Turning The Lights Off On The C.F.L. Junk Science

The new C.F.L.

Written by Adam Shake

Ahhh, Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, how some people love to hate them.  C.F.L.’s, throughout their short history have been both the boon and the bane of the environmental movement.  They are the one thing that the common every-man can get behind.  By going to the local hardware or even grocery store, billions of people the world over have literally bought in to the Environmental movement. At the same time, not buying them is an easy way to declare you’re independence against Environmental Guilt

As many of us know, C.F.L.’s are up to 13 times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs.  The reason for this is that 90% of the energy consumed by an incandescent bulb is wasted heat. This makes the bulb extremely inefficient. (And hot to the touch)

So why doesn’t everyone run out and buy C.F.L.’s?  Well, here are a few reasons.

1. C.F.L.’s cost more than incandescent bulbs. True. (But) For a given light output, C.F.L.’s use between one fifth and one third of the power of equivalent incandescent lamps, and last anywhere from 10 to 15 times as long.  The cost saving’s between the actual bulbs themselves and the energy saved can result in a 10% to 15% total electric household saving’s over the course of 30 C.F.L.’s life. (About 5 years)
2. C.F.L.’s don’t put out as much light, or as good a quality of light as incandescent’s. Just like anything else, new technology is dictated by many things, price and demand being the two big ones. But many people don’t want to even think about new technology until it’s out of the box and perfect in every way.  These are the same people who wont buy a new computer because in 2 months it will be obsolete.  When C.F.L.’s first hit the market, they did not offer all the choices in light quality and output that incandescent’s did.  But the last two years have seen every lumen of light become available that incandescent’s have offered.
3. C.F.L.’s contain the Mercury. This is absolutely true.  But lets put it into perspective.  There have been horrendous reports of how C.F.L.’s are not safe.  “If you break one, you’re in big trouble!” This junk science has been propagated by the Media because it sells newspapers and keeps you in front of the T.V.  The truth is C.F.L.’s contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 4 milligrams – about
   the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury – an amount equal to the mercury in 125 C.F.L.’s. At the same time, new “Alto” C.F.L. bulbs are now available with even lower mercury content and can be found at this online store.
4. There are not enough models out there.  I have different size light sockets. Check this out.

Variety is the spice of life

In closing, time marches on, and what may have been two or three years ago, is not, today.  Please don’t be so quick to judge based on Rumor, E-mail’s, Television or even word of mouth.  Seek the facts, live the change.

Thanks for stopping by. Please look around and feel free to comment or share some of you’re own knowledge with myself and others, and as always, keep up the good fight and Alter the Eco!

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Adam

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