Energy Efficient Bulbs --Information from the Ligting Association
Q Frequent Switching reduces the life of CFLis
A A CFLis life is no longer affected by switching. The current standards for Energy Saving Recommended accreditation requires over 3,000 switching cycles per 8,000 hours of tested life which is many more than would be necessary for normal domestic use. For special applications such as hallways in flats and lights in corridors activated by motion sensors, some manufacturers produce heavy duty CFLis with up to 500,000 switching cycles capability and 15,000 hours life!
Q CFLis are too big
A The latest generations of CFLi¡¦s offered by the major manufacturers are no longer very large. In some cases, they are slightly smaller than their GLS equivalent and with the new classic shapes look almost the same as GLS bulbs.
Q CFLis need to be left switched on for >45 minutes as they consume so much energy when first switched on
A There is no reason to keep a CFLi switched on for longer than a normal GLS bulb as they do not consume any greater energy during start up and run very efficiently immediately after the first 2 or 3 seconds.
Q CFLis give a colder colour light than ordinary bulbs
A Under the Energy Saving Trusts Energy Saving Recommended accreditation, CFLs have to emit the same warm light level as GLS bulbs:- between 2,600 and 2,800 kelvin.
Q CFLi's flicker with a stroboscopic effect. I've heard they switch on and off 50 times per second:
A CFLis give a constant, flicker free, non-stroboscopic light. They operate at high frequency through their electronic controller at between 30,000-50,000 hertz (normal mains voltage cycles at just 50 hertz or cycles per second).
Q You can't dim CFLis
A There are new lamps available right now that you can dim on ordinary domestic dimmer switches or alternately by staged dimming using a standard light switch. The number of these types of products is increasing.
Q CFLis are more dangerous:
CFLis are much safer to use in confined areas as they produce very little heat when compared to the very hot GLS bulbs. They are much safer where children are concerned and many are now used in children¡¦s light fittings for this reason.
CFLis burn so much cooler that there will be no more browned or burnt lampshades or nasty scorch marks on ceilings
Q Some CFLis seem to start very slowly, don’t give the light they promise or don’t last as long as they claim
Beware of poor quality, cheap lamps. Make sure that you only buy CFLis with the Energy Saving Recommended logo on the box from the major manufacturers. This will show that they are of the very best quality and have received independent third party accreditation in meeting light output and life standards.
Quality CFLis give instant light although do take a short time to warm up to full brightness, particularly in a cold space. However if they carry the Energy Saving Recommended logo, they will reach at least 60% of their full brightness in 60 seconds.
Why do CFLis cost so much? Will the price be coming down?
CFLis lamps have traditionally been more expensive than ‘traditional’ incandescent
lamps because they are more expensive to make (these lamps have integrated ballasts).
The price of a CFLi has decreased over the last several years. This is great value when
you consider a consumer can save around €80 over the life just by replacing a 100-watt
incandescent with a 20-watt CFLi.
What are the cost savings, in energy terms, for a CFLi compared to an energy inefficient incandescent GLS lamp available today over its lifetime?
Although initially higher in price, a typical CFLi can offer a saving of up to €13 per year on average when compared to an energy inefficient incandescent lamp. A six-year-life rated energy-saving lamp would therefore save about €80 during its lifetime (100W incandescent versus 20W CFLi). This is based on an assumption of 3 continuous burning hours per day, for an energy cost of 0,15 €/kWh.
A typical CFLi can offer a saving of up to €13 per year on average when compared to an energy inefficient incandescent lamp.
Some people don’t like the light quality of CFLis.
Is that being improved? Will it ever be more like
incandescent lamps?
CFLi lamps have evolved to the point where good quality lamps now are usually very similar in functionality to incandescent lamps. They last longer and they will continue to get smaller, better, more efficient, safer and less expensive.
Energy saving lamps from reputable manufacturers render a light quality which approaches very closely that of incandescent lamps. The Colour
Rendering Index (CRI) expresses the level to which colours are represented.
