Compact Florescent Light Bulbs Vs. Normal Light Bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) produce the same amount of light as normal incandescent light bulbs but use less energy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types
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Both incandescents and CFLs come in a variety of styles with ranges of brightness, light color (bluish to yellowish) and bulb shape and size. In the past few years, manufacturers have introduced special CFLs that work with dimmer and 3-way switches, as regular CFLs cannot be used.
Energy Usage
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When compared with an incandescent of identical light output, CFLs use 75 percent less energy. Though CFLs cost more to purchase, over time, their energy savings more than make up for the initial cost.
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Product Life
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CFLs can last up to 10 times longer than a normal incandescent light bulb. The average incandescent is rated for 750 to 1,000 hours, while the average CFL is rated for 8,000 hours or more.
Disposal
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While incandescents can be discarded in your regular garbage, CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and should be discarded as hazardous waste. Some communities have free or low-cost recycling for CFLs.
Switching to CFLs
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If you have disliked CFL light quality in the past, try the newer "soft white" or "warm white" CFLs. These are designed to mimic the light of incandescent bulbs. In addition, older CFLs with magnetic ballasts had a "flicker" effect that caused headaches for some people; today's CFLs have electronic ballasts and "flicker" at a higher frequency, undetectable to humans.
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