Saving Energy Using CFLs Gets You 66% Less in Energy Cost
For most homes in the developed countries, lighting
alone accounts for 9% of the total energy requirement. For other parts
of the world, it is far more than that. Thus, using cost-efficient
lights can be a real life-saver, or should we say, energy-saver.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are made to be very efficient; it uses
66% less energy than the conventional light bulbs. Just by changing from
the incandescent to the CFLs could already reduce electrical consumption
to 7%.
When compared to the regular light bulbs, CFLs give the same amount of
luminescence for less power and while it has a higher purchase price
than the incandescent, CFLs have longer lifespan (approximately 12 times
than the incandescent light bulbs, about 11,000 hours), enough to save $US30
in electrical costs during the bulbs lifetime.
A US published article claimed that if a household changes 30 fixtures
in their home, investing $90, the money saved in the span of five years
could be anywhere from $500 to $1,500 depending on the areas electrical
costs. For commercial buildings and other bigger establishments, the
savings are even greater. An average CFL at 75 watts could save $22
dollars in direct energy savings per year. If that is multiplied by the
number of light bulbs in a building, and include the cost of labor that
could be saved from changing light bulbs, the savings could rise
exponentially. True, there is a capital investment of about $2 USD per
fixture; however that could be recovered in a month from money saved.
Other manufacturers of CFLs also apply titanium dioxide coating. This is
because titanium dioxide is claimed to neutralize bacteria, odors and
molds. Still many manufacturers of CFLs apply a luminous coating to the
bulb for the purpose of luminescence after the CFL is turned off. The
idea behind is that a little light could still remain, even for a short
while, in cases of power failure and accidents.
Because Carbon Fluorescent lamps do not emit as much heat as the
incandescent light bulbs, there is also less work for air conditioners
in cooling up the space.
Surely there must be a downside.
If this could be called a downside, CFLs behave differently from the
ordinary incandescent bulbs. For one, it takes longer to attain its full
brightness depending on the temperature. The colder the climate is, the
longer it will take for the bulb to give off full brightness. CFL also
gives off the brightest light during its first use and begins to dull
gradually, giving off less light as it nears the end of its life; a CFLs
is expected to reduce its brightness by 20% from its original brightness
on first installation. But that is just about it.
Saving energy, in almost all conceivable phases of production, is in
focus today. The fuel that is currently in use, as we are all aware, is
non renewable. This is why even in the field of lighting, continuous
research is being done to further reduce the coefficient of energy that
has to be saved.
Solid state lighting, for example, is widely used in traffic lights;
although for now, using this technology to be an energy saving method
for domestic consumption is still being developed as the current cost is
still high. For now, saving energy through the CFLs remains to spell a
definite advantage compared with incandescent light bulbs.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters, portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop online at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
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generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
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