How Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL) Can Save You Money
If every household in America switched just one bulb in their home to compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), over $600 million in energy costs would be saved in one year alone.
Energy Star certified CFLs use approximately 75 percent less electricity than a standard light bulb.
They also last about 10 times longer.
Keep reading to learn how these miracle bulbs save energy and you money! What is a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), and how does it work? They work like a standard tube-fluorescent lamp, but the tube is smaller and folded around to decrease the amount of space it takes up.
This compact design allows CFL bulbs to be used instead of your standard, incandescent light bulb.
How much of an environmental impact do CFLs really have? A single 20-watt CFL used instead of a standard 75-watt incandescent bulb will save approximately 550 kWh over its lifetime.
That savings represents 500 pounds of coal energy and subsequently 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
Is it true that there is mercury inside a CFL bulb? Compact fluorescent lights do contain an extremely small amount of mercury vapor that's needed to make light.
However, the amount is so minute that it presents no danger for household use, even if the bulb breaks.
They can also be safely disposed of in your everyday trash.
Do they come in standard sizes? You can find compact fluorescent light bulbs in any standard light size.
Because they come in so many shapes and sizes, you'll find a CFL that will fit your lighting needs - whether you're looking for a large, outdoor globe light or a small bulb for your bedside reading lamp.
They cost more than incandescent bulbs, so how do I save money? To figure out why CFLs save money over incandescent lights, you have to examine both the purchase and the operating costs.
For example, when you buy a 75 cent 100-watt incandescent light bulb, you'll most likely spend $6-$8 in electricity over the course of that bulb's 750-hour life span.
Meanwhile, a compact fluorescent light bulb may cost you $2-$10 to buy, but you'll save a lot in the long term.
Most CFLs not only last about 8,000-10,000 hours, but they cost less to run, meaning they'll draw smaller sums of money from your pocket and last for years.
Finally, compact fluorescent lights don't throw off as much heat as an incandescent bulb, which actually create more heat than light.
This means CFLs will also save you money during the summer months when you're trying to cool your home.
Energy Star certified CFLs use approximately 75 percent less electricity than a standard light bulb.
They also last about 10 times longer.
Keep reading to learn how these miracle bulbs save energy and you money! What is a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), and how does it work? They work like a standard tube-fluorescent lamp, but the tube is smaller and folded around to decrease the amount of space it takes up.
This compact design allows CFL bulbs to be used instead of your standard, incandescent light bulb.
How much of an environmental impact do CFLs really have? A single 20-watt CFL used instead of a standard 75-watt incandescent bulb will save approximately 550 kWh over its lifetime.
That savings represents 500 pounds of coal energy and subsequently 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
Is it true that there is mercury inside a CFL bulb? Compact fluorescent lights do contain an extremely small amount of mercury vapor that's needed to make light.
However, the amount is so minute that it presents no danger for household use, even if the bulb breaks.
They can also be safely disposed of in your everyday trash.
Do they come in standard sizes? You can find compact fluorescent light bulbs in any standard light size.
Because they come in so many shapes and sizes, you'll find a CFL that will fit your lighting needs - whether you're looking for a large, outdoor globe light or a small bulb for your bedside reading lamp.
They cost more than incandescent bulbs, so how do I save money? To figure out why CFLs save money over incandescent lights, you have to examine both the purchase and the operating costs.
For example, when you buy a 75 cent 100-watt incandescent light bulb, you'll most likely spend $6-$8 in electricity over the course of that bulb's 750-hour life span.
Meanwhile, a compact fluorescent light bulb may cost you $2-$10 to buy, but you'll save a lot in the long term.
Most CFLs not only last about 8,000-10,000 hours, but they cost less to run, meaning they'll draw smaller sums of money from your pocket and last for years.
Finally, compact fluorescent lights don't throw off as much heat as an incandescent bulb, which actually create more heat than light.
This means CFLs will also save you money during the summer months when you're trying to cool your home.
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