What Are Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs?
As their name implies, energy-efficient light bulbs consume lesser amounts of electrical energy than regular incandescent bulbs. The most common are the compact fluorescent lights (CFL) that come either in looped or spiral forms. Within these two basic types of CFL are variations such as spiral tubes with or without plastic domes, tube fluorescents and circular fluorescent bulbs.
Why Are These Light Bulbs Considered Energy-Efficient?
Skipping on the technical explanation about the differences between incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, the latter are more energy-efficient than the former because of the differences in heat generated. Fluorescent bulbs generate lesser amounts of heat than incandescent bulbs - that's the main thing about energy saving light bulbs.
For example, a 15-watt CFL can generate the same amount of lumens (light output) as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. The difference of 45 watts represents the energy savings.
Why Are These Light Bulbs Considered Dangerous By Critics?
Actually, energy-efficient light bulbs are safe when these are installed, used and disposed of in the proper manner. The criticism about these light bulbs being dangerous comes from the mercury component used inside as one of the elements.
In a typical CFL bulb, it has approximately 5 milligrams of mercury while a long-tube fluorescent has 10x as much mercury content. Now, when you think that a typical mercury thermometer contains 100x more mercury than a typical CFL, the worries are almost irrelevant - emphasis on almost, as will be discussed later.
For as long as the bulb remains intact, the mercury will remain inside the tube and, thus, pose no harm to humans and animals alike. However, when the bulb breaks or it must be disposed, then certain safety measures must be undertaken to prevent any possibility of poisoning. Keep in mind the following tips when disposing of energy saving light bulbs:
- Let the mercury vapours escape by opening the windows. Leave the room for about 15 minutes while keeping the door shut.
- Before cleaning the area, wear disposable gloves. Use a stiff cardboard to scoop up the large pieces while the smaller pieces can be picked up by duct tape. Wipe the area with paper towel to pick up any mercury residue and small glass fragments.
- Place all of these waste materials inside a plastic bag, seal it and then place in another bag. Seal it and place on an outdoor dustbin.
- Vacuum the area. Remove the vacuum bag, place it in another bag and then seal it before placing inside an outdoor bin bag.
The above steps are only applicable to single bulb disposal.
If you have many bulbs to dispose, we suggest calling local authorities for proper disposal lest the mercury contaminate the neighbourhood or the landfill.
Like any other device designed to make our lives easier, energy saving light bulbs must be chosen, used and disposed of with care.
by: Lawrence White
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