Save Money And Our Environment

Reducing our energy consumption and protecting our resources is important for everyone who inhabits this planet

. Consumers in many places have been directed by their governments that they must begin living greener. This means making changes which includes converting their lighting sources to energy efficient bulbs. In many cases this means compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs. Sometimes they go by their nickname, spiral light bulbs. They got this name from their shape, a spiral tube on a regular bulb mount. They are about the same size as traditional bulbs, though more square. They do, however, work differently and that is why they are energy efficient.

A traditional bulb works by heating the filament inside the bulb with electricity until it is hot enough to give off light. Spiral light bulbs work by using an electric current to heat gases within the tubes. The current is started by the ballast and it regulates the electric current while the light is on. The gases in the tubes are argon and a small amount of amalgam. Heating the argon and amalgam generates ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV light causes the phosphor coating on the inside of the tubes to activate and give off visible light.

When handling spiral light bulbs, there are few things to remember. Firstly, do not grasp the tubing on the bulb, instead grasp the white plastic ballast and gently twist into the socket. Secondly, try to keep the lights on for at least fifteen minutes to get the most out of your bulbs and extend their life span. Thirdly, CFLs are temperature sensitive. When using indoors make sure they are in open fixtures so they do not build up heat. If using outdoors check the specifications on the package and do not use in temperatures colder than what is recommended. Fourth, use the proper bulbs for the intended use. Only use spiral light bulbs in dimming units and three-way sockets that were specifically designed for those functions. And finally, if you do have an older bulb with mercury, take care when disposing of it. The best thing to do is get in the habit of recycling all your bulbs, both old and new.

Once you replace your old bulbs with energy saving bulbs and have been using them for a while, you will begin to see the other differences. Spiral light bulbs use about approximately seventy-five percent less energy than traditional bulbs. Over time you will see this reflected in your lower utility bills. Also, these bulbs have a longer life span so you will not be replacing them as often. In fact, you may get over seven years of use from a single spiral light bulb! If you use them in all your light fixtures you will see a significant savings in your utility bills and household expenses, helping in these harsh economic times and helping to eradicate 'Credit Crunch' gloom to some extent. Our environment will benefit too, with reduced energy consumption and also less waste going into landfills.

by: Andy Ball

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