Basics of CFL bulbs (Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs)

1. How does a compact fluorescent light bulb work?

2. What's the difference between a compact fluorescent light bulb and a fluorescent bulb?

3. What compact fluorescent light bulb do I buy to replace an incandescent (regular) bulb?

4. Does the EPA recommend the use of CFL bulbs?

5. What do I do with a CFL when it burns out? What is the proper disposal of a CFL bulb?

6. What should I do if a CFL breaks?

7. How do I change a CFLi bulb?

How you can use CFLs

8. Can you dim CFLis?

9. Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulbs with a dimmer switch?

10. Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb on my 3-way lamp?

11. Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb in an enclosed light fixture?

12. Can I use a CFL bulb outside?

13. Can I use a CFL in any position?

14. Can I use a CFL in applications involving vibration such as a ceiling fan or garage door opener?

15. Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb with an electronic timer or photocell (AKA electric eye)?

Safety Concerns

16. Are CFLis more dangerous?

17. Is it true that CFLs contain mercury? Why and how much?

18. What is mercury, what are the sources of mercury emissions, and what are the risks?

19. Do light bulbs (such as compact fluorescent bulbs) give off hazardous amounts of ultraviolet (UV) light?

20. I have heard CFLs can overheat and smoke - should I be worried? Why does it happen?

21. How much heat (or infrared radiation) is emitted by regular and compact fluorescent light bulbs?

22. What is the white powder I see inside my fluorescent bulb?

23. Should I be concerned about using CFLs in my home or should I take any special precautions?

General 

24. CFLi's are too big. 

25. Do CFLis give a colder colour light than ordinary bulbs?

26. Do CFLi's flicker with a stroboscopic effect? I've heard they switch on and off 50 times per second.  

27. Some CFLis seem to start very slowly, don’t give the light they promise or don’t last as long as they claim.

28. Do CFLi's need to be left switched on for >45 minutes as they consume so much energy when first switched on?

29. Does frequent Switching reduce the life of CFLi's?

30. Can compact fluorescent bulbs create interference with electronic equipment, such as radios?

1. How does a compact fluorescent light bulb work?
Fluorescent light bulbs (including compact fluorescents) are more energy-efficient than regular bulbs because of the different method they use to produce light. Regular bulbs (also known as incandescent bulbs) create light by heating a filament inside the bulb; the heat makes the filament white-hot, producing the light that you see. A lot of the energy used to create the heat that lights an incandescent bulb is wasted. A fluorescent bulb, on the other hand, contains a gas that produces invisible ultraviolet light (UV) when the gas is excited by electricity. The UV light hits the white coating inside the fluorescent bulb and the coating changes it into light you can see. Because fluorescent bulbs don't use heat to create light, they are far more energy-efficient than regular incandescent bulbs.

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2. What's the difference between a compact fluorescent light bulb and a fluorescent bulb?
The primary difference is in size; compact fluorescent bulbs are made in special shapes (which require special technologies) to fit in standard household light sockets, like table lamps and ceiling fixtures. In addition, most compact fluorescent lamps have an "integral" ballast that is built into the light bulb, whereas most fluorescent tubes require a separate ballast independent of the bulb. Both types offer energy-efficient light.

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3. What compact fluorescent light bulb do I buy to replace an incandescent (regular) bulb?
While a regular (incandescent) light bulb uses heat to produce light, a fluorescent bulb creates light using an entirely different method that is far more energy-efficient, in fact, 4-6 times more efficient. This means that you can buy a 15-watt compact fluorescent bulb that produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt regular incandescent bulb.

Don't worry about the math, though, we make it easy for you to figure out which compact fluorescent bulb to buy by displaying the equivalent regular watts you're used to prominently on the package. Just look for the wattage you would normally buy in a regular bulb.

In case you're curious, here are the watts needed by regular incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light.

Standard Bulb - CFL Bulb

40w = 10w
60w = 13w - 15w
75w = 20w
100w = 26w - 29w
150w = 38w - 42w
250w-300w = 55w

Because the wattage of a CFL bulb is much lower than that of an incandescent, you can use higher wattage CFL giving you the equivalent light of a higher wattage incandescent. For example: If your fixture says not to exceed 60 watts, you can use a 15 watt CFL to get the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb or use up to a 42 watt CFL and increase the amount of light.

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4. Does the EPA recommend the use of CFL bulbs?
Yes. CFLs, when compared with standard incandescent bulbs, offer many benefits. First, they help save energy and money. They use 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent with a 13-watt CFL can save you at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Second, CFLs offer convenience, because they last longer, and come in different sizes and shapes to fit almost any fixture. In addition, CFLs produce about 70% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs, so they're safer to operate and can help cut energy costs associated with home cooling. When shopping, always look for ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs.

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5. What do I do with a CFL when it burns out? What is the proper disposal of a CFL bulb?

Follow these guidelines to dispose your CFL properly:

Like paint, batteries, thermostats, and other hazardous household items, CFLs should be disposed of properly. Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage if better disposal options exist. All CFLi bulbs should be recycled at your nearest recycling bank, which will be found at www.recycle-more.co.uk. Additional information is available at www.lamprecycle.org. Finally, IKEA stores take back used CFLs, and other retailers are currently exploring take back programs.

If your local waste management agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the CFL in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, you should search a wider geographic area for proper disposal options. Never send a CFL or other mercury containing product to an incinerator.

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a two-year warranty. If the bulb fails within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

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6. What should I do if a CFL breaks?
Because there is such a small amount of mercury in CFLs, your greatest risk if a bulb breaks is getting cut from glass shards. Research indicates that there is no immediate health risk to you or your family should a bulb break and it's cleaned up properly. You can minimize any risks by following these proper clean-up and disposal guidelines:

Sweep up, don't vacuum all of the glass fragments and fine particles.

Always use gloves to remove debris. Place broken pieces in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of by recycling. Wipe the area with a damp paper towel to pick up any stray shards of glass or fine particles. Put the used towel in the plastic bag as well.

If weather permits, open windows to allow the room to ventilate for 20-30 minutes.

Additional information available from the EPA. 

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7. How do I change a CFLi bulb?
Make sure the bulb has cooled before replacing and handle by the base, never by the glass.

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8. Can you dim CFLis?
There are new lamps available right now that you can dim on ordinary domestic dimmer switches or alternately by staged dimming using a standard light switch. The number of these types of products is increasing.

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9. Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb with a dimmer switch?
To use a compact fluorescent bulb on a dimmer switch, you must buy a bulb that's specifically made to work with dimmers (check the package). GE makes a dimming compact fluorescent light bulb (called the Energy Smart Dimming Spirals®) that is specially designed for use with dimming switches. We don't recommend using regular compact fluorescent bulbs with dimming switches, since this can shorten bulb life. (Using a regular compact fluorescent bulb with a dimmer will also nullify the bulb's warranty.)

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10. Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb on my 3-way lamp?
GE does make CFL bulbs for use in 3-way lamps. Check the package for this application. If a regular CFL is use in a 3-way switch, it will work on the middle (medium) setting and it should not damage the bulb. The 3-way switch does not alter the performance of the bulb.

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11. Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb in an enclosed light fixture?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs may generally be used in enclosed fixtures as long as the enclosed fixture is not recessed. Totally enclosed recessed fixtures (for example, a ceiling can light with a cover over the bulb) create temperatures that are too high to allow the use of a compact fluorescent bulb.

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12. Can I use a CFL bulb outside?
Many CFL bulbs can be used outdoors if used in an enclosed fixture. To be certain, look for the package or bulb to say that it can be used outdoors and verify the lowest operating temperature for the area where the product is being used.

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13. Can I use a CFL in any position?
Yes, GE screwbase CFL bulbs can be used in any operating position unless there is text printed on the lamp or packaging that indicates a required operating position.

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14. Can I use a CFL in applications involving vibration such as a ceiling fan or garage door opener?
Generally it is not recommended to use CFLs in vibrating environments. Vibration can cause the electronics in the CFL to fail. There is one CFL bulb (FLE11) that is available for use in a ceiling fan. Check the package for this application.

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15. Can I use a compact fluorescent light bulb with an electronic timer or photocell (AKA electric eye)?
Some electronic timers and photocells contain parts that are incompatible with compact fluorescent light bulbs; using these bulbs in incompatible products will result in a shorter light bulb life. To find out if an electronic timer or photocell is compatible with compact fluorescent bulbs, check with the manufacturer of the timer or photocell.

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16. Are CFLis more dangerous?
CFLis are much safer to use in confined areas as they produce very little heat when compared to the very hot GLS bulbs. They are much safer where children are concerned and many are now used in children¡¦s light fittings for this reason.
CFLis burn so much cooler that there will be no more browned or burnt lampshades or nasty scorch marks on ceilings

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17. Is it true that CFLs contain mercury? Why and how much?
CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing - an average of 5 milligrams (roughly equivalent to the tip of a ball-point pen). Mercury is an essential, irreplaceable element in CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. By comparison, older home thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury and many manual thermostats contain up to 3000 milligrams. It would take between 100 and 600 CFLs to equal those amounts. There is currently no substitute for mercury in CFLs; however, manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce mercury used in their fluorescent lighting products over the past decade.

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18. What is mercury, what are the sources of mercury emissions, and what are the risks?
Mercury is an element (Hg on the periodic table) found naturally in the environment. Mercury emissions in the air can come from both natural and man-made sources. Utility power plants (mainly coal-fired) are the primary man-made source, as mercury that naturally exists in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity. Coal-fired power generation accounts for roughly 40% of the mercury emissions in the U.S. EPA is implementing policies to reduce airborne mercury emissions. Under regulations issued in 2005, coal-fired power plants will need to reduce their emissions by 70 percent by 2018.

CFLs present an opportunity to prevent mercury emissions from entering the environment because they help to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants. A coal-fired power plant will emit 13.6 milligrams of mercury to produce electricity required to use an incandescent light bulb, compared to 3.3 milligrams for a CFL.

Even in areas without significant coal-fired power generation as part of the electricity mix (e.g., Alaska and the Pacific Northwest), there are other, equally positive environmental impacts from saving energy through the use of CFLs: reduction of nitrogen oxides (which cause smog), and prevention of substantial quantities of CO2, a greenhouse gas (which is linked to global warming), as well as other air pollutants.

Airborne mercury poses a very low risk of exposure. However, when mercury emissions deposit into lakes and oceans, they can transform into methyl mercury that builds up in fish. Fish consumption is the most common pathway for human exposure to mercury. Pregnant women and young children are most vulnerable to the effects of this type of mercury exposure. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that most people are not exposed to harmful levels of mercury through fish consumption. However, the FDA and state agencies do issue public health advisories.

EPA offers additional information and resources on all sources of mercury at www.epa.gov/mercury.

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19. Do light bulbs (such as compact fluorescent bulbs) give off hazardous amounts of ultraviolet (UV) light?
Regular fluorescent light bulbs used in your home and office do not produce a hazardous amount of ultraviolet light (UV). Most light sources, including fluorescent bulbs, emit a small amount of UV, but the UV produced by fluorescent light bulbs is far less than the amount produced by natural daylight. (Ultraviolet light rays are the light wavelengths that can cause sunburn and skin damage.)

Your safety is important to us; that's why, for all of our light bulbs designed for general public use, we strive to minimize the amount of UV light emitted. As a precaution bulbs should be at least 30cm away from exposed skin.

If you're looking for a low-UV bulb for an especially sensitive area (like a photography dark room), try Saf-T-Gard® bulbs. They block most ultraviolet light emissions, and they're also shatter-resistant.

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20. I have heard CFLs can overheat and smoke - should I be worried? Why does it happen?
The vast majority of CFLs reach the end of useful life and fail passively. In some cases, electronic components in the ballast power supply (such as capacitors and resistors) may fail in a manner that will result in some smoke, odor, or discoloration (browning) of the plastic housing. The failure of some electrical components can result in an audible "popping" or "sizzling" sound. It is the function of the ballast housing to contain such failures and prevent the plastic or failed components from igniting. GE CFLs are ENERGY STAR qualified and meet UL standards, which require the materials to be self extinguishing. It is the nature of fire retardant materials to exhibit some deformation or discoloration in a protective mode. At the first sign of any odor, smoke or erratic behavior, disconnect power to the lamp. Allow it to cool and unscrew it from the socket by the handling the base, not by the glass.

For more information please visit...
http://www.ul.com/newsroom/cfl/index.html
http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3147

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21. How much heat (or infrared radiation) is emitted by regular, halogen, and compact fluorescent light bulbs?
Regular light bulbs, known as incandescent bulbs, create light by heating a filament inside the bulb; the heat makes the filament white-hot, producing the light that you see. Halogen light bulbs create light through the same method. Because incandescent and halogen bulbs create light through heat, about 90% of the energy they emit is in the form of heat (also called infrared radiation). To reduce the heat emitted by regular incandescent and halogen light bulbs, use a lower watt bulb (like 60 watts instead of 100).

Fluorescent light bulbs use an entirely different method to create light. Both compact fluorescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes contain a gas that, when excited by electricity, hits a coating inside the fluorescent bulb and emits light. (This makes them far more energy-efficient than regular incandescent bulbs.) The fluorescent bulbs used in your home emit only around 30% of the heat of their equivalent incandescent bulb, making them far cooler.

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22. What is the white powder I see inside my fluorescent bulb?
The white powder that you see inside a fluorescent lamp is called phosphor, which is a substance that emits white, visible light whenever it absorbs light waves. Both compact fluorescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes contain a gas that gives off invisible light when excited by electricity. This invisible light travels to the phosphor coating on the bulb, where it is transformed into light visible to the human eye.

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23. Should I be concerned about using CFLs in my home or should I take any special precautions?
CFLs are safe to use in your home. No mercury is released when the bulbs are in use and they pose no danger to you or your family when used properly. However, CFLs are made of glass tubing and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the lamp from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base, and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket by its tubes. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly, learn how to properly dispose.

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24. CFLi's are too big. 
The latest generations of CFLi's offered by the major manufacturers are no longer very large. In some cases, they are slightly smaller than their GLS equivalent and with the new classic shapes look almost the same as GLS bulbs. 

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25. Do CFLis give a colder colour light than ordinary bulbs
Under the Energy Saving Trusts Energy Saving Recommended accreditation, CFLs have to emit the same warm light level as GLS bulbs:- between 2,600 and 2,800 kelvin.

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26. Dp CFLi's flicker with a stroboscopic effect? I've heard they switch on and off 50 times per second. 
CFLis give a constant, flicker free, non-stroboscopic light. They operate at high frequency through their electronic controller at between 30,000-50,000 hertz (normal mains voltage cycles at just 50 hertz or cycles per second).

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27. Some CFLis seem to start very slowly, don’t give the light they promise or don’t last as long as they claim.
Beware of poor quality, cheap lamps. Make sure that you only buy CFLis with the Energy Saving Recommended logo on the box from the major manufacturers. This will show that they are of the very best quality and have received independent third party accreditation in meeting light output and life standards.
Quality CFLis give instant light although do take a short time to warm up to full brightness, particularly in a cold space. However if they carry the Energy Saving Recommended logo, they will reach at least 60% of their full brightness in 60 seconds.

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28. Do CFLi's need to be left switched on for >45 minutes as they consume so much energy when first switched on?
There is no reason to keep a CFLi switched on for longer than a normal GLS bulb as they do not consume any greater energy during start up and run very efficiently immediately after the first 2 or 3 seconds.

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29. Does frequent Switching reduce the life of CFLi's?
A CFLis life is no longer affected by switching. The current standards for Energy Saving Recommended accreditation requires over 3,000 switching cycles per 8,000 hours of tested life which is many more than would be necessary for normal domestic use. For special applications such as hallways in flats and lights in corridors activated by motion sensors, some manufacturers produce heavy duty CFLis with up to 500,000 switching cycles capability and 15,000 hours life! 

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30. Can compact fluorescent bulbs create interference with electronic equipment, such as radios?
Many electronic devices, such as radios, televisions, wireless telephones, and remote controls, use infrared light to transmit signals. Infrequently, these types of electronic devices accidentally interpret the infrared light coming from a compact fluorescent bulb as a signal, causing the electronic device to temporarily malfunction or stop working. (For example, your television might suddenly change channels.) Fortunately, this only happens when light is produced at the same wavelength as the electronic device signals, which is rare.

To reduce the chance of interference, avoid placing compact fluorescent bulbs near these kinds of electronic devices. If interference occurs, move the bulb away from the electronic device, or plug either the light fixture or the electronic device into a different outlet.

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