Incandescent Versus Flourescent: The Enviro Bulb Debate

Well flourescent bulbs can each save you around £15 over their entire lifespan and also they save over 2000 times their own weight of greenhouse gases. CFLs (Compact Flourescent Lamp) can fit into existing light fixtures previously used by incandescent bulbs. CFLs use less power and have a longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs.

The purchase price is however higher (as is with anything green these days), but the money can be recuperated throughout the bulbs lifespan in terms of energy savings, especially if you use more than just one. The other negative is that CFLs contain the harmful element Mercury and so this complicates the disposal of CFLs as they can cause a health risk when broken.

Some people say that CFLs produce a hard white light. Well as of 2007, improved phosphorus formulations have allowed the creation of a soft light CFL, which have roughly the same colour and feel as ordinary incandescent bulbs.

Going into some more detail about the differences and benefits of CFLs over incadescent bulbs:

• CFLs have a life span of between 6000 and 15000 hours whereas incadescent bulbs have only 750 to 1500 hours
• CFLs use between one fifth and one quarter of the power need to light an incadescent light bulb, which means a lower energy bill especially when used in bulk
• Incandescent bulbs are only 2% efficient in converting electricity to light (most is lost energy as heat), while CFLs are around 7-8% efficient.
• Although the cost of an individual CFL bulb is higher than an incadescent, the overall savings throughout the life of it are greater. Eg: a household that invested £90 in changing lightbulbs in 30 fixtures, would save £440 to £1500 over the five year life of the bulbs, this is equal to a 12% decrease in your utility bill

Well there you have it there are many positives in upgrading your household into a more efficient and cost effective solution for lighting that also saves energy and the environment. And it doesn't just save the environment, it is also good money sense!