So we’ve all heard about saving money by using compact florescent lighting (CFLs) instead of the traditional incandescent lighting. CFLs, when first released, were touted as the best thing since sliced bread, but many consumers have been disappointed with their experiences with CFLs and therefore do not consider them as valuable.
When CFLs were initially introduced to the public, they marketed them as lasting 10x longer and using less energy than a regular incandescent bulb. What they don’t include is that those numbers were found under ideal testing conditions (using components that were made to work together). The truth is that residential situations are probably not “ideal,” so while they still use less energy, the difference isn’t as dramatic as the public was led to believe. Other complaints include disappointment with light quality and the presence of mercury.
Light Emitting Diodes, or LED lamps, are the newest technology and have a lot of people in the energy industry excited. While I’m hesitant to say specific statistics (see the above paragraph!), it is safe to say that these are much better than CFLs in almost all categories. They last a significant amount of time longer, use much less energy and contain no hazardous materials. However, price is a major factor still for this new technology: not many people can afford to pay $50 for a lightbulb these days!
So, for the time being, CFLs definitely have their place in mainstream energy efficiency plans. They save energy and save you money if you use them to replace your incandescent lighting, and they even make CFLs with a softer light quality that is more similar to traditional incandescent light. Make sure you continue to be green after the CFL burns out and take used bulbs to be recycled- after trying to be more green and save energy, the last thing you want to do is release mercury into the environment! Plus, virtually all parts of a florescent bulb can be recycled. Many hardware supply stores and other retailers have in-store recycling: go to Earth911.com for a listing of places near you!
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