Using Compact Fluorescent Lighting or CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) is one of the most practical ways of making considerable savings on your home or business energy bills. CFLs are actually compact fluorescent lamps but have many individualistic features that is making them increasingly popular across households and the commercial sector. Further, they are easy to install, as CFLs offer installation compatibility with the sockets designed for traditional incandescent lamps. This means that you don't have to spend on installing new lighting fixtures and still make even greater energy savings.
Is It Normal That The Color/Shade Of CFLs Is A Bit Different When They Are Switched-On?
Yes, this color variation is basically caused due to the activation of certain components within the CFL. There are special coatings lined on the inner of CFLs and they tend to glow much brighter, once the electric charge has conducted through them for a few seconds. That is why CFLs seem a bit dimmer when they have just been activated. The more innovative CFLs have reduced this time to a massive extent, but it shouldn't be a nuisance anyway, since the difference is more in the brightness level than the actual color. Once fully activated, the CFL produces a very bright white light.
Is It Recommended To Use CFLs In Enclosed Fixtures?
Compact fluorescent lighting can be used with almost any kind of enclosed fixtures. However, they are not recommended for fixtures that are totally recessed. Such fixtures can produce a major temperature fluctuation which is not ideal for the functioning of CFLs. Most CFLs are marked regarding their suitability for different types of usage, such as those ideal for outdoor lighting and others. Lighting retrofit vendors who have expertise in the field of lighting optimization, prefer to install CFLs that have clearly defined optimal temperature range.
Does Compact Fluorescent Lighting Offer Dimming Applications?
Most retrofitting vendors will offer some sort of light-dimming technology, since it helps to control the amount of electric power being used. This is particularly useful in the well-lit areas and during the daytime. These dimming technologies have now been integrated with compact fluorescent lighting in the form of dimmer switches. This is the predominant use of CFL dimming. However, it is vital to ensure that your lighting solutions vendor is able to offer cost-effective dimmer switches as some of them tend to charge for it outside the realm of lighting installation packages.
Does It Makes Sense To Use Compact Fluorescent Lighting Where Switching On/Off The Lights Is Recurrent?
CFLs are ideally suited for areas where some time is available for them to take complete effect. As explained in the first question, it takes a few moments before CFLs produce bright white light. This 'warm-up' period is essential for the compact fluorescent lighting to work properly. The best solution would be to design a combined lighting optimization strategy wherein CFLs are used more in the low-to-medium frequency light switching areas. Regular bulbs can be installed in places where this frequency is extremely high. This ensures that you are able to make significant energy savings without having to worry about the proper functioning of CFLs or their lifecycle.
An experienced lighting solutions vendor should be able to explain the often-neglected issues about using compact fluorescent lighting. For example - since, CFLs contain a minute amount of Mercury, it is imperative that they are disposed in the right manner. There are many local waste collection centers that are dedicated to collecting mercury-containing waste goods, and there are some specialized ones that handle CFL recycling. Your lighting fixture provider should be able to explain the finer points of using CFLs. Eventually, the utility offered by compact fluorescent lighting and its suitability to your needs would be decided by the quality of services provided by the company handling your lighting optimization requirements.
Author Resource:
Barry Crowther has been working closely with Lynda Sun, who has been in the Lighting Efficiency Industry for over 15 years. For more information on Saving Energy please visit http://www.sunindustriesinc.com
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Author Resource:-> Barry Crowther has been working closely with Lynda Sun, who has been in the Lighting Efficiency Industry for over 15 years. For more information on Saving Energy please visit http://www.sunindustriesinc.com