Energy saving with LED fluorescent tubes
There are millions of general service fluorescent tubes in the market place today, until recently these were considered the most energy efficient lighting solution available. The downside to this for of lighting is that each tube contains a small amount of mercury vapour, a toxic heavy metal. This can provide not just a health risk when the tubes are broken, but can also accumulate in landfills before entering the water table or causing further pollution.
Fluorescent lamps use electricity to excite mercury vapour inside the glass tube and always require a ballast to regulate the flow of power through the lamp. A starter is in the circuit to heat the contact ends of the tube that ionizes the mercury vapour creating UV light. The inside of the tube is coated with a phosphor material that glows when exposed to the UV light produced by the mercury inside the fluorescent tube.
Recent developments in SMD (Surface Mount Diode) LED technology have now meant that LED based fluorescent tubes are now a reality. LEDs are a more efficient form of lighting product consisting of small chips of conductive material that release light when a current is applied to them. They contain no filaments and can produce up to 25 times more light per watt than conventional light bulbs.
LEDs require far less energy in their manufacture than fluorescent tubes, and only 3% of the energy they will consume over their life expectancy is consumed in their manufacture, and they are also produced from non toxic materials. The tubes are made from polycarbonate, a material that is more robust and durable than glass, so accidents will not require special cleanup procedures.
While LED technology is more expensive than existing fluorescents at face value, they will last up to 10 times as long, while consuming 65% less energy. In most general purpose lighting applications they additional cost of the LED technology will more than pay for itself within the first 18 months.
The only drawback is the tighter beam angle of the LEDs, while some tubes are manufactured from a polycarbonate light diffusing material, others have a narrow focus which may not be suitable for replacing existing tubes. Many fluorescent fixtures are designed with reflectors that help to distribute the light from the tubes evenly in their intended environment. This is a problem similar to what was faced when compact fluorescents began replacing incandescent light bulbs, this is a problem that will soon be overcome and allow faster adoption of this emerging lighting technology.
Categories: Fluorescent Bulbs Tags: Energy, Fluorescent, Saving, Tubes
Energy Saving Light Fixtures for Your Home
Choosing the right bulb and fixture for energy savings has become a practical necessity for homeowners. Beyond just building and selling homes, however there is a practical need for homes to feature energy saving lighting fixtures when placed on the market for sale. One way to add value to a home and increase the possibility of a sale in today’s troubled housing market is to install energy saving light bulbs and fixtures.
Homeowners can add affordable and energy efficient lighting throughout a home for very little money these days. Energy saving light bulbs are available in two forms, familiar fluorescent lights, or tubes, and compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs. CFLs have become far more affordable and are in greater demand than the old tube-style light bulbs. Older fluorescent light tubes are still being used for energy savings in buildings that require lots of direct overhead lighting.
The major drawback with using fluorescent lights has always been the quality of the color of the light they produce. With the need to offset rising energy costs, fluorescent light bulbs have evolved into several different shapes and smaller sizes that yield the same amount of light as their less-atttractive predecessors. Fluorescent light bulbs that produce a full light spectrum are now available. These bulbs are ideal for almost any application, including kitchen lighting, under cabinet fluorescent lighting, commercial fluorescent lighting and even decorative fluorescent lighting. Over the years, fluorescent lighting fixtures have gained wide spread acceptance, typically installed in kitchens, bathrooms and family rooms where abundant overhead lighting is required.
Long lasting and energy efficient CFL bulbs are now smaller than ever and suitable for almost every lighting situation. Fluorescent light bulbs are completely adaptable for ambient lighting effects, task lighting, or accent lighting situations. There is also a plant-friendly fluorescent light that enhances growing indoor plants.
Due to the need to save energy and reduce expenses, compact fluorescent bulbs are replacing inefficient incandescent bulbs everywhere. With remarkable improvements in porportion, style and shape, CFL bulbs are far more economical, making them the best choice for most household and office lighting situations. One negative aspect of using CFL bulbs is that they are not usable with a dimmer switch. Despite this problem, however, they have gained wide spread popularity with interior designers.
Nowadays, CFL bulbs come in a wide selection of sizes, shapes, and lumens. Today’s models are totally unlike those earlier models that have an ugly, commercial appearance. New compact fluorescent feature smaller sizes, longer lives, instant-on and the same energy efficiency as earlier models. Today’s CFL bulbs are available as “Super Savers”, “micro-mini”, “Instant-On”, “Soft White” and “Now smaller than ever”. While the initial outlay for CFL bulbs can be a bit daunting, there are several buying initiatives underway to help consumers offset the cost. When buying CFL replacement bulbs, consumers should match the amount of light, or lumens, required for each location and the lowest power consumption, as measured in watts.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are destined to advance in energy savings technology, efficiency, and design. Maintaining a good lighting style is a matter of blending together the different elements present in individual rooms. When considering the optimal light design, determining the amount of energy savings is a good beginning, but in the end design, function and decor determine which type of fixture suits your needs the best.
