Philips CFL Light Bulb Facts
Incandescent light bulbs have long dominated the lighting market. Today, this inefficient bulb still provides 85 percent of the world's lighting. Currently, there are several companies that create and persuade people to use alternative types of light bulbs that are much more efficient. One producer of a leading alternative, compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, is Philips, a company based in the United Kingdom. Formally, CFL stands for "compact fluorescent lamp." Does this Spark an idea?
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Advantages
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The key reason that compact fluorescent light bulbs are becoming so popular as replacements for incandescent light bulbs is that they are more energy-efficient and thus less expensive in the long run. Also, CFLs plug directly into the same sockets that incandescent bulbs plug into, making them very simple and easy to install.
Energy Savings
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Replacing an incandescent light bulb, which wastes 80 percent of its energy on heat, with a CFL light bulb such as that made by Philips can you save an estimated 75 percent in energy usage, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Longevity
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A Philips CFL light bulb lasts much longer than incandescent lighting. Typical longevity is between 6,000 and 15,000 hours, according to the DOE.
Cost
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The initial cost of a Philips CFL light bulb is three to 10 times that of a standard incandescent bulb, the DOE says, depending on the type of CFL you buy. But even though the initial cost is higher, the long-term cost is lower because of the CFL's longevity.
How It Works
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Philips CFLs work the same way as other fluorescent lighting types. They all have a ballast, which regulates electricity, as well as a tube filled with small amounts of argon and mercury. When electricity passes through the tube, it creates ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the human eye. For this reason, all CFLs are coated with phosphor, which glows bright when UV light strikes it.
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References
- Photo Credit cfl lightbulb from above on black image by Silverpics from Fotolia.com
