Compact fluorescents use mercury vapor to create a UV light. Phosphor coatings on the inside of the bulb turn the UV into visible light. This is why Fluorescent lights fade fabrics. ( I bet in 10 years time concerned scientists will be telling us to apply suncreen indoors!) Also, the quality of light color is dependent on the types of coatings that give off light in the various Red Green and blue spectrum. Some render colors pretty good, others not so good. CFL's take time to "warm up" before they achive full brightness. I've found that in some applications, I shut the light off before it even gets warmed up.
While CFL's use less energy while burning, they also create more waste than an incandescent in terms of manufacturing and disposal. It would be interesting to see what the true impact is, I have yet to see anywhere that seems to take all this into consideration, From the cost of resources, transportation, manufacturing and proper disposal. Most consumers will not properly dispose of their spent CFL bulbs. The rare earth phosphors needed to coat the insides of the tubes require a very large amount of materials mined to get small amounts. CFL's electronic ballasts contribute to the growing ewaste problems.
A simple idea for a lot of buildings are solar light tubes to bring in natural light, this is the ultimate low cost green solution. We would all be better served in turning off as many lights as possible, using lower wattage bulbs - especially in outdoor night time applications, a 25 watt bulb gives plenty of light to find your way to the door so you can put in your key.
The classic Edison bulb has very simple materials very simply made. I'm all for choice. In the winter, when you are heating the house anyway, who cares if they give off heat? For task lighting, I prefer a Halogen desk lamp or puck light. 20 watts well directed is incredibly bright.
In California it has been legislated that general lighting in kitchens and baths have to be fluorescent for many years. Most people buy a cheap fixture to get the permit closed then buy a replacement incandescent fixture and throw the other one away - what does that solve?
Mark
Europe: The light bulb is dead; long live the LED
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by fornesto » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:25 am
We use 100% compact flourescents in our house. I don't have to worry about yelling at everyone to turn the lights off in their room as my father did. I do notice a difference in the light quality, but not enough to change anything. I use 1 conventional bulb at my study desk because I once heard that flourescents cycle very quickly and can tire the eye over time. There is already an effort (very small) in California to prohibit conventional bulbs. On a side note, my mother-in-law designs homes for very wealthy clients. She is astonished at the trend of overlighting everything - a single kitchen with 14 recessed can lights! I guess shadows are out of style.
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fornesto - Donating Member
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And everywhere else I'm replacing the 60W incandescents as they burn out with the 60W flourescents. I only have a couple left and may just toss 'em.
Poor lil guy, he's an endangered species now.
