Fluorescent Efficiency From The Energy Superstore

LED Light Bulb

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are becoming far more common for indoor lighting solutions due to their human and environmental safety, cost, and longevity. An LED is a solid-state semiconductor diode that emits light when an electrical current is applied in the forward direction of the device, as in the simple LED circuit. The effect is a form of electro-luminescence where incoherent and narrow-spectrum light is emitted.

LEDs are widely used as indicator lights on electronic devices and increasingly in higher power applications such as flashlights and area lighting. An LED is usually a small area light source, often with optics added to the chip to shape its radiation pattern and assist in reflection. The color of the emitted light depends on the composition and condition of the semi-conducting material used, and can be infrared, visible, or ultraviolet.

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Renewable Clean Energy

Global warming is an urgent, but solvable problem. That is why we have joined the We Campaign, a powerful nonpartisan movement of concerned citizens that was founded by Nobel Prize Laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. View more details by clicking the We Campaign banner to the right, or read on to find out how easy and safe it would be to implement a renewable energy solution for America.

Given the tentative speculations that in 10 years oil will no longer be available to us in the quantities we require, we must strive to produce 100% of our electricity via clean and renewable sources by that time. Oil is not the answer and coal is not the answer.

Here are a few reasons we need to move away from coal and oil, and start investing in renewable resources:

• Even today, half of our electricity is produced by coal rather than oil. OK, but what you may not know is that coal is a top contributer of global warming, and negatively impacts the environment in many other ways. We need to abandon this archaic source of energy for something much cleaner.
• Even ‘clean coal’ power plants do not prevent carbon molecules from being released into the atmosphere. They are absolutely no help to the global warming / clean environment cause.
• Early in 2008, Saudi Arabia committed to producing more oil to alleviate high oil prices. OK, but what you may not know is that since that time the price of oil has actually increased. America has no effect at all on the price of oil. We need to relinquish our dependence on it 100%.
• Wind power is a clean and renewable source of energy. OK, but what you may not know is that the potential for wind power in the US would provide more than 5 times as much electricity as we currently use. In fact, North Dakota alone can provide 33% of the total electricity required by America today.
• Solar power is another clean and renewable source of energy. OK, but what you may not know is that we can harness enough solar power during the day to provide all the necessary electricity needed to operate at night. In fact, by laying solar panels on a 100 square mile patch of land anywhere in the US (think desert land), solar thermal facilities could provide 100% of our electricity needs, day and night.

So, what does that tell you about clean renewable energy resources? By combining wind power, solar power, and by developing additional alternative energy resources such as Ethanol powered and hybrid vehicles, the US could potentially be free of environmentally and economically damaging sources of power.

Support the Challenge

It will certainly take more than just one man to stand up for this movement. Please do your best to support America in this time of energy crisis. Do it for the Earth, for your kids, for your grandkids, but most of all do it because it’s the right thing to do.

Al Gore just challenged the nation to take bold steps towards solving the climate crisis. Click the banner to view his dramatic speech and to add your vote to the petition. Join the We Campaign and support a movement to more efficient, clean, alternative energy.

Solve Global Warming

Halogen Light Bulb

The history of light has not reached its end as of yet. In fact, it has been revolutionized by the new compact fluorescent bulbs now in the market. These new fluorescent bulbs give consumers an alternative to the old halogen light bulbs. Halogen light bulbs are variants of the original incandescent light bulb invented by Thomas Edison. Like incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs are outdated and grossly inefficient. They are also very hazardous, although they are cheap and therefore convenient; they have the ability to create costly damages.

How Halogen Bulbs Work

The reason halogen bulbs are so ineffective and dangerous is in how they make energy. Like incandescent bulbs, they generate energy to create light. The problem, however, is that all the energy they create is not used effectively. Most of the energy created actually causes the bulb to emanate heat reaching extreme temperatures, which can cause burns or even ignite fires, instead of being used for lighting purposes. This in turns means that most of the energy used is wasted, dangerous, and ineffective.

Fluorescent Bulbs Solve the Issues of Halogens

The fluorescent bulb on the other hand solves all three issues. Compact fluorescent bulbs do not use heat to produce lighting but instead use a variety of gasses and electricity. This in turn means that they don’t heat up as much as their counterparts and are safer to use. In fact, several Universities have opted to use these bulbs over the halogen bulbs to prevent accidents.

Not only do these bulbs produce light more effectively but they are more cost effective. Their initial cost may be higher but their long term cost saves money in the end. For example, a halogen bulb can last up to two years whereas fluorescent bulbs have a life of up to five years!

Weighing the Pros and Cons

When the two bulbs are compared, it becomes obvious which one is superior. Yet, as life has it, everything does have its advantages and disadvantages. The fluorescent bulb does hold one consequence: mercury. One of the gasses found in these bulbs is mercury, a contaminant. To this one problem, the fluorescent bulb has two pros though, by being more energy efficient it should reduce the amount of mercury production and can serve as an option to going green, a step to prevent global warming.

The Energy Superstore sells fluorescent light bulbs at discount prices for your convenience.

Save Energy with Fluorescent Lighting

Saving energy helps the environment because most energy sources, such as coal and natural gas are non-renewable. This means that once used, they are gone forever. Additionally, most forms of energy cause pollution that can be a source of greenhouse gases leading to climate change.

How Fluorescent Light Bulbs Work

Fluorescent lighting is manufactured by enclosing gas within glass tubes. Electricity excites the gas, producing light when the gas fluoresces. The fluorescent reaction produces ultraviolet light that is invisible to the human eye. Visible light is created when the UV light subsequently reacts with mercury and phosphorescent chemicals that have also been enclosed in the tube.

Fluorescent light bulbs are available to fit most existing fixtures and offer one of the most energy efficient electric lighting solutions available today.

Here are 5 examples of how fluorescents help save energy and the environment:

1. A greater proportion of the electricity consumed is directly used to produce light, resulting in conservation of energy sources and reduced pollution.
2. Fluorescent lights run cooler than incandescent and so they reduce the costs associated with running air conditioning.
3. The longer life of fluorescents will reduce the number of used bulbs in landfills, particularly since it has been shown that most people will properly recycle fluorescent bulbs when given the opportunity.
4. The EPA estimates that most of the 104 metric tons of mercury introduced into the atmosphere each year by humans is released by coal fired electric plants. Fluorescent light bulbs emit no mercury unless broken or improperly disposed of. Additionally, manufacturers are developing bulbs that operate with much less mercury than older bulbs.
5. Assuming that the lower costs of operating fluorescents will not increase the perceived need for light, consumers should use less electricity if they convert to fluorescent lighting when appropriate.

Fluorescent Light Bulb Disposal

Fluorescent lighting offers consumers much needed savings in cost of energy, and it also offers a much needed decrease in energy waste for the environment. Because of the wonderful benefits of compact fluorescent light bulbs, their usage is growing rapidly in American household and in the US workplace.

While there is not much need to worry about fluorescent light bulbs, as will all technological innovations, we must at some point think about physical waste. The two cases where we need to consider disposal are:

1. Dead fluorescent bulbs.
2. Broken fluorescent bulbs.

Fluorescent bulbs that no longer work can be recycled. The Energy Superstore has a fluorescent light bulb recycling program for recycling compact fluorescent light bulbs, for recycling linear fluorescent light bulbs, and for recycling lamp ballasts. Order pre-paid pick up today.

Fluorescent bulbs can break just like any other bulb, although not nearly as easily as incandescent glass light bulbs. Indeed, fluorescent bulbs are safer today than ever before, but they are still made with a couple of potentially harmful chemicals such as mercury and some phosphorescent chemicals.

Although there is not much need for fear or worry when dealing with fluorescent lighting, accidents do happen. Therefore it is important to know how to safely deal with a broken fluorescent bulb.

Please follow this list of 5 steps to take when disposing of a broken fluorescent light bulb:

1. Turn off forced air, heating, and air conditioning units, and open doors and window to introduce fresh air into the room.
2. Humans and pets should leave the area for fifteen minutes.
3. Do not touch bulb fragments or use a vacuum or broom to clean up on hard surfaces. Use pieces of cardboard to scoop up large pieces and packing tape (or other sticky material) to pick up small particles. Enclose debris and materials used for cleanup in a glass jar with metal lid or seal in a plastic bag.
4. Clean hard surfaces with a disposable towel and if a vacuum is required for a fabric area, be sure to change the bag when finished. Towels and vacuum bags should also be sealed before disposal.
5. Clothing or bedding that has come in direct contact with the broken bulb should be disposed of in a sealed package.

These steps should prove to keep you safe in the uncommon event that a fluorescent light bulb should rupture. Please do not let this information deter you from making the switch to fluorescent lighting. The benefits of fluorescent lighting far outweigh this slight inconvenience of disposing of a broken fluorescent bulb.