Energy Saving Bulbs

Energy Saving Bulbs for Those in the Know

Energy saving bulbs were in the height of their popularity during the 1980s. They were popular because they consumed only one fifth of the regular amount of energy one ordinary incandescant light bulb consumed and yet they were just as bright. Where you would usually use a 60 Watt incandescant light bulb, an energy saving bulb that used only 15 Watts would do the job.

Initially they cost considerably more. However the amount of energy these energy saving light bulbs saved and the extended life span of the energy saving light bulb made its tag price look more realistic. It was estimated that the life span of these energy saving bulbs was between 8 to 10 times more than the average life span of an ordinary light bulb 

They didn't need to be replaced as frequently as the ordinary bulbs and this was even more significant when used in areas where you use the most light  Examples of the type of area we are talking about might be the hallway and living area.

The Workings of an Energy Saving Bulb

In an ordinary light bulb, two electrodes have a tungsten filament that is attached between them. When the light is switched on, electricity flows between them. The tungsten filament heats until glows They reach temperatures of 2500 degrees Celsius is the average heat that filaments reach. The heat is given off with the emission of light.

Alternatively, energy saving light bulbs utilizes the fluorescent state of the bulb. These types of bulbs allow the encasment of a gas within a tube that is made of glass and that has a phosphor layer. Ultraviolet rays are emitted when the gas permits the passing through of electricity. These rays cause the glowing of the phosphor coat. What makes this very good in conserving energy is that instead of heat, the energy is converted into light.

A compact fluorescant lamp can save over $USD 30 over the life of the bulb compared to an incandescant lamp and save 2000 times it own weight in greenhouse gases which are responsible for the

Lighting Dilemmas with Energy Saving Light Bulbs

One of the drawbacks with these energy saving bulbs is that they emit a cold and white color of light while ordinary light bulbs emit a warm yellowish color. It is a good thing that the gases and coatings of the glass used in manufacturing light bulbs were innovated during the 1990s. Now, the quality of the light emitted by the energy saving bulbs are on par with the quality of light emitted by the ordinary light bulbs .

Another concern with energy saving bulbs was the lengthy time that they needed to warm up. There were times when energy saving bulbs took at least a minute to warm up tho their brightest. becomes its brightest. Fortunatley, technology is responsible for ways to shorten the warm up time of the new styles of these energy saving bulbs.

Effects of Energy Saving Bulbs on the Environment

The disposal of these energy saving bulbs are a concern due to the known mercury content. Mercury is known to be very hazardous to one's health and to the environment. The mercury content is contained within the powder that is on the bulb coating. This element is together with the calcium phosphate that is on that coating. Due to growing concerns regarding this possible environmental and potential health hazard from these light bulbs, criteria were set to ensure that the mercury content didn't reach an alarming level.

This criteria was complimented by the efforts of the European Eco-label scheme. The prime function of the EC Eco-label is to stimulate both the supply and demand of products with a reduced environmental impact. This is to encourage industries to produce products that are environment friendly and to provide guidance to consumers who are today more sensitive to the protection of the environment.

Here is a bit of trivia I found on the Europa Eco-Label Site. Did you know that 2.6 billion light bulbs are sold each year in Europe. If only 5% of these light bulbs were EU Eco-labelled, the energy savings would lead to avoid the emissions of  6 209 800 tonnes of CO₂ per year. This is the equivalent to the emissions of a car going 952 000 times around the earth.  Kind of gets you thinking doesn't it?

Don't you think it is about time you started thinking about purchasing an energy saving light bulb. Energy saving bulbs are not just energy efficient,they are also environment friendly. It is time to do your bit for the environment!

Remember, reducing your electricity bill is equivalent to saving power, thus helping the world save power for its future generations.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill.
Get a complete guide at Earth 4 Energy.

by  - Stephen Reeves

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