Saving Cash Using Flourescents | Not Simply A Dim Flicker Any Longer

FL lights no longer give just a dim flicker. Yes they are the ecological option to normal light bulbs, but they can also be funky and are a favourite of current designers. So why are they a good green alternative, and what’s so cool about them?

Any electrician will tell you that fluorescent lights tend to last four to ten times as long as normal (filament) light bulbs and use about 20% of the energy. The trouble with normal light bulbs is that 95% of the energy they use is lost through heat and merely 5% is literally utilized to light up a room.

While fluorescent bulbs are more costly to buy initially, they will save you cash in the long run, generally paying for themselves in under a year. And they fit in most existing light fixtures, so you won’t even call for an electrician to change your fixtures.

Another direct green advantage is that for the reason that the light bulbs last so much longer they make less waste for landfill as less are being thrown away every year. And once you’re fitting them and doing your part, you may even feel so green and greenly aware that you take your responsibilities further and turn lights off when they’re not being used.

When you do need to toss away fluorescent light bulbs at that time endeavor and do so responsibly. Unlike filament light bulbs, they have a tiny amount of mercury which is ecologically damaging if they are binned, so ask your local board about recycling facilities for light bulbs and do your bit to keep them out of the garbage dump.

Now for the fun part! FL lights are fantastic if you want to create a colour wash on the wall or against curtains. They may be recessed so that the light seems to come magically from a hidden supply and if the light shines against a reflective surface, you can make a very dramatic effect. You can also talk to your electrician about installing more than one fluorescent tube so that you have a option of colours at your fingertips.

FL lights of course happen in white but also four basic colours - red, yellow, green and blue. If none of these suit your plan, you may put a white light following a coloured filter of your choice or even get coloured theatrical lighting goo which can be applied to the bulb to accomplish the effect you’re after. There are even companies that sell bulbs already coated, offering a range of colours if you can’t face doing it yourself.

If you’re putting together a lighting plan bear in mind that fl white light tends to appear calm rather than warm. FL bulbs can be incorporated into a dimmer plan when of course they turn out to be less bright, but they won’t make a warm glow like a normal bulb. As well as being put onto dimmers your electrician could go one step further and incorporate them into a system of pre-set scenes to make numerous mood choices for your room.

The reality is that in 2007 the US Government announced that incandescent light bulbs are to be barred by 2011, which should help save around 5 million tonnes of CO2 by US household users alone. So it makes sense to get ready now for this new period in lighting. Light bulbs in the US are now graded A-G for green effectiveness, so it’s easy to pick ones that do less damage and that will save you cash in the mid and long term. And it doesn’t mean living in darkness - fluorescent lights have come a long way since their flickering beginnings.