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| Lighting - Energy Saving Tips |
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Artificial lighting consumes almost 15% of a household's electricity use. Incandescent bulbs convert only about ten percent of the electricity they use to produce light, the other 90 percent is converted into heat. If every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), the pollution savings would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road. More information about lighting and energy use. >>
Interestingly, the U.S. adoption of CFLs is way behind many countries. The market share of CFLs is about 6% in the U.S., up from less than 1% in 2001. That compares to 20% in the United Kingdom, 50% in Germany and 80% in Japan. We have an opportunity to have a great impact on CO2 emissions simply by changing our light bulbs. |
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Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) - What's the story?
CFLs are small versions of full-sized fluorescents. They screw into standard lamp sockets, and give off light that looks just like the light from a common incandescent bulbs - not the flickering and unattractive light that most associate with fluorescent lighting.
Important Things to Know about CFLs:
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Efficient: CFLs are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescents. |
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Rule of Thumb: CFLs use about a quarter of the wattage to produce the same light. So to replace a traditional 60-watt bulb, look for a CFL that's about 15 watts. |
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Less Expensive: Over the life time of the bulb, CFLs are atually less expensive than incandescent bulbs. Although initially more expensive, since CFLs use 75% less electricity and last up to 10 times as long as incandescents, one can save considerably on energy costs. |
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Environmentally Friendly: Using less energy translates to less CO2 emissions. Replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep a half-ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. |
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Biggest Bang for the Buck: To save the most energy and money, replace your highest used fixtures or the light bulbs in them with energy-efficient models. The five highest use fixtures in a home are typically the kitchen ceiling lights, the living or family room table and floor lamps, and outdoor porch lamp. |
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Available in a multitude of colors and styles: CFLs can be used nearly anywhere that incandescent lights are used - recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures and porchlights. 3-way CFLs are also now available for lamps with 3-way settings. Dimmable CFLs are also available for lights using a dimmer switch. |
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Disposal: It is important to note that CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of as hazardous waste or taken to a CFL respository. |
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Where to Buy CFLs?
Please check out Whatsmyco2.com's Product-Service page for a wide selection of CFLs to meet your lighting needs.
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Energy Star® Program |
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| Explore the Energy Star program established by the US EPA. Find recommendations for energy efficient lighting and other products. Energy Star Lighting >> |
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How to Choose a CFL to Meet Your Lighting Needs |
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| There is a wide variety of CFLs now on the market. Here are some helpful tips on how to select the most appropriate CFL for the use. How to choose a CFL >> |
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Disposal of Compact Fluorescent Lights |
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| Find out where you can properly dispose of CFLs - they contain a small amount of mercury. An intact CFL will never emit mercury. But CFLs can be broken by accident or improper disposal. It is important to dispose of spent or damaged CFLs in a responsible manner. Learn more about disposing of CFLs properly. >> |
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How Much Mercury is in a CFL? |
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| The typical CFL contains 5 milligrams of mercury. But don't let this deter you from using them. In fact, CFLs can actually reduce the amount of mercury released each year into the environment. Half of the power in the United States is generated by coal-fired plants. Burning coal releases mercury into the atmosphere -- about 10 milligrams over the life of an average incandescent bulb. Because of its superior efficiency, a CFL will only be responsible for about 2.5 milligrams. Even if you add the 5 milligrams contained in the typical CFL (which is fully recoverable by recycling), a CFL is actually responsible for putting less mercury into the wild than its incandescent equivalent. Learn more about CFLs and mercury. >> |
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