What’s So Special About CFL’s?
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) can save a lot of energy and this is one of the main reasons for their recent widespread use. These lamps are often used to replace incandescent lamps which are not nearly as energy efficient. While giving off basically the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb these lamps use less energy and are rated for a longer life span. These lamps tend to be a bit more expensive than incandescent bulbs but most of the price is recouped in the amount of energy saved. In fact, if the bulb lasts the average life span of a CFL, the electricity saving will often make the CFL cheaper than the incandescent in the long run.
Compact fluorescent lamps come in a variety of different shapes and the type you need depends on the purpose of the lamp. The low profile design makes them ideal for a variety of decorative light fixtures as well. The design of the CFL allows them to produce the same amount of light with much less wattage than that used by an incandescent bulb. It is a good idea to check the wattage of the CFL and the comparable incandescent to make sure that you choose the proper bulb wattage for the CFL.
Compared to incandescent lights, most compact fluorescent lamps are rated for about 8 to 15 times the lifespan. This is heavily dependent though on how often the light is switched on and off. For the best results if you have compact fluorescent lamps installed you should leave them on if you are only going to be away from the room they are on in for less than 15 minutes. Reducing the amount of on-off cycles can greatly help to increase the life span of the lamps.
Compact fluorescent bulbs can cut down on energy costs in a variety of ways. Of course there is the fairly obvious reduction in raw energy used. There is also the fact that the cooling loads of buildings can be reduced because the compact fluorescent lamps do not produce as much heat as the incandescent bulbs and this waste heat does not have to be removed. The savings increases really start to add up when these compact fluorescent lamps are used in commercial settings, with some businesses reporting an average savings of around 12% in their electrical bills.
With all of these potential cost savings it may be worthwhile to consider making the initial investment of replacing your existing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. The first thing to do is to figure out exactly how many bulbs you will need to replace and what type of compact fluorescent lamp you will need to replace it. If you are doing the replacement in a commercial setting, you may want to consider doing it in stages. In either case you will likely find the best prices on compact fluorescent lamps from an online retailer, especially if you are buying in bulk. Be assured that installing compact fluorescent lamps is a definite way to reduce energy costs.