The fluorescent bulbs of today are a far cry from those loudly buzzing, sterile white tubes seen in offices and hospitals in the 80's. Now available in a wide range of styles and "color temperatures," eco-friendly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are designed for the home and screw into many of the medium socket and candelabra lamps sold on our site. Use them in ceiling fixtures, sconces, chandeliers and other light fixtures.
Very simply put, CFLs generate light when electrons from the bulb's ballast collide with mercury vapor throughout the bulb's length, which in turn stimulates a phosphor coating on the inside of the glass. The result is a steady luminescence that is also incredibly energy-efficient, because more energy is spent on producing light (measured in lumens) and less is wasted on producing heat! This is why CFLs stay cooler to the touch than an incandescent bulb, and why a low-watt CFL brightens a room with the same intensity of a high watt incandescent bulb. Incandescent bulbs and their CFL equivalent are as follows:
But it gets even better! Because compact fluorescent lamps use about 66% less energy than incandescent bulbs for the same amount of light, you can save up to $45 dollars a year when you choose an 18 watt CFL over a 75 watt incandescent bulb. Within the first 500 hours of use, your bulb has made up for it's initially higher price. What's more, compact fluorescent bulbs last an average of 10 to 15 times longer than a standard filament bulb, putting an end to chronic bulb replacement and halting the surge of burnt out bulbs entering our landfills. And since CFL's expend less energy, there is less demand on electric power plants that burn polluting fossil fuels. Amazingly, swapping out ONE incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep half a ton of CO2 out of the air for the CFL's lifetime! You can make a positive impact on the environment simply by screwing in a CFL.
Once a CFL is spent, it's legal to throw it in the trash; however, these energy-efficient bulbs do contain trace amounts of mercury vapor. If they are sent to an incinerator, this mercury could enter the atmosphere. Instead, collect your CFLs for your community household hazardous waste collection for treatment and recycling; if a bulb breaks, take care not to inhale the vapor and promptly wipe up pieces with a wet rag. Toss everything, including the rag, into a plastic bag for proper disposal. It's important to note that the overall benefits of a CFL's energy-saving operation far outweigh any risk trace amounts of mercury vapor in the bulb may pose to landfills.
If you live in a region where the intensity of summer heat results in alarming energy bills, you may be one of the many who dreads the end of Spring. However, you can keep your home cool without running an air conditioner day and night. In this article, you'll learn how to stay comfortable in the summer while saving energy and money. Read on for some very cool cooling tips.
1. Set your thermostat just one degree higher.
Every degree that you raise your thermostat will save you approximately 2-3 percent on your cooling bill. A fan in the room or an open window can make it feel colder and will cost less to run than an air conditioner.
2. Don't pay to cool an empty house.
If you're leaving home for a long day or a weekend away, don't pay to keep an empty house cool. Save money by setting your thermostat high or turning it off completely. Keep your home just cool enough to remove some of the most intense humidity.
3. Close the vents or registers in unused rooms.
Stopping the flow of cooled air to an unused room can save you anywhere from 5-10 percent on your cooling costs.
4. Stop the sun.
Shades and blinds will block out the sun and are extremely effective at keeping a room from heating up like an oven. Like windowless desert abodes, a dark room can stay very cool on a hot day.
5. Use a window fan at night.
Fans cost less to run than air conditioner, so take advantage of the cooler night air and turn off your air conditioner. Instead, open a few windows and run a fan for a nice cross-breeze. You'll actually be surprised how many mornings you wake up with a comfortable chill.
6. Turn off heat-throwing appliances.
Light fixtures and heat-throwing appliances can cause your home to heat up fast and also throw off your thermostat's readings. Move hot appliances away from your thermostat and say goodbye to hot halogen lamps. Cut back on baking and other food preparation that involves an over. You might alternatively consider more outback cookouts on the grill to compensate for less use of the oven.
7. Close your electrostatic filters.
If your cooling system utilizes an electronic air filter, washing the filter every month is critical for maximum efficiency. Use cold water and a soft brush, or you can run the filter through a gentle cycle in your dishwasher. Once the filters are clean and dry, you can replace them.
8. Close your basement registers.
Typically, basements are already dark and cool, so there's no need to waste energy pumping them full of conditioned air. Closing your basement's vents or registers will make more cool air available to the rest of the house, lessening the load on your air conditioner and saving you money.
9. Clean your air conditioner's condenser.
The condenser on your air conditioner is the big unit that sits outside your house. To run at maximum efficiency, it needs to be properly cleaned and maintained. Start by shutting off power to the unit. Once the power has been cut, remove the access panels on the front of the unit. Then clean out any accumulated debris such as leaves, garbage or dirt. Use warm, soapy water and a soft brush to wash down the coils and fan. Finally, turn the fan to make sure it's operating smoothly. When you're done, replace the access panels.
Both James Allen & Stephen Clayton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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