How To Save Electricity Used For Lighting

The most common energy-efficient bulbs now in use are Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).

They use up to 80 per cent less electricity than a standard bulb for the same amount of light.

But if you think these bulbs are the saviours of the planet, think again. They may help cut carbon dioxide emissions but they are not without environmental impact.

The bulbs have a special coating inside the lamp containing mercury, needed to generate light efficiently. The typical amount is under 4 milligrams of mercury per lamp - just enough to cover the tip of a ball point pen.

How to dispose of them

Mercury is toxic so it needs to be disposed of properly. That means old bulbs should be recycled and not just thrown in the bin. It also means you should take precautions if you break a CFL at home.

The Government advice is:

Vacate the room and ventilate it for at least 15 minutes.
Do not use a vacuum cleaner.
Clean up using rubber gloves and aim to avoid breathing in any dust.
Sweep up all glass fragments and place in a plastic bag.
Wipe the area with a damp cloth, add that to the bag and seal it.
Don't put the bag in the bin. Take it a council amenity site or recycling centre where it can be handled as hazardous waste.

In the dark

If you weren't aware of these guidelines, it's hardly surprising. A South Today straw poll of local councils found only 6 could offer the correct advice while another 17 were in the dark.

And the bulb manufacturers aren't much better. The packaging contains the recycling logo but no written explanation about the proper disposal of old or broken bulbs.

The Lighting Association, which represents bulb manufacturers, says it's a legal requirement across Europe to include the recycling logo and the symbol of a crossed out wheelie bin. But it say there is currently no requirement to print mercury content on the packaging. It adds the industry has established recycling schemes for CFLs.

The new EU regulations will change that. From September 2010, lamps containing mercury will have to carry a website on its packaging telling people where to get information about what to do with breakages.

Light Emitting Diodes

The CFL disposal problem is likely to diminish as they are replaced by a new generation of LED lights. LEDs are already common on Christmas trees and the first household LED substitutes for incandescent bulbs up to 100W are now on the market. They use even less energy than CFLs and contain no mercury.

LED bulbs are designed with standard light bulb bases (also known as Edison bases), so they'll fit into just about any lighting fixture you already have. With a little planning, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of LED lighting virtually anywhere.

The best way to start using LED light bulbs is to try one bulb first. Swap a regular bulb on your porch, in a ceiling can, task or accent light, or maybe replace a bulb that you leave on at night. To get familiar with LED light bulbs, it is recommended that you experiment with different lighting combinations and see how their reduced light output works for you.

LED Light Bulb Benefits

* Save money on electricity
* Light the color of daylight
* Use only 2-10 watts of electricity (1/3rd to 1/30th of Incandescent or CFL)
* Long lasting - up to 30,000 hour bulb life
* Cool running (warm to the touch) - little heat compared to standard bulbs
* Instant on/off
* Works in cold weather
* Can sustain moderate power surges
* Durable bulbs with no fragile filaments to break from shaking and rattling
* Directional lighting generates less wasted light
* Works with sensor activated lights

LED Energy Efficiency

Here's how LED light bulbs compare to ordinary bulbs: A regular 40 Watt incandescent bulb burns through a lot more energy than it needs to produce the light you see. Remember those toy ovens that used an incandescent light bulb to bake brownies? A large percentage of the energy that goes into a 40 Watt bulb is wasted as heat - great for baking brownies, not so great for conserving electricity and saving money. LED light bulbs, on the other hand, generate very little heat as they glow, instead transferring most of their energy directly into light.

The latest LED light bulbs now produce about the same amount of light per watt as compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL). However, unlike incandescent bulbs and CFLs, which splash light in all directions, LED bulbs are directional. They drive their light in one direction, so that you have light exactly where you want it. This directional lighting equals savings in yet another fashion. LEDs don't waste light (energy) on areas you don't need illuminated, which is also why they're perfect task lights.

Prior to the introduction of LED light bulbs, if you wanted to use a low watt (less than 4 watts) bulb for ambient lighting, you had to settle for a hard-to-find, expensive, incandescent light or an unsightly florescent. Current LED bulbs are designed to fit standard bases, range from 0.85 to 7.3 watts, and are made for low light situations. In addition to low wattage, you get the bonus of long life and energy efficiency, which all adds up to a 90% savings over standard bulbs.

Vibration Resistant

In a garage or basement under heavy foot traffic, incandescent bulbs are just too fragile to last very long. Too much vibration and the filament breaks and you're left with darkness or the hassle of changing another bulb. Not so with LED light bulbs. Since LED light bulbs have no filament, there's nothing to rattle apart and break. So they'll not only save you money in the cost of bulb replacement, they'll save you the trouble of climbing onto a chair or rickety ladder to swap out that incandescent bulb that keeps burning out.

A Cool, New Color of Light

LED light bulbs bring a white light into a room. Unlike the yellow light we're so used to seeing from incandescent bulbs, the white light cast by LEDs is closer to the color temperature of daylight. The white light of LEDs is easier on your eyes and also provides the added benefit of lifting your mood in the summer and winter time. The white light also mixes in wonderfully with ordinary lights around your home or workplace, and it's a great light to read by.