Information on Compact Fluorescent Lamps
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) combines the energy efficiency of fluorescent lighting tubes with the convenience of incandescent light fixtures. CFLs are more expensive than traditional incandescent light bulbs, but a CFL has a longer life expectancy of between six and 15 times the life of a traditional incandescent bulb. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The fluorescent light was invented in 1856 by Heinrich Geissler, who discovered a bluish glow could be created by sealing gas inside a glass tube. The Bright Fluorescent Lighting website explains the glow was created by exciting the gas inside the tube with an electrical charge. CFLs glow with an ultraviolet light when an electrical charge is passed through the glass tube from a ballast, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The electrical charge excites a white phosphorus coating on the inside of the tube, emitting a visible light from the surface of the tube. According to the IEEE Global History Network, Edward E. Hammer of the GE company was responsible for the development of the first energy-efficient fluorescent lamp during the energy crisis of the 1970s.
Types
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The U.S. Department of Energy explains there are a variety of types of CFLs in various shapes and sizes. The number of tubes available to emit light ranges from two to four to six tubes with the total surface area of the tube determining the amount of light emitted from the lamp. The CFL can be manufactured with a permanently attached ballast and tube or as two separate pieces, making it possible for the ballast to remain in use when the tube of the lamp outlives its expected lifespan.
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Mercury
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Greenpeace UK explains the issue of mercury contained in CFLs has become an issue of concern in 2010. CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury, which is needed to produce light in the lamp. However, incandescent lamps are reported by Greenpeace UK to produce more mercury than CFLs as they use a significantly higher amount of energy produced by burning coal that in turn produces mercury as electricity is produced.
Savings
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The energy reductions produced by using CFLs are transferred to energy bills, which can be reduced by switching to CFLs. The U.S. Department of Energy reports traditional incandescent lamps are approximately three to four times the wattage of CFLs, giving CFLs a total energy saving on lighting of about 75 percent.
Uses
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According to the U.S. Department of Energy, CFLs produce significant energy savings when used in areas where lighting is kept on for prolonged periods. In hard to reach areas and outdoor spaces, CFLs can reduce the need to change light bulbs on a regular basis. CFLs are designed for use within specific temperature ranges; using a CFL in areas outside these temperature ranges can reduce the life expectancy of a lamp. The U.S. Department of Energy reports CFLs with an electronic ballast instead of magnetic can operate at lower temperatures.
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References
- Photo Credit compact fluorescent bulb image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
