A Bright Idea: Compact Florescent Light Bulbs
September 23, 2008 by boygreen
EnergyStar® qualified compact florescent light bulbs use up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent, or normal, light bulbs. According to energystar.gov, if every home in America changed out just one regular light bulb for a compact florescent bulb, it would save enough energy in one year to to equal the amount of energy used to light over 3 million homes.
As our bulbs burn out, I’ve been replacing them with compact florescents and have noticed an added benefit: the house stays much cooler. The kitchen is full of recessed lights that heat up the room quickly, especially when a crowd gathers, so any heat reduction is a welcome change. The new “soft” compact florescents have a glass enclosure similar to a normal light bulb that softens the light, making it appear more like an incandescent so you don’t get that unwanted florescent glow.
There has been some controversy surrounding the use of compact florescents because they contain mercury. Mercury is toxic and when released into the air can contaminate water sources. Mercury is not released from the bulbs unless they are broken, so unless you start smashing them around the house, you’re probably OK. In addition, they contain less mercury than a thermometer (that you stick in your mouth…) and the amount has been reduced by approximately 20% over the last year. Since generating electricity is a main source of mercury emmissions, compact florescents have a lower impact on the environment in the long run.
For more information, visit enerystar.gov’s Compact Florescent FAQ.
Bonus: LEED® points can be obtained by using compact florescent bulbs instead of incandescents.
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