Here’s a short bit:

For comparison, incandescent lamps typically produce 12-15 lumens per watt of electric power. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) produce at least 50 lumens per watt. Currently available high-brightness LEDs can produce about 30-35 lumens per watt.

If LED’s produce less light per watt, where is the rest of the energy going? Or, to ask this another way, why do so many LED light bulbs have cooling vanes attached? It may be true that LED’s are theoretically more efficient, but the DOE says that efficient LED bulbs are probably 20 years away.

I currently have CFL’s for rooms thart need constant light in the winter evenings and 5 or 10watt halogens for short term task like preparing food or writing. Should I be changing my ways?

There are dimmable CFL’s. It should say on the package.

As for flickering, that’s solved by the type of ballast used. If you look at any flourescent lights in a new building, they don’t flicker because just about any new light fixture will have the improved ballast. For CFL’s, the ballast is built in. In short, you shouldn’t have to worry about a flicker.

Burnign coal also produces mercury. If you look at the amount of extra electricity that you would use to light an incandescent over the life of one CFL, the mercury produced by generating that extra energy will be more than what is contained in the CFL. Also, CFL’s are recyclable.

The apartment that my employer chose has two chandeliers (they’re big on them here) in the living room each with 6 bulbs. So that’s a combined 720W each time I turn the lights on! I can certainly see the benefit of CFL just because the power drop. I also have a secondary incentive: the amount of heat they give off!

I’ve got a a few questions which probably aren’t going to change my mind on making the switch but I’d love to hear people’s comments.

- Can you dim CFL’s? If not do they just swtich off? so I could run say 2 incandescents in the chandies so you still have some ambient light when dimmed.

- How do you get CFL’s that don’t flicker? I know straight tube fluro’s are notorious for it, so do CFL’s also suffer from this?

- Regarding the look of the bulb, the twist shape doesn’t really do much for the aesthetics of chandeliers. They have “candle” CFL’s here which have this silicone/rubber shell around the twist, would this affect the light efficiency or make them run hotter?

- Mercury? The IKEA catalogue here features a short bit about CFL’s and says the only drawback in their Eco friendliness is the mercury. Are we just propagating a different evil upon the world?

- Start Up Time. In my past experiences with CFL’s, I noticed that for a place like the bathroom, I’m in and out that quickly that the globe doesn’t even reach 50% of it’s brightness by the time I turn it off. This can be annoying when you’ve got barely any light to see by! Any tips for getting around this (eg. does colour affects the start time).

Cheers,

Casper

Try spotlighting an entire trade show booth on 60 watts worth of CFL’s or incandescents. Then see what the LED’s will do, you’ll be amazed.

The other major advantage of LED’s is that they generate no heat, so there’s no thermal energy to offset with air conditioning etc. More $$$ to get started, but way worth it…

Thanks for the good work Emily!

Mark

Says right on the package of my standard CFL spiral bulb you can’t put it in an enclosed fixutre . . . of course that doesn’t mean it’s true.

Here’s what GE says on its FAQ page:

‘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.

Many CFLs can be used outdoors in an enclosed fixture. Check the lamp or package to make sure it is approved for outdoor use, and verify the lowest operating temperature for the area where the product is being used. If the lamp or package does not state it can be used outdoors, then it is not approved for outdoor use, even in an enclosed fixture.”

Here’s what ENERGY STAR says:

“Some CFLs have trouble operating in enclosed fixtures. Check the CFL’s packaging for any restrictions on use. . . . For recessed fixtures, it is better to use a ‘reflector’ CFL versus a standard-shaped bulb.”

That is, for recessed fixtures use a CFL that has the spiral within an outer bulb.

And, finally, here’s what Canadian electrical utility Manitoba Hydro says:

“When using a CFL outdoors it should be placed in an enclosed fixture unless otherwise stated on the packaging. When using a CFL indoors, some can be installed in an enclosed fixture while others will have markings on the plastic base specifying that it is not to be used in enclosed fixtures. Some manufacturers do not recommend using them in totally enclosed recessed fixture. Please be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging.”

So, as with so many things, it all depends. I’m off to buy a few CFLs that don’t say “not for enclosed fixtures” on the package. Thanks, Wayne, for prompting me.

Where did you hear/read/learn that? I’ve had a CFL in an enclosed can (frosted glass front) above my shower for the last year with no negatives, as far as I can tell…